The coaches leading the Denver Broncos were thrilled on Wednesday, talking about the team’s latest pickup — a proven NFL running back, J.K. Dobbins.
The former Los Angeles Charger, Dobbins, switched AFC West teams this week by signing a one-year deal in Denver. In one sentence containing one statistic, it should sum up just how big the signing could be for the Broncos. Dobbins is coming off a season where he had more rushing touchdowns for L.A. than the Broncos got from their entire group of running backs last fall.
“I thought he was one of the best backs we faced last year,” Broncos defensive coordinator Vance Joseph said. “I’m happy he’s a Bronco.”
Dobbins rushed it 25 times for 96 yards and a touchdown, to go along with two catches when he played in a 23-16 Chargers win at Empower Field last fall. Dobbins twice had reached the 100-yard rushing mark in the few weeks prior — Denver didn’t have a single runner last year hit 90 yards in a game, and Latavius Murray is the lone player to even notch 90 yards in a game during any contest over the last three seasons.
“Really good player,” Broncos offensive coordinator Joe Lombardi said.
But Dobbins’ strong day in Denver was his last time getting over 90 yards in a game last season, as injuries took a toll on him. And frankly, that’s the lone knock on his career to this point. Last fall, the 26-year-old Dobbins rushed for 905 yards and nine touchdowns in his lone year with the Chargers; he missed four games late in the year. The No. 55 pick out of Ohio State in the 2020 NFL Draft has had his career plagued by pain. It’s why the Baltimore Ravens went a different direction after Dobbins only suited up for nine games over three seasons between 2021 and 2023. Simply said, when he’s healthy, he’s one of the better backs in the league — he just hasn’t been able to stay healthy.
“The good runners, they have a little spaghetti sauce in the recipe that’s important,” Broncos head coach Sean Payton said. “And I don’t want to make comparisons to him, because I haven’t been with him long enough, but when you see the consistency, it’s not an accident.”
Dobbins seems to be a threat for 1,000 yards every time he has stayed healthy for an entire campaign. Last year, he was so strong on his feet that he finished runner-up in the AP’s Comeback Player of the Year race. After leaving the East Coast and John Harbaugh, Dobbins played on the West Coast for Jim Harbaugh. The rushing-oriented coaches certainly helped bolster his game. Despite a solid season and no fumbles since 2020, this Harbaugh too chose another direction, making like his brother, who replaced Dobbins with Derrick Henry, but instead with Najee Harris.
“We’ll see how training camp goes, see how all the carries go,” Payton said. “And you know what? When that time comes, you guys are going to know, just like I’m going to know, you’re going to see.”
What Payton is referring to is the Broncos is their somewhat crowded room, that he’s not making any decisions on quite yet. But almost everyone is assuming that Dobbins will form a 1-2 punch with rookie second-round pick RJ Harvey from UCF. Beyond that, there’s the always steady Jaleel McLaughlin, who has rushed for over 900 yards in his career as a multi-year third-stringer. Then there’s 2024 NFL Draft fifth-round pick Audric Estime, Tyler Badie and Blake Watson, who have gotten game action with the team.
But if Wednesday’s words mean anything, it’s a sign that Dobbins should be a serious part of the Broncos offense this fall.
QB1 Bo Nix and his new running back J.K. Dobbins both at mandatory mini-camp. Nix had some nice throws, it’s clear Dobbins will get worked in between now and training camp. pic.twitter.com/YEFNSWyo95
— Will Petersen (@PetersenWill) June 11, 2025