Broncos GM George Paton
Getty
With the regular season on the horizon, Broncos GM George Paton could soon re-sign RB Blake Watson.
As the 2025-26 regular season approaches, teams like the Denver Broncos have a clear idea of who will be a part of the organization. Still, it’s possible that end-of-roster shakeups occur in the coming weeks.
One of those might just relate to an old friend joining the franchise again. In the aftermath of roster cutdowns taking place, general manager George Paton is reportedly interested in reuniting with a familiar face.
Per an August 30 report from Chris Tomasson of the Denver Gazette, running back Blake Watson could be back in town in due time.
After recently waiving RB Blake Watson, #Broncos have interest in signing him to practice squad but they would have to wait at least 3 weeks after agreeing to injury settlement with him. Watson suffered PCL strain at New Orleans and is busy rehabbing what isn't a long-term injury
— Chris Tomasson (@christomasson) August 30, 2025
Broncos Could Reunite With Blake Watson During Regular Season
Tomasson explained further via X.
“After recently waiving RB Blake Watson, Broncos have interest in signing him to practice squad but they would have to wait at least 3 weeks after agreeing to injury settlement with him,” Tomasson wrote. “Watson suffered PCL strain at New Orleans and is busy rehabbing what isn’t a long-term injury.”
Watson, a second-year man, suffered his knee injury on a kickoff return against the New Orleans Saints on August 23. The former Old Dominion and Memphis standout left the game in the fourth quarter, sealing his fate in regards to the 53-man roster. He was later waived with an injury settlement but as Tomasson noted, it isn’t an ailment that will end his season.
The fact of the matter is Watson was already on the outside looking in. With that said, he did enjoy a productive preseason. The Queens native recorded 8 carries for 41 yards, as well as 6 receptions for 30 yards.
Watson originally joined Denver as a 2024 undrafted free agent. He started the 2024-25 campaign on the non-football injury list, later to bounce between the practice squad and active roster. He made two appearances during the regular season. On 18 combined snaps in his debut campaign, Watson recorded 4 carries for 10 yards and a 13-yard reception.
Given that the Broncos don’t have a running back on the practice squad, a Watson reunion makes sense. It’d give them some quality organizational depth.
Stacking Up Denver’s Running Back Room Entering 2025 Season
One thing that worked against Watson this summer was the Broncos’ depth. Running back is a strength of this team, leading to even players like Audric Estime getting cut. Those were tough decisions, made even trickier by those who stood out this preseason. Watson was among that group, regardless of injury.
With the season on the horizon, Denver carries four running backs on the roster. At the top, the duo of veteran J.K. Dobbins and rookie RJ Harvey will dominate carries. The exact split between them may change, but the hierarchy clearly favors them. Head coach Sean Payton is fond of both runners.
The two players behind them shouldn’t be counted out, however. Jaleel McLaughlin, regarded as the third-string man, was heavily involved just a year ago. In 16 games last season, he logged 137 touches and averaged 4.2 yards per opportunity. His significant workload on the ground (113 attempts for 496 yards) makes him a candidate to account for. Tyler Badie, a 2022 sixth-round pick by the Baltimore Ravens, does the little things well. He’s a near-perfect depth piece.
That simply didn’t leave room for a banged-up Watson. If Tomasson’s report carries weight, though, he could be back in some capacity very soon once that settlement clears.