PHOENIX — When the Broncos re-signed running back J.K. Dobbins, it was impossible to evaluate the move without considering the injury risk. No discussion of his outlook and no projection of his work to come can happen without it.
It’s the unfortunate aspect of Dobbins’ career. The torn anterior cruciate ligament he suffered in the 2021 preseason while playing for the Baltimore Ravens set off an unremitting rash of health-related woe that has landed him on injured reserve for five-consecutive seasons.
He’s one of the NFL’s most-effective running backs — when he suits up. But he’s missed more games than he’s played.
“No, you’re right,” Broncos general manager George Paton acknowledged when a reporter brought up the injury history. “It’s a tough balance, but he’s 27 years old. He’s completely healthy now.”
And while the injuries of 2021, 2022, 2023 and 2024 are notable, Dobbins’ season-ending Lisfranc injury last year came on a hip-drop tackle that the league reviewed before determining that it was not fine-worthy.
“That injury was kind of — it was a hip drop. You know, it was a freak. His body didn’t break down,” Paton said. “He could have played in the Super Bowl.”
Dobbins himself said last week “I could have played” in the AFC Championship Game, but the Broncos opted for caution in holding him out of what became a 10-7, snow-choked defeat.
But the other factor to which Paton pointed was beyond health and on-field production, and a word one hears often around the Broncos: culture.
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DOBBINS “CHANGED” THE BRONCOS”
“This guy, from the minute he walked in our building, changed it,” Paton said, “and so it was like, we just didn’t want to let him leave. He meant too much to the building.
“He was a top-four rusher in the league when he got hurt. Let’s sign him back. He meant too much to this team.”
And while Paton said the team is “always looking” at running backs — and has been connected to a flurry of draftable runners for formal Combine interviews and top-30 visits at team headquarters — Paton maintained that the Broncos “feel good with where we’re at right now” after re-signing Jaleel McLaughlin and Tyler Badie, thus giving the team the same running-back corps it had at the end of the season.
“We like the backs. RJ [Harvey] is just going to keep getting better,” Paton said. “What did he have, 12 touchdowns, explosive play. I mean, explosive receiver out of the backfield. Matchup problem. He’s going to get better as a runner. He got better as the year went on.
“Then you got Badie you got Jaleel, we got Cody Schrader
“We’re going to be looking in the draft. we’re going to be looking after the draft. We’re always looking. I mean, we didn’t sign J.K. till what, May or June last year. we feel good with where we’re at right now. And last year at this time, we didn’t have J.K. and we didn’t have RJ and we were okay, so, we’re going to be fine.”
Now, they just hope Dobbins will be fine, health-wise. For as long as possible.