ENGLEWOOD, Colo. – Denver Broncos runner-up Melvin Gordon III believes most people have already named Javonte Williams as the team’s best defender, but Gordon said Monday that he is not prepared or willing to give up his opportunity at work.
“I said [Broncos general manager George Paton] when he was in the [negotiating] table, I’m not going to stretch, I’m not going to stretch, ” Gordon said. “… I’ve always had this mentality that I have to look for it every year.
“I know a lot of people want me to take a back seat and I understand that,” Gordon added. “It’s been like this for a while, it was like this with the Chargers: everyone wanted Austin. [Ekeler] to start. I just got out here and I do mine. Thank you all for your motivation, thank you all. “
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Monday was the first day of the Broncos’ mandatory mini-camp, so it was also the first time Gordon had trained with his teammates. Gordon has not attended any of the volunteer parts of the team’s low-season program, including a volunteer mini-camp the Broncos had last month – teams with new technical teams may have an additional mini-camp during the low season.
Gordon signed a one-year deal to return to the Broncos just before the NFL draft in April. He said that as the 2021 season draws to a close, he hoped to find a potentially larger workload with another free agency team.
Last season, Gordon and Williams had 203 carries each and Gordon led the team with 918 running yards in Williams’ 903 yards. Gordon battled hip, shoulder and thumb injuries along the stretch, but only missed one game last season: the Broncos ’loss in Week 13 to the Kansas City Chiefs.
And after waiting for more than a month in free agency, he opted to return to the Broncos, with Williams and teammate Mike Boone also in the plans for the new coaching staff.
“I step on my best foot every time I go out and see what happens,” Gordon said. “The goal is to make them want to play with me … Me and [Williams] they will. I don’t know how to do the rehearsals and all that … I don’t care how old I think I’m doing, I feel good. I’ve been sharing the ball since I joined the league, so this is nothing new. “
Williams, who had worked at No. 1 in most of the team’s field work so far during the offseason, was the Broncos’ second-round pick in the 2021 draft and was named to the All-American team. League rookie after the season.
Williams said earlier this offseason that he has been in constant contact with Gordon and that “if I have to split the carries, or if I’m a starter, it doesn’t matter. Whatever it is, I’m just trying to win the Super Bowl. . ”
Gordon said he returned to Denver last week and spent some time at the team’s facility, but did not participate in any field work until Monday’s practice.
Gordon said the Broncos’ move to acquire quarterback Russell Wilson was “a change of game” in his decision to re-sign with the Broncos without any guarantee of playing time. Coach Nathaniel Hackett also called it “a great guy … it really changed the atmosphere here.”
“We’re excited to put it there and watch it roll,” Hackett said Monday. “… He’s a spectacular runner, he’s been a great runner in this league for a long time and you can’t have him. Too many runners. ”
Gordon has run 6,144 yards and 53 touchdowns and has 284 receptions for 2,244 yards and 14 touchdowns in seven seasons.