Welcome back. Broncos training camp is underway. Today’s question comes from Michael Poindexter of Pennsylvania.
Q: Do the Broncos have concerns that nose tackle Jamal Williams will not be as healthy as he needs to be to make a difference this season?
A: Williams made an appearance at a walk-through practice Tuesday but did not participate. That’s the first time he’s been on the field during the team’s practices.
Despite their Sept. 12 regular-season opener at Jacksonville still being more than a month away, the Broncos have not been specific about why Williams has started camp on the physically unable to perform list. It’s likely a combination of his age, experience level, the punishment he has taken playing nose tackle and the fact he missed virtually all of last season with an arm injury.
Williams isn’t limping when he moves from the weight-training facility back into the locker room. He moved around without much problem Tuesday when he was watching practice.
But the former Chargers star from Oklahoma State is 34 years old and entering his 13th NFL season. He is a 348-pound (listed weight) man who plays one of the most physically grueling positions on the field.
The Broncos’ defense hinges on his ability to stay on the field, so pushing him now really doesn’t serve the team’s goals in that regard.
Coach Josh McDaniels has talked about the need to “be smart” with Williams’ return to the practice field. He’s had knee and ankle surgeries during his career to go with the triceps injury that kept him out last season for all but one game.
During the Broncos’ minicamp, Williams said his body felt so good, he felt like he was in college.
Longtime coaches of the 3-4 defense, including former Broncos coordinator Joe Collier, have said the nose tackle is the most important player in that unit. If the Broncos truly believed they had what they needed in Ronald Fields and Marcus Thomas — two players who got playing time there last season — they wouldn’t have signed Williams.
Williams played in at least 12 games in seven of the last eight seasons — he played in at least 15 in five of those years — until he suffered an injury in last year’s season opener with the Chargers.
The Broncos need that kind of durability from Williams this year. If they don’t get that, it will be difficult for them to reap the dividends on the potential $16 million investment they made to sign him.
Jeff Legwold: 303-954-2359 or jlegwold@denverpost.com
