In this holiday season, Broncos wide receiver Javon Walker is hoping to give some comfort to a woman he’ll always share a bond with.
Last week, Walker had a custom-made painting sent to Rosalind Williams‘ Fort Worth, Texas, home. The portrait is of Williams and her son, slain Broncos cornerback Darrent Williams. Williams was shot and killed while riding in a limousine in a still unsolved drive-by shooting in downtown Denver in the early hours of Jan. 1 after attending a New Year’s Eve party. Williams died in Walker’s arms.
Walker has gotten to know the Williams family since the tragedy. The painting was Walker’s idea. It depicts Williams, from the chest up (complete with eye black) looking down at his mother from heaven.
“It came out so good,” Walker said. “I know (Rosalind Williams) was blown away by it.”
Walker told Williams when she visited the team in August before a joint practice in the Dallas area with the Cowboys that he had a surprise for her. Walker wanted to show the painting to Williams when she was in Denver for the Oct. 21 game against Pittsburgh but he was in Houston recuperating from knee surgery two days earlier. The two talked on the phone minutes before the game. A team employee brought the painting to Williams and she and Walker had a tearful conversation.
The painting was recently sent to Williams in Texas.
“It’s just something I wanted to do,” Walker said. “I’d think my Mom would want a painting like that of us.”
Meanwhile, Walker may return to the lineup today at Chicago after missing the past seven games with a knee injury. Walker was limited in practice Friday after going through two full workouts. He had some knee swelling, but coach Mike Shanahan and Walker both said they expect the receiver to face the Bears.
Hall waits in wings. There’s a chance running back Andre Hall could make his first start against Chicago today.
It will be the third straight game missed by Travis Henry. Shanahan said he believes Henry will be able to play Dec. 2 at Oakland. The NFL is expected to make a decision on Henry’s appeal of a pending one-year drug suspension as soon as next week.
If Selvin Young can’t play, Hall would start and Mike Bell would back him up. Hall’s NFL highlight came Monday night against Tennessee when he broke a 62-yard touchdown run.
Bill Williamson, The Denver Post
