A youth football camp in Aurora gave JK Dobbins his platform, and he took the chance to make a promise focused on something he’s never been able to control in his six NFL seasons: staying healthy.
“What I’m going to show is that last year wasn’t a fluke,” Dobbins told the Denver Post’s Luca Evans. “Like, instead of being No. 3 in the NFL, I’ll be No. 1 this year. And there won’t be any injuries.”
Dobbins was fifth in the league in rushing yards, not third, but the larger point stands. Through 10 games in 2025, he ran for 772 yards and four touchdowns on 153 carries, averaging 5.0 yards per attempt, before a Lisfranc injury ended his season in Week 10.
Sep 25, 2022; Foxborough, Massachusetts, USA; Baltimore Ravens running back JK Dobbins (27) runs the ball during the first half against the New England Patriots at Gillette Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Paul Rutherford-USA TODAY Sports
The Broncos’ run game cratered without him. Next Gen Stats showed Denver generating 230 rushing yards over expected in the first 10 weeks of the season, a figure that collapsed to negative 124 over the final eight weeks after Dobbins went down.
Why the Broncos bet on Dobbins again despite a career defined by injury
Denver re-signed Dobbins to a two-year, $16 million deal in March, calling it a priority above nearly everything else on their offseason checklist. He nearly signed with the Jacksonville Jaguars before returning to Denver.
His track record explains why the skepticism around his health promise is fair. Dobbins missed his entire second season with the Ravens in 2021 after a preseason knee injury. He missed four games in 2024 with the Chargers. He has never played a full 17-game regular season in his career.
Confidence: Broncos RB JK Dobbins says last season wasn’t a fluke and he’s going to prove it in 2026.
“What I’m going to show is that last year wasn’t a fluke. Like, instead of being No. 3 in the NFL, I’ll be No. 1 this year. And there won’t be any injuries.”
Dobbins believes… pic.twitter.com/QIyThx6tuz
— Dov Kleiman (@NFL_DovKleiman) June 19, 2026
The Broncos drafted RJ Harvey in the second round last year as insurance, and Harvey quietly suffered a torn labrum in the AFC Championship loss to New England, requiring offseason surgery and limiting his offseason reps. Fourth-round rookie Jonah Coleman gives Denver a third option if both veterans falter again.
Head coach Sean Payton has called Dobbins a “force multiplier,” the kind of player who elevates everyone around him when he’s on the field. The Broncos came up short of their Super Bowl goal in 2025 largely due to injuries at the most critical positions.
Firmly believe that Dobbins staying upright for 17 games would change what Denver’s offense is capable of in a way no single addition this offseason can match.