For most guys, nearly a full season away from football could be a serious problem.
But not for Jamal Williams, he said. Not when you’re almost 34 years old and have played nose tackle in the NFL for 12 years. Williams spent nearly all of the 2009 season on the injured reserve list after injuring his triceps during the first game of last season.
“The best thing that happened to me was I had the time off,” Williams said.
Williams said that injury would have healed in time for him to return for the second part of the season, but the Chargers — Williams’ former team — already had placed him on injured reserve.
“It was only a triceps. It gave me time to work on my lower body, get that stronger and better right now,” Williams said Tuesday. “I’m ready to go.”
Broncos coach Josh McDan-iels said last month that his staff had watched enough of Williams’ film from 2007, 2008 and early 2009 to be confident Williams can play at a high level during the 2010 season. Williams was released by the Chargers on March 4. He signed with Denver five days later, completing the revamping of the Broncos’ defensive line.
“There wasn’t 16 games of evidence, but there was enough evidence there to say ‘this player has not declined significantly from ’08 to ’09,’ ” McDaniels said. “We felt like a player of his caliber probably benefited with the rest of his body.”
Williams, who turns 34 on April 28, is the second-oldest member of the Broncos’ defense. Brian Dawkins, a 36-year-old safety entering his second season with the Broncos, is the oldest. Williams said some of his younger teammates have been teasing him since he arrived in Denver, but he’s handling the ribbing fine.
“It gets me out the old folks home. I’m able to get away for recreational purposes,” Williams said. “It’s good, though, getting the camaraderie. They tease me a little bit, though, but I’m showing them some grown man stuff in the weight room.”
Lindsay H. Jones: 303-954-1262 or ljones@denverpost.com
