Denver Broncos running back J.K. Dobbins “pinky promised” to avoid injuries that will sideline him. He’s already on the verge of breaking it.
Dobbins exited Monday’s practice with the team’s trainers. In a news conference after the session, Broncos head coach Sean Payton said the RB suffered a soft-tissue injury but should be “fine.”
Luckily for the Broncos, Dobbins didn’t suffer a season-ending injury. However, it remains a cause for concern given his medical history.
Why J.K. Dobbins’ minor injury could be a big deal for Broncos
Dobbins, a 2020 second-round pick, has never played more than 15 games in the regular season due to injuries. The former Ohio State Buckeyes standout has suffered ACL and Achilles tendon tears over the course of his career with the Baltimore Ravens,
Los Angeles Chargers and Broncos.
Last season, Dobbins averaged a career-high 77.2 rushing yards per game (772 in 10 games) before suffering a left foot injury in Week 10 and missing the rest of the season. The Broncos’ ground game (114.1 rushing yards per game, No. 21 in the NFL) stalled without him. Take a look at the chart below. (Note: we didn’t include Week 10 because it skewed the first average.)
| Weeks 1-9 (with Dobbins) | 133.6 rushing yards per game |
| Weeks 11-17 (without Dobbins) | 104.6 rushing yards per game |
The Broncos struggled to run the ball even more in the playoffs. They averaged a below-average 3.3 yards per carry (79 yards on 24 carries) in a 10-7 loss to the New England Patriots in the AFC Championship Game.
Broncos quarterback Bo Nix missed that game after fracturing his right ankle late in a 33-30 overtime win over the Buffalo Bills in the divisional round. Even if Nix played against the Patriots, Denver’s run-game issues still could’ve cost it a Super Bowl trip.
Backfield depth behind Dobbins is once again a question in 2026. The Broncos selected former Washington Huskies RB Jonah Coleman with pick No. 108 in the fourth round of the 2026 NFL Draft. Payton likes what he has seen from Coleman thus far, but it’s a big ask for a Day 3 pick to power a team’s ground game.
Second-year RB RJ Harvey, meanwhile, has yet to prove he’s more than a gadget guy. He led the Broncos in rushing touchdowns (seven in 17 games) last season but averaged just 3.7 yards per carry (540 yards on 146 carries).
The Broncos often used Nix — who ranked second on the team in rushing TDs (five in 17 games) in 2025 — in the run game during his first two seasons. However, they may want him to run less in 2026, so he doesn’t re-injure his ankle.
Dobbins isn’t expected to miss regular-season games yet, but the RB’s early injury is concerning for the Broncos, who are aiming to reach their first Super Bowl since the 2015 season. Denver was counting on the RB finally staying healthy in 2026, and once again, it’s unclear if he can.
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