Melvin Gordon promises to fight for Denver Broncos starting running back job

Though many assume Javonte Williams will be the primary running back for Denver, the seven-year veteran isn’t ready to concede anything to the sophomore.

ENGLEWOOD — The Corridor of the Denver Broncos, Melvin Gordon IIIbelieves that the majority have already appointed Javonte Williams as the club’s primary running back, but said Monday that he is neither ready nor willing to give up his shot at the starting job.

“I told [al gerente general de los Broncos, George Paton] when i was at the table [de negociaciones]I’m not going to throw myself, I’m not going to throw myself”, he explained Gordon. “…I always have the mentality that I should go earn it every year.

“I know that many will want me to take the back seat, and I understand that,” he acknowledged. Gordon. “It’s been that way for some time, that’s how it was with the chargers. everyone wanted that Austin [Ekeler] will start I just go out here and do my thing. Thanks for the motivation everyone, I appreciate you all.”

Monday was the first day of the mandatory minicamp for the broncosso it was also the first time that Gordon He trained with his teammates. Gordon had not attended any of the volunteer sessions of the off-season program, including a volunteer mini-camp held by the broncos last month. Teams with new head coaches are allowed one additional minicamp in their offseason.

Gordon signed a one-year deal to return to the broncos just before the draft NFL in April. He said as he closed out the 2021 season that he potentially hoped to find a bigger workload with another team in free agency.

Last season, Gordon Y Williams they each had 203 carries, and Gordon led the team with 918 yards to 903 for Williams. Gordon battled hip, shoulder and thumb injuries down the stretch, but missed just one game last season, the loss to the broncos in Week 13 vs. Kansas City Chiefs.

And, after waiting a month in free agency, he opted to return to the broncoswith Williams and the also runner mike boone in the plans of the new group of coaches, too.

“I’ll do my best every time I go out there, and we’ll see what happens,” he said. Gordon. “The goal is to make them want to put me in… Me and [Williams] we will do it. I don’t know how they’re going to do it with all the replays and stuff… I don’t care how old people think I’m getting, I feel good. I’ve been sharing the ball since I came into the league, so it’s not something new.”

Williamswho had worked as the primary running back in most of the team’s work sessions thus far, was a second-round pick by the broncos in the Draft 2021and was named to the team all-rookie in the league this season.

Williams said earlier this offseason that he has consistently kept in touch with Gordon and that “if I have to share carries, or if I’m the starter, it doesn’t matter. Whatever it is, I’m just trying to win the superbowl”.

Gordon said he went back to Denver last week, and he spent some time at the club complex but did not participate in field work before Monday’s practice.

Gordon said that the exchange of broncos to acquire the quarterback Russell Wilson was what “changed the game”, in his decision to return with the broncos no guarantees on playing minutes. He also called the head coach Nathaniel Hackett “a great guy…he’s really changed the atmosphere around here.”

“We’re excited to put it out there and see it go,” he said. hackett on Monday. “…he’s a spectacular running back, he’s been a great running back in this league for a long time and you can’t have enough running backs.”

Gordon he has rushed for 6,144 yards and 53 touchdowns and has 284 receptions for 2,244 yards and 14 touchdowns in seven seasons.