Broncos head coach Sean Payton projected optimism about injured running backs RJ Harvey and J.K. Dobbins on Monday, but the team still explored available options at the position the following day.
Undrafted rookies Jaden Nixon and Sam Scott, along with 2025 UDFA Marcus Yarns, worked out in Denver on Tuesday, per Chris Tomasson of The Denver Gazette. None of the three are expected to sign immediately, but Nixon did undergo a full physical at the facility. He could be a future practice squad candidate, especially if Harvey and/or Dobbins need more time to recover from their hamstring injuries. The former went down in Week 1 but practiced in a limited capacity last week, while the latter left in the second half of Sunday’s win over the Jaguars.
Payton said (via Parker Gabriel of The Denver Post) that Harvey, Dobbins, and third-round rookie Jonah Coleman can all “handle a majority of the carries,” but admitted the team had “a lot ahead of us this week relative to who our runners are going to be.”
The Broncos also have Tyler Badie on their 53-man roster. He could step into a larger pass-catching role after recording two receptions for 28 yards in Week 2. Cody Schrader is the lone running back on the practice squad and brings virtually no experience – one appearance for the Rams in each of the last two seasons with two snaps on offense and 14 on special teams. (Interestingly, Schrader received touches on both of his offensive snaps as an undrafted rookie in 2024.)
None of Denver’s Tuesday tryouts have any regular-season experience. Nixon began his college career at Oklahoma State in 2021 before transferring to start at Western Michigan in 2024. He earned first-team All-MAC honors with 919 yards and 12 touchdowns on just 143 attempts, positioning him to return to the Big 12 via transfer to UCF. Nixon recorded 554 yards and seven touchdowns on just 71 attempts as part of a committee; over his final two college seasons, the 24-year-old averaged 6.9 yards per carry with 19 rushing touchdowns. He signed with the Packers as an undrafted free agent this spring and ran for 65 yards and one touchdown on 17 carries in the preseason.
Scott, 23, averaged 4.7 yards per carry over his final three years at Wyoming with nine total touchdowns. He signed with the Jets this spring and carried the ball nine times for 27 yards in the preseason before being waived with an injury settlement.
Yarns, 24, went undrafted in 2025 after five years at Delaware. He spent his first NFL preseason with the Saints but was waived during 53-man roster cuts. He then signed with the UFL’s now-defunct Houston Gamblers and led the league with 5.7 yards per carry. Yarns previously worked out for the Broncos in June, as well as the Texans.
Updates on Harvey and Dobbins will inform Denver’s next moves, though both have notable enough injury histories that a signing might be warranted in any event.