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Broncos add Jonathan Williams, former Bills running back, to practice squad

Broncos add Jonathan Williams, former Bills running back, to practice squad
Posted at 10:38 AM, Sep 06, 2017
and last updated 2017-09-06 12:41:53-04

CENTENNIAL, Colo. -- Consider it an expensive insurance policy. Or view it as a threat to another reserve's job security. Regardless of how you see it, the Broncos added depth and possibly more with the signing of running back Jonathan Williams to their practice squad.

Typically, practice squad signings create shrugs. This one, however, is different because of the money involved. The Broncos outbid suitors to land Williams at $30,000 per week. The standard practice squad salary is $7,200. For perspective, the Broncos offered quarterback Kyle Sloter in excess of $10,000 per week to keep him before he departed for twice the amount with the Minnesota Vikings. It illustrates how badly the Broncos wanted Williams.

The sheer amount of Williams' salary suggests he's a strong candidate to land on the 53-man roster at some point soon. As it stands, the running back stable includes starter C.J. Anderson, who missed the final nine games last season after tearing meniscus in his right knee, Jamaal Charles, who has missed 24 of 32 games over the past two seasons because of knee injuries, rookie De'Angelo Henderson, who had fumbling issues in the final two preseason games, and Devontae Booker, who broke his wrist and is expected back the third week of the season.

Read back through that last sentence and it's easy to understand why the Broncos might want a reserve clause on the practice squad. The Bills made Williams a surprise cut last weekend, releasing him in favor of veteran Mike Tolbert. Williams, who played at Arkansas with Broncos tight end A.J. Derby before becoming a fifth round draft choice in 2016, rushed for 94 yards on 27 carries and one touchdown as a rookie.                


               

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