EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J — After his bounce-back game Sunday, Broncos running back Javonte Williams was first thinking about teammate Tyler Badie.

Badie, a running back who was signed last Wednesday off the practice squad to the 53-man roster, suffered a back injury late in the first quarter of Denver’s 10-9 win over the New York Jets at MetLife Stadium. He was immobilized, taken off the field on a board on a cart and later ruled out for the game.

It was a scary scene, but Williams told The Denver Gazette there was positive news after the game from running backs coach Lou Ayeni.

“Coach Lou told us that he would be all right, so I don’t think it’s really anything (serious),’’ Williams said.

A source close to the situation agreed with what Williams passed on about Badie, saying, “He’s doing OK.” And Guerilla Sports reported Badie flew back to Denver on a commercial flight accompanied by a Broncos medical official after being examined at an area hospital.

Williams earlier had told reporters what he saw when Badie took a hard hit from Jets linebacker Quincy Williams and lost a fumble.

“I saw him on the ground crying,’’ Williams said. “I don’t know what happened. … But I know (Badie) is strong, he’s a fighter, he’s a warrior.”

Badie, who had rushed nine times for 70 yards in a 26-7 win over Tampa Bay on Sept. 22, had been signed to bring some life to Denver’s otherwise moribund running attack. He was inserted in the first quarter Sunday and had one carry for no gain and caught one pass for a loss of four yards before his injury.

But after a tough overall start on offense for the Broncos, including on the ground, Williams and Jaleel McLaughlin got going. Williams finished with 77 yards on 16 carries, including 53 on 11 attempts in the second half. McLaughlin finished with 46 yards on nine carries.

Williams, who rushed for 903 yards as a rookie in 2021 before suffering a serious season-ending knee injury in October 2022, had entered Sunday’s game averaging just 2.2 yards per carry this season. Dating back to last season, he had gone 13 straight games averaging less than four yards per carry and had in six of the previous seven averaged less than three.

Williams on Sunday averaged 4.8 yards per attempt. He didn’t deny he had heard talk from people calling him no longer effective.

“Yeah,” he told The Denver Gazette. “You just got to go out and prove it to them that I still got it. People might think I don’t but then it’s my job to go show them that I do.”

Williams, in his fourth season, was thrilled to have a bounce-back game after he had carried 24 times for just 52 yards in the first three games.

“It feels good,’’ he said. “It’s like a weight off my shoulders. It’s not a crazy stat line but it’s a game that I’ve been wanting to have for a long time, and just to finally have it (feels good).”

Williams was asked why he struggled to start the season.

“I was missing some reads and slipping and just stuff that happens in football,’’ he said. “I definitely won’t say it’s the fault of the O-line because they’ve been doing a good job.”

Broncos right tackle Alex Palczewski was thrilled with Williams’ showing.

“That was awesome,’’ Palczewski said. “He’s an unbelievable back.”

In getting Williams and McLaughlin going, Broncos coach Sean Payton said it all started with the offensive line. The Broncos had 126 yards rushing, 73 after they had trailed 6-0 at halftime.

“Those guys up front I think were the key,’’ Payton said.

Payton declined after the game to discuss the health of Badie. Williams, though, said he was relieved when he got an update from Ayeni.