The Denver Broncos gave a big boost to their backfield earlier this month when they signed veteran running back J.K. Dobbins.
Dobbins has battled injuries throughout his career, but he was healthy for 13 games last fall and totaled 1,058 yards from scrimmage and scored nine touchdowns with the Los Angeles Chargers.
“It’s exciting,” Broncos offensive coordinator Joe Lombardi said of the Dobbins addition on June 11. “That is a guy who’s had a lot of success in his career. It’s someone we’ve always had a lot of respect for. It adds talent and competition to that room. Obviously he’s been a very productive runner, and he’s a good pass protector. I think it will help the competition in that room and help the team.”
Denver just used a second-round pick to select UCF running back RJ Harvey in this year’s NFL draft, and the team also has 2024 fifth-round draft pick Audric Estime and 2023 undrafted signee Jaleel McLaughlin returning.
“Anytime you have a guy with that kind of experience — you just kind of saw him for the first time out here today,” Lombardi said of Dobbins joining the young backfield. “He was locked in, and you could tell he has really good habits. It’s always good to have that veteran example like that for the young guys.”
Dobbins and Harvey figure to be the top two options in the team’s backfield this fall as coach Sean Payton recreates a one-two punch that worked well during his time with the New Orleans Saints. With two RB1-caliber players, the Broncos won’t have to lean on Dobbins, which could help the veteran stay healthy in 2025. It was a low-risk signing for Denver with the potential for a productive reward.
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