ENGLEWOOD, Colo. — It turned out Denver Broncos operating again J.Ok. Dobbins’ hope that he might assist revive the group’s offense was to not be, because the sixth-year operating again was positioned on injured reserve, the group introduced Saturday.
The transfer probably ends Dobbins’ season if the Broncos do not make it to the Tremendous Bowl, sources informed ESPN’s Adam Schefter.
Dobbins suffered the damage within the third quarter of final week’s 10-7 victory over the Las Vegas Raiders and has already undergone surgical procedure. He stated he believed the damage occurred on a hip-drop sort out, which isn’t allowed by league guidelines, however added after the sport he believed he was “OK” and hoped for excellent news from the group’s medical workers.
However Dobbins, who’s enjoying on a one-year deal, had not practiced for the reason that damage as he and the group gathered info whilst coach Sean Payton continued to say a transfer to injured reserve was one of many attainable outcomes.
It means the Broncos (8-2) will probably be with out their main rusher Sunday once they face the Kansas Metropolis Chiefs at Empower Area at Mile Excessive, and past. Sources informed ESPN’s Schefter on Saturday that Dobbins may very well be obtainable to return if the Broncos have been to advance to the Tremendous Bowl on Feb. 8.
After the win over the Raiders, Dobbins, who has 772 yards dashing on 5.05 yards per carry this season, stated he needed to be a part of the answer for the group’s offensive struggles. Dobbins is one among 9 operating backs with sufficient carries to qualify who’ve averaged a minimum of 5 yards per carry this season.
“That is most likely the perfect group I have been on, and we owe it to the fan base, we owe it to ourselves to cease enjoying how we’re enjoying,” Dobbins stated of the group’s offense after the win. “We received to do higher; we simply should do higher. Ultimately it is going to chew us within the butt. And that is not what I need, that is not what my teammates need and we’ll get it mounted.”
Dobbins’ 21 runs of a minimum of 10 yards this season are fifth-most within the league.
Dobbins’ damage now places a highlight on rookie RJ Harvey, a second-round choose by the Broncos this previous April. Harvey has 50 carries for 214 yards to go together with 25 receptions and has the group’s longest run this season — a 50-yarder in opposition to the Tennessee Titans in Week 1.
“Positively excited to showcase my operating skill … [but] no matter Coach [Payton] needs me to do, I am keen to do,” Harvey stated after apply Friday.
He added: “It will be enjoyable on Sunday.”
Past his work as a runner this season, Dobbins was thought of by the Broncos’ coaches as essentially the most dependable operating again in go safety and was normally the selection in these conditions, particularly in tight video games.
The Broncos may also probably have Jaleel McLaughlin and Tyler Badie within the rotation as effectively. Badie has performed in among the personnel groupings when the Broncos are in an up-tempo look in addition to in some long-yardage conditions.
McLaughlin, who topped 400 yards dashing in every of the 2 earlier seasons after he made the roster as an undrafted rookie in 2023, has had one carry this season — in opposition to the New York Jets in Week 6.
[McLaughlin] is prepared,” Payton stated. “It will be tough to play for 2 seasons after which be inactive. He is a kind of guys. He is the primary within the constructing … He’ll stroll by the [practice] script, after which work out after which be consuming breakfast when persons are simply arriving.”
Dobbins is one among three Broncos starters who will miss Sunday’s recreation. Linebacker Alex Singleton, the group’s main tackler, and reigning Defensive Participant of the Yr Pat Surtain II have been additionally dominated out on Friday.
Singleton had surgical procedure Monday to take away a cancerous tumor from a testicle, and Surtain will miss his third recreation with a pectoral damage. Total, the Broncos’ damage report is extra in depth for the matchup with the Chiefs than it has been for many of the season. Outdoors linebacker Jonah Elliss (hamstring), who’s a rotational go rusher for the protection, and tight finish Nate Adkins (knee) have additionally been dominated out.
The Broncos’ good little bit of damage information is that huge receiver Marvin Mims Jr., a two-time Professional Bowl choose as a returner, has practiced all week and is about to play in opposition to Kansas Metropolis after lacking two video games with a concussion.
