5 running backs the Denver Broncos could get to replace Javonte Williams

Denver Broncos option no. 4: Tyler Goodson (Green Bay Packers practice squad)

One option the Denver Broncos have right now is to promote from within (George Paton loves the next man up mentality) and look around at players they could poach off of practice squads around the league that are not yet proven in the NFL. As of right now, the team has Devine Ozigbo on the practice squad. If only for a game, Ozigbo is likely to be promoted and play against the Indianapolis Colts on Thursday.

But this is an issue going forward for the Broncos, not just a one-game replacement for Williams in all likelihood. Of course when you’re talking about poaching from another team and coaching connections, you have to look at the most recent team head coach Nathaniel Hackett was with — the Green Bay Packers.

Tyler Goodson did not play with Hackett in Green Bay, but there’s obviously going to be an easier transition here in terms of the scheme than potentially some other poaching options. Goodson is a good fit for the zone blocking scheme coming from the Iowa Hawkeyes program where you see a lot of those concepts, and it’s likely he would be able to pick up Hackett’s scheme quickly coming from Green Bay.

It was a surprise that the Packers waived Goodson in the first place. He had a great preseason and had seemingly played his way onto the Packers’ roster. Of course, the Packers have a deep running back group led by Aaron Jones and AJ Dillon, but despite Goodson’s strong preseason he made it through waivers and onto the practice squad.

He’s a bit on the smaller side but he can contribute on all three downs as a running back and would give the Broncos at least an intriguing dart throw for the remainder of the 2022 season.