Broncos notes: Rushing slump ‘frustrating’ but Javonte Williams ready to run again at Tampa Bay

Vele awaits word on playing status while Franklin-Myers clears concussion protocol. Browning, Skinner ruled out vs. Tampa Bay.

ENGLEWOOD, Colo. — It’s been a while since Javonte has broke loose to run like Javonte.

You know it. Sean Payton knows it. And more importantly, Javonte Williams knows it.

“Yeah it is frustrating,’’ Williams said Friday afternoon at his locker. “I mean when you’re used to running and it’s not really happening right now, I mean it’s a long season. You’ve got to be patient and your time will come.”

Payton, the Broncos’ head coach, indicated during his media conference call Monday that Williams’ might want to make it his time sooner rather than later.

“I saw it (Williams running well) in training camp, I look forward to seeing it this season,’’ Payton said. “In the meantime, some of these other guys are doing a good job. Jaleel (McLaughlin) is another one that needs more touches. We talked about (Tyler) Badie earlier. Your patient and at some point – it starts up front obviously — but you want to see those runs.”

Williams has just 40 rushing yards off 19 carries, an average of just 2.1 per pop through the Broncos’ first two games, both losses. He finished last season by averaging 2.6 yards per carry in his final four games. Even if there promises to be more carries for Badie this week, and maybe McLaughlin, Williams thinks he can get going on this road trip.

The Broncos Sunday in Tampa, travel Monday for a week of practice at the Greenbrier Resort in White Suphur Springs, W.V., then play the following Sundey in East Rutherford, N.Y. against the New York Jets.

“Yes sir, ready to get to it,’’ Williams said. “Ready for this little break we got in Greenbrier, but first we have to take care of Tampa.”

Vele may be iffy

It was on his eighth reception in the season-opener at Seattle that Broncos’ rookie receiver Devaughn Vele took a blow he didn’t really feel, at least not the full brunt of it, until later.

“On my last catch the linebacker came over and hit me on the side,’’ Vele said. “I didn’t even know I injured myself until after the game.”

Did he break a rib?
“Yeah, it was just a regular rib injury, nothing too serious,’’ he said. “It’s week to week. It’s up to the coaches to see if they’re going to play me or not. I’m waiting to hear what they’ve got.’’

A rookie from Utah, Vele had an impressive NFL debut at Seattle in game 1 so sitting out game 2 against the Pittsburgh Steelers with the rib injury was ill-timed. Not there’s ever a good time for an injury.

“Hopefully I can get back out there and try to stack the days,’’ he said.

Bo ready

In his two years at Oregon, Bo Nix had one subpar game – the first one against mighty Georgia, who would go on to win their second consecutive national championship. After that opener, Nix had 26 quality games in a row for the Ducks.

So coming off back-to-back losses in which he threw a combined four interceptions to start his NFL career with the Broncos is an adjustment.

“I didn’t look at his Auburn schedule,’’ Payton said, referring to Nix’s first three college seasons at the SEC school. “Certainly at Oregon … That’s our league. He’s had a good week of practice, and he’s locked in.”

Franklin-Myers clears protocol

Denver starting defensive lineman John Franklin-Myers cleared the concussion protocol and was able to fully participate in practice Friday. He had no injury status on the final injury report so he should be good to go Sunday against Tampa Bay.

Franklin-Myers was knocked out early in the Steelers’ game last week. He tried to go back in because he said he had never in his life – high school, college or NFL — not finished a game he started. He also said it was the first concussion he had experienced, at least that he knows of.

Browning, Skinner out

Outside linebacker Baron Browning (foot) and special teams player JL Skinner (ankle) were ruled out of the game Sunday against Tampa Bay as neither practiced this week.