Former Ute Devontae Booker thrust into starting role with Broncos


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SALT LAKE CITY — The time for Devontae Booker is now.

As Denver Broncos coach Gary Kubiak stood in a locker room full of football players, there was a much different feeling than there was only a week ago.

“We played great defense all night long, we won the turnover battle, the offense ran the ball for 190 freakin’ yards,” Kubiak said in his victory speech. The Broncos managed to gouge the Texans' run defense in the win and they did it with the help of former Utah star Devontae Booker.

Kubiak gave Booker more carries than in week's past, which will be beneficial given that Booker will suddenly be be the guy moving forward. NFL.com reported that C.J. Anderson will miss a few weeks, and potentially the rest of the season, as a result of a bone bruise suffered Monday night.

Early last week, Kubiak said he wanted to give Booker more opportunities. He held true to his word when Booker carried the ball 17 times this week, with two receptions and his first NFL touchdown. Booker averaged 4.9 yards per carry in route to an 83-yard game. Starter C.J Anderson had 16 carries and no receptions.

In the postgame interview, Kubiak had great things to say about Booker.

“I think (Booker’s play) was really important (to getting the running game going). You can see he’s got some young juice to him, he gives us ability to make some big plays."

Surely, Anderson is upset with the news of the injury, but he has full faith in Booker moving forward.

“We played a whole lot better, myself and Book making decisions,” Anderson said after the game on Monday.

When Booker scored his first NFL touchdown, one of the first teammates to reach him and congratulate him was Anderson. “I know what it feels like to go get your first touchdown. It was at a point where someone said, ‘Go C.J!’ and I was like, nah, man, Book needs that. I feel glad for him now.”

Over the course of the season, Booker has done more with limited opportunities. Booker averages nearly a full yard more per carry than Anderson, coming in at 4.8 yards per carry, while Anderson sits at 4.0 yards per carry. Kubiak’s offense is known for relying heavily on the run, so Booker will have plenty of opportunities to prove himself, starting Sunday at home against the Chargers.

When Booker first got to training camp he said he was there to "Take somebody's job". He took Hillman's job, and his jersey number to prove it. Now he has a chance to take Anderson's starting role.

> Not your average 4th-round pick... > Devontae Booker has big plans in Denver. [pic.twitter.com/7exsmBi88w](https://t.co/7exsmBi88w) > > — NFL (@NFL) [May 20, 2016](https://twitter.com/NFL/status/733481146730876928)

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Adam Cichoski

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