Sources: Denver Broncos RB Javonte Williams out for season with torn ACL, LCL

ENGLEWOOD, Colo. -- Denver Broncos running back Javonte Williams, who is the Broncos' leading rusher, will miss the remainder of the season because of a torn ACL in his right knee, sources told ESPN.

Sources said Williams will have surgery in the coming weeks. Williams underwent tests, including a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) exam that also showed a tear in his right LCL (lateral collateral ligament), sources said.

Outside linebacker Randy Gregory, meanwhile, will undergo arthroscopic surgery to trim the meniscus in his right knee, sources told ESPN, confirming a report by NFL Network. Gregory's ACL is intact and he is expected to miss two to six weeks. Gregory was sent for an MRI on Monday after he suffered the injury with just under six minutes remaining in the game on a 9-yard scramble by Raiders quarterback Derek Carr.

Gregory, who signed a five-year, $70 million contract with the Broncos in March, had knee surgery after the 2021 season when he was still with the Cowboys and had shoulder surgery after he signed with the Broncos. It isn't known if he injured the same knee Sunday against the Raiders.

Williams suffered the injury on the Broncos' first play of the second half of Sunday's 32-23 loss to the Las Vegas Raiders. Williams, who entered the game as the Broncos' leader in carries and rushing yards, stayed down on the field after a 1-yard loss.

The Broncos' medical staff checked his right knee before he was helped to the injury tent on the Broncos' sideline. Williams was not able to put his full weight on his leg as he was helped to the sideline. A few minutes later he was taken to the Broncos' locker room on a cart and ruled out for the remainder of the game.

The second-year running back, who piled up broken tackles in 2021 as a rookie with his all-out style, then left the Broncos' locker room in Allegiant Stadium on crutches as some of his teammates offered quiet encouragement.

"Obviously seeing Javonte go down, that hurt,'' quarterback Russell Wilson said following the game. "Hopefully he'll be OK.''

Mike Boone replaced Williams in the Broncos' lineup right after Williams went down. Melvin Gordon III had split time with Williams over the first three games of the season, but Gordon fumbled in the second quarter and the Raiders' Amik Robertson returned it 68 yards for a touchdown.

It was Gordon's fourth fumble of the season -- the Broncos have lost two of them. Gordon did get some carries on the Broncos' next possession.

Williams' injury will force the Broncos to make an adjustment. A second-round pick by the Broncos in the 2021 draft, Williams came into the game with 175 yards on 37 carries over the season's first three weeks and was the Broncos' second-leading receiver with 15 catches over those three games.

He had 28 yards on 10 carries Sunday before his injury.

"I have to [bounce back] for the team,'' Gordon said Sunday night. "... I made a mistake, first guys over there to cheer me up, to get me back right, them boys believe in me. I just got to be better.''