The Denver Broncos are trending up in terms of health, and that could extend to injured starting running back J.K. Dobbins soon enough.
Dobbins is in his first season with the Broncos.
A second-round draft pick by the Baltimore Ravens in 2020, who spent the 2024 campaign with the Los Angeles Chargers, Dobbins quickly established himself as a key contributor for the Broncos this season. Getting him back, whenever it may happen, would be a tremendous boost.
Broncos HC Sean Payton Raises Eyebrows With J.K. Dobbins Update
GettyJ.K. Dobbins #27 of the Denver Broncos reacts after defeating the Philadelphia Eagles.
Broncos head coach Sean Payton made the attention-grabbing comments regarding Dobbins, who suffered a foot injury in the Broncos’ Week 10 home win against the Las Vegas Raiders.
The Broncos placed him on injured reserve with what was deemed a “Lisfranc” issue, which required surgery. Conservative estimates project Dobbins will miss the remainder of the regular season.
However, the postseason remains in play, perhaps even sooner than hoped.
“It wouldn’t be soon, but that has a chance to happen,” Payton told reporters on November 26 when asked about Dobbins returning for the Broncos at some point during the 2025 campaign.
NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero put Dobbins’ potential timeline for return into February, with the insider reporting on November 15 that “the door is open for JK Dobbins to return this season — if the Broncos make it to the Super Bowl.”
Dobbins, who turns 27 in December, had 772 yards and 4 touchdowns on 153 carries before his injury, on what he felt was an illegal hip-drop tackle but was not treated as such.
With him in the lineup, the Broncos rushed for 128.6 yards per game.
In their first game without Dobbins, a 22-19 win over the Kansas City Chiefs in Week 11, the Broncos rushed for a season-low 58 yards. Their matchup against the Washington Commanders should help clarify if that was an aberration or a looming issue.
Sean Payton Gets Honest About Broncos’ RB Room
GettyRJ Harvey #12 of the Denver Broncos runs the ball against the San Francisco 49ers
The Broncos turned to Jaleel McLaughlin as the preferred complement to RJ Harvey against the Chiefs with Dobbins sidelined. They have also given former Ravens sixth-round selection Tyler Badie, the No. 196 overall pick of the 2022 draft, work this season.
Payton expressed confidence in the Broncos’ current group when asked about adding a bigger back into the mix. No Broncos RB is listed over 212 pounds, which is what Dobbins weighs.
Instead, Payton turned to his former fullback with the New Orleans Saints, Adam Prentice.
“Jaleel’s played a lot of good football for us. And so, meanwhile, he and RJ both are coming on. Adam did a good job in some of the sub-protection stuff,” Payton said. “There’s some looks where you’re always paying attention to the size of the back in third-down pickup. And so, he had a few ‘Rhino’ tags where he was in on third down and was fantastic.”
Prentice did not receive a carry in that contest, but did catch one of his two targets, taking it 14 yards. He has a 4-17-0 line as a runner and a 3-31-0 line as a pass catcher. Dobbins’ potential to return could be enough motivation for the Broncos to make do until facing the possibility.
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