Darrent

Williams

Fellow second-year pro Dominique Foxworth will be the nickel back, giving Denver enviable cornerback depth. Williams was probably the best rookie cornerback in football last season.

Williams says he was told to keep that he had a torn groin muscle under wraps. The injury, suffered in December, was called a pulled groin late last season. In camp and now healthy, Williams is competing to start.

Williams was Denver’s top draft pick this season and will earn a $1.3 million signing bonus. He could play some nickel this year, but should mostly help as a return specialist. He’ll be one of the fastest players in the league.

Clark was found guilty on all 21 counts he faced. The verdict will hopefully provide closure for Williams’ family, friends, and former teammates. One of the trial’s most noteworthy disclosures was Brandon Marshall’s role, which escalated the conflict that resulted in the fatal shooting.

“I’m planning on coming back and playing this (season),” Williams said. “I’m not looking into next (season) right now. Hopefully, we’ll get a bye and I’ll get an extra week to rest and come back. If I don’t, I don’t. We’ve got a good team, and they can spare me a few games. They can go in there and win some games without me.”

The Broncos initially said he was out at least two weeks, so this isn’t good news. “One injury cannot change your football team,” defensive coordinator Larry Coyer said. “You’ve got to be able to adjust and make sure your team can adapt. That’s our job as coaches.”

Williams left Sunday’s game in the first quarter and had an MRI yesterday. The nature of the injury makes it uncertain that Williams will be 100% even when he is able to return. Suddenly cutting CB Lenny Walls loose doesn’t seem like such a wonderful idea.

It’s a huge bonus for Denver to get Williams back when they thought he was done for the year. Denver’s young cornerbacks will probably decide their team’s fate against the top passing attacks of the AFC.

The rookie said he’s only 60 percent. “I was out there doing as much as I could,” he said. “I was doing all the little things I can do. I felt all right. It’s not 100 percent. It’s not completely healed, but I can go out there and do some things.”