The level of optimism around Broncos running back Javonte Williams’ recovery has apparently jumped substantially in recent weeks.

So much so that coach Sean Payton said Saturday that the third-year back, coming off a major knee injury, may not only be ready for the start of the regular season but that he has a chance to be cleared for the start of training camp in late July.

“I would tell you that we expect him to be ready for the start of training camp. That’s good news,” Payton said. “His rehab is going well. I don’t want to speak for him or (VP of player health and performance Beau Lowery), but we get the daily reports.”

Williams suffered a torn ACL and additional damage in his knee on Oct. 2 against Las Vegas. A similar injury held Baltimore running back JK Dobbins out 13 months and Dobbins did another stint on injured reserve later in the season.

Denver won’t know for sure until Williams makes it through the next couple of months, but they’re hopeful the former North Carolina standout is on a much more aggressive return timeline. As recently as late March, Broncos brass had a more ambiguous timeline for Williams, including the possibility he wouldn’t be ready for Denver’s Sept. 10 opener against Las Vegas.

“We’re pretty tight-lipped relative to information going out, but I’ve read a lot and his rehab is going well,” Payton said. “… If a player’s not ready at the start of training camp he goes to (physically unable to perform designation). We’re hopeful he’s someone that might not have to go to PUP.”

Joint practice on tap

The Broncos and Los Angeles Rams are in talks about joint practices in Denver ahead of the teams’ Aug. 26 preseason game at Empower Field.

Payton said he and Rams coach Sean McVay have talked about getting together that final week of the preseason and noted the familial relationship between Rams owner Stan Kroenke, who also owns the Nuggets and Avalanche, and the Broncos ownership group. Kroenke’s wife, Ann Walton Kroenke, is a cousin of Broncos controlling owner Rob Walton.

“Sean and I have talked and then I know that, obviously the ownership groups are connected and (general managers Les Snead and George Paton),” Payton said. “There’s been no announcement, but the goal is to have a chance to practice here. … Our goal is to have a joint practice with Los Angeles and then play that third game.”

Martin released, may come back

The Broncos earlier this week released veteran edge rusher Jacob Martin and also waived offensive lineman Casey Tucker.

That helped create room to sign 15 college free agents to fill the 90-man roster for a minicamp that featured 57 players.

Payton didn’t say specifically that Martin, an Aurora native, would return later in the offseason, but he also didn’t rule it out.

“Things are in flux here,” Payton said. “We’re in that process where some of these guys might come right back. It’s the hard thing when you’re trying to manage the numbers — if you sign an undrafted free agent to a contract, he goes to your numbers. So there’s a couple players that all of a sudden might be coming back to us in a week. I don’t want to go any further than that, but it varies with each player. Jake was one of them.”

Schedule thoughts

Payton said his impression when the schedule came out was that it seemed “unremarkable,” in a good way.

Payton’s never coached this far west and said it may have some impact on how his team travels.

“We’ve got a couple of East Coast games where we may go two days in advance. Miami early on (Sept. 24),” he said. “Buffalo on Monday night (Nov. 13). That creates that little shorter window. Our schedule will be different than anything you’re used to. If we end up flying home and landing after 2 a.m., we’re probably going to stay. So we’ll probably stay in Buffalo, fly back Tuesday, players off Wednesday and then push the work week back a day.”