On Monday, the Dallas Cowboys and free agent running back Javonte Williams shook hands on a one-year, $3 million deal, according to an inside scoop from ESPN’s Adam Schefter.
The Cowboys’ current backfield sees Rico Dowdle entering free agency, after leading the team last season with an impressive 1,079 rushing yards.
Javonte Williams, who was snagged by the Denver Broncos in the second round of the 2021 draft, has experienced a bit of a rollercoaster the past couple of years. In 2024, he still managed to top the team’s charts with 139 carries and 513 rushing yards. However, Broncos’ head coach, Sean Payton, labeled the running game as challenging, admitting the team struggled to pin down the right backfield rotation.
As Williams approaches the new season, it’s worth noting his recent track record. Despite his potential, his last handful of games in Denver, including a playoff loss to the Buffalo Bills, saw him limited to just 12 carries. This span featured a game against the Cincinnati Bengals where he didn’t carry the ball at all.
Flashback to 2021, Williams burst onto the scene as a rookie, showing a knack for breaking tackles and racking up 903 rushing yards. However, a serious knee injury in 2022 against the Las Vegas Raiders, which involved several torn ligaments, has impacted his subsequent performances. Williams has been determined in his recovery, yet his output hasn’t quite returned to the heights of his debut season.
While he has honed his receiving skills—becoming a reliable target for rookie quarterback Bo Nix with 52 receptions in 2024—his rushing stats have been less stellar, averaging under 4 yards per carry over the past couple of seasons. Observers in the league have remarked on a noticeable drop in his burst and power post-injury.
NextGen statistics reveal that Williams clocked the slowest speed among his peers for ball carriers over the line of scrimmage last year, topping out at 15.34 mph with at least 113 carries.
Across his four seasons in the NFL, Williams has amassed 606 carries for 2,394 yards and 11 touchdowns. As a pass catcher, he’s also hauled in 158 passes for 966 yards and scored 5 touchdowns.
Jeff Legwold from ESPN added contributions to this report.
