Broncos Columnist Says Dobbins ‘Can’t Be Trusted’ In Diminished Role

The Denver Broncos are short on running backs these days, and they’ve been heavily rumored to be in on Indianapolis Colts running back Jonathan Taylor. Fingers are being pointed at erstwhile lead back J.K. Dobbins, as he’s struggling with low numbers as he continues to try and recover from the Lisfranc foot injury he sustained late last season. 

Dobbins has insisted he’s being “saved” for late in the season when he’s fully recovered, but rookie running back Jonah Coleman has been taking over his job. 

Coleman had a big play late in the game against the Kansas City Chiefs, as the running back led Denver’s final drive with a 51-yard catch-and-run after taking a short throw from quarterback Bo Nix, then ran the ball in from five yards out. He’s obviously on the rise, and coach Sean Payton has talked openly about getting Coleman more touches. 

But Payton also defended Dobbins, saying he was fine with the Broncos current two-man rotation with both Tyler Badie and RJ Harvey currently on IR. 

Denver Post columnist Troy Renck isn’t, however. He asked if Payton was “agreeable to Dobbins’ declining, and he referred to Dobbins as an “external distraction” for insisting on creating his own narrative. 

That’s perhaps more than a little over the top, but Renck did make a point about Coleman already having been injured. He, too, was recently on IR with an ankle injury, which does point to the thin depth at the position. 

Renck doesn’t care about the high price tag it would take to trade for Taylor, but he did drop another name that just surfaced in running back Derrick Henry of the Baltimore Ravens, who is also rumored to be available with Baltimore’s season going up in smoke due to quarterback Lamar Jackson’s latest injury. 

The columnist also mentioned running back Tony Pollard of the Tennessee Titans, noting that Pollard has 595 rushing yards on 4.5 yards per carry with six touchdowns.

Payton’s in a tough spot here. He knows the Broncos at least need another capable body for depth, but he’s also aware that Dobbins won’t take it well if any of the players Renck mentioned are brought in. This is why Payton gets top dollar, and this is a top-level, high-wire act he’s trying to pull off. There’s no right move here for the Broncos coach, but it does seem like the one thing he can’t afford to do is nothing.