The Denver Broncos may finally be getting some good news in the trenches, as starting left guard Ben Powers is nearing a potential return from the biceps injury that has derailed the run game since Week 5, according to a timeline analyzed by PredominatelyOrange. The recovery timeline puts Powers on track to have a shot to play around Week 14, just as Denver pushes toward the playoff race.
“The recovery time from his biceps injury was reported as being around two months, and this week is the two-month mark, so perhaps there is a shot he plays in Week 14,” the report said.
Earlier in the season, the Broncos leaned on free-agent addition J.K. Dobbins to jump-start the ground attack after signing the running back in June. With Powers clearing lanes up front, Denver was able to run the ball with authority and take pressure off the passing game.
That formula took a major hit when Dobbins suffered what appears to be a season-ending foot injury against the Las Vegas Raiders a few weeks ago. There is at least a slim chance Dobbins could return if the Broncos make a deep playoff run, but for now Denver has had to lean on RJ Harvey and Jaleel McLaughlin, and the results have been uneven at best.
Broncos Eye Ben Powers’ Return From Biceps Injury
The drop-off in the run game after Powers went down has been stark, according to the report.
Powers suffered his biceps injury in Denver’s Week 5 win over the Philadelphia Eagles. In the first five games of the season with Powers in the lineup, the Broncos averaged a strong 140.6 rushing yards per game.
Since then, Denver’s production on the ground has fallen off. In the seven games Powers has missed, the Broncos are averaging just 104.1 rushing yards per game.
It is not all on Powers’ absence, either. There was a stretch earlier this year when Dobbins was still healthy but Powers was sidelined. Over that five-game span, with Dobbins available and Powers out, the Broncos averaged only 116.6 rushing yards per game.
Back in August, Payton sounded almost certain the ground game would take off with JK Dobbins and RJ Harvey in the fold.
“And so, we’ve immediately upgraded that position … you’re going to see a different, and hopefully a markedly different running game,” Payton said then.
The offensive line remains a solid unit without Powers, but the numbers underline how much he helps the run game. His presence has clearly been a positive force in the middle of the line, and getting him back as the calendar flips toward December would be a timely boost.
The reported recovery time for his biceps injury was roughly two months. This week marks that two-month mark, which gives Denver real hope that Powers could be available as soon as Week 14.
What Ben Powers’ Return Would Mean for the Broncos’ Run Game
If Powers is back in the lineup, the ripple effect could be huge for an offense that has struggled to find consistent balance without Dobbins.
Harvey has yet to truly find his rhythm as the lead back, and McLaughlin profiles more as a change-of-pace option with a lower ceiling as a workhorse. A healthier interior line, anchored by Powers, could open cleaner lanes and give both backs a better chance to keep the chains moving.
Powers signed with Denver in 2023 and had not missed a game for the Broncos until this season. His durability and physical presence were part of why Denver invested heavily in the offensive line.
At the same time, the recent extension for Luke Wattenberg raises long-term questions. With so much money already tied up in the trenches, it is fair to wonder whether Powers could become a cap casualty in the offseason if the front office needs to create space. For now, though, the focus is squarely on getting him back on the field and stabilizing the run game before the postseason.
If Denver cannot get its ground attack going, the Broncos risk being one-and-done in the playoffs. Powers returning on schedule would be one of the biggest in-house additions the team could make down the stretch.
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