The Denver Broncos will enter a challenging matchup against the Kansas City Chiefs without several key players, including leading rusher J.K. Dobbins. A breakout running back, Dobbins leads the team with 772 rushing yards this year and will miss the remainder of the season with a foot injury. His absence will no doubt be felt in his usual role in the Broncos’ offensive gameplan, as they head into another pivotal divisional game on Sunday.
Along with Dobbins, linebacker Alex Singleton – the team’s leading tackler – will miss Sunday as well. Singleton recently had surgery to remove a cancerous tumor and is expected to miss several weeks of action. Reigning DPOY Pat Surtain II will be out for his third game in a row. Now he’s out with a torn pectoral.
The Broncos’ backfield will be a radically different place without the presence of Dobbins. As for who will fill that role, second-round pick R.J. Harvey is poised to assume the featured back duties. This year, Harvey has rushed for 214 yards on 50 carries. He’s been a huge factor in the passing game with 25 catches. Interestingly, he has the team’s longest run this year—a 50-yard dash against the Tennessee Titans in the first week of the season.
Jaleel McLaughlin and Tyler Badie should play significant roles and give Harvey some breathers. McLaughlin has gotten little run this year, with just one carry against the New York Jets in Week 6 thus far. Harvey expressed enthusiasm about stepping into a more significant role, stating, “Definitely excited to showcase my running ability … whatever Coach wants me to do, I’m willing to do.”
Head coach Sean Payton admitted it stinks to lose key players, but his optimism about the teams’ depth is unwavering. He emphasized Harvey’s commitment and work ethic, noting, “He’s one of those guys. He’s the first in the building. … He’ll walk through the script and then work out and then be eating breakfast when people are just arriving.”
The Broncos will be without outside linebacker Jonah Elliss (hamstring). They’ll be without tight end Nate Adkins, who is out with a knee injury. They only regularly ask for $70 million so they got some good news. Wide receiver Marvin Mims Jr. will return after missing two games while in concussion protocol.
The Broncos joined in with their own preparations to take out the Chiefs. They should make the quick adjustments to the biggest absences and hope that the rest of their roster steps up to the moment.
Leave a Reply