J.K. Dobbins, Denver Broncos
Getty
J.K. Dobbins #27 of the Denver Broncos celebrates after defeating the Las Vegas Raiders.
In the wake of signing a new 2-year, $20 million contract, this probably wasn’t the best use of his time for Denver Broncos running back J.K. Dobbins.
Alas, here we are after Dobbins traded insults with Broncos fans — or were they? — on social media after the Broncos surprised everyone by making the oft-injured Dobbins one of the NFL’s highest-paid running backs after he played 2025 on a 1-year, $2.065 million contract.
The surprise about Dobbins’ contract came, in large part, because he only played in 10 games before he suffered a season-ending Lisfranc foot injury in Week 10 against the Las Vegas Raiders.
To be expected with any decision, good or bad, there were people on the internet who were going to go after the Broncos and Dobbins.
This time, Dobbins decided it was time to go back at them.
Dobbins Hits Back at Criticism Over Signing
Former Broncos offensive lineman and Super Bowl champion Tyler Polumbus questioned whether or not his old team had improved at all in a post to his official X account — specifically singling out the running backs.
“Broncos had 3 upgrade needs on offense entering Free Agency: RB TE and WR1,” Polumbus wrote on Monday. “They now enter the draft with 3 needs for upgrades on offense. RB TE and WR1. Thoughts???”
Dobbins had some thoughts.
“Lol go check the numbers and tell us how many RBs are better,” Dobbins wrote in reply to Polumbus, followed by a thumbs down emoji.
Let’s Talk Broncos’ Zach Segars posted and deleted on X something that drew a similar reply from Dobbins.
“Go check the numbers,” Dobbins wrote in reply to Segars, followed by another thumbs down emoji.
Dobbins saved his most potent vitriol for Broncos superfan Respect My Cos.
“13m was too much for Travis Etienne … but we paid JK DOBBINS 10 a YEAR????? HE AVERAGES 7 GAMES A SZN LMAOOOO,” Respect My Cos wrote on Monday. “JK Dobbins 2yr 20m ….. That’s the worst contract in free agency this year and is up there with one of the worst contracts in Denver Broncos history … Unbelievable.”
Dobbins replied to the diss but later deleted the post.
“Go be a fan for a different team lame ass dude and don’t try to turn back around when I shut the fluke injury (expletive) up this year,” Dobbins wrote, followed by, you guessed it … a thumbs-down emoji.
Screenshot
Dobbins Injury History is No Fluke
While Dobbins’ 2025 injury may actually be a fluke — he was hurt on an illegal hip drop tackle by Tyree Wilson — his overall injury history speaks to much bigger issues with him staying healthy.
Respect My Cos was quick to point out as much.
“It’s not if with JK Dobbins … It’s when…. 2020: Missed 1 game, 2021: missed 17 games, 2022: Missed 9 games, 2023: Missed 16 games, 2024: Missed 4 games, 2025: missed 7 games and 2 playoff games,” Respect My Cos wrote.
Dobbins led the Broncos with 772 rushing yards, 4 touchdowns, and was averaging a robust 5.0 yards per carry at the time of his injury.
In 2020, Dobbins rushed for 805 yards and 9 touchdowns for the Baltimore Ravens as a rookie. He played just 9 games over the next 3 seasons due to injuries, including missing the entire 2021 season after he tore his ACL in the preseason.
Dobbins returned from his injury to play 8 games in 2022, but tore his Achilles tendon in Week 1 of the 2023 regular season. He played for the Los Angeles Chargers in 2024 and missed 4 games due to an MCL sprain.