JK Dobbins Could Return At The Perfect Time For The Denver Broncos
Broncos running back J.K. Dobbins, who suffered what could have been a season-ending foot injury in Week 10 against the Raiders, could return to the field at the perfect time. Per Adam Schefter, the Denver Broncos are opening the practice window for him, and he has a chance to play in Sunday’s AFC championship game vs. the Patriots.
Dobbins has been on injured reserve since week 11 with a Lisfranc foot injury and has made steady progress since November. Head Coach Sean Payton said last week that Dobbins was close to returning and was doing work off to the side during practice, which is a very encouraging sign. Dobbins, projected to finish as a top-five rusher in the NFL had he not gone down, would be a much-needed boost for Denver’s offense.
The Broncos Need Dobbins Back
Ever since losing Dobbins against the Las Vegas Raiders, Denver’s run game has taken a huge hit. Rookie RJ Harvey has thrived in the receiving game, but has struggled to put things together in the backfield, averaging just 3.7 yards per carry. In the receiving game, he’s precisely what Sean Payton is looking for. In the regular season, Harvey brought in 48 receptions for 356 yards and seven touchdowns.
What made their backfield so effective was Dobbins’ ability to rack up huge gains on the ground and RJ Harvey’s underrated threat in the passing game. With injuries to Pat Bryant and Troy Franklin, being able to use Harvey primarily as a receiver rather than a runner would be highly beneficial for the Broncos. Without Bo Nix, Denver could use all the help it can get, and Dobbins would help reinvigorate the running game, which Payton’s offense relies on heavily.
Dobbins’ Return Would Help Stidham
Jarrett Stidham is entering Sunday’s game with hopes of leading his team to the Super Bowl with Bo Nix sidelined with a fractured ankle. Stidham is highly familiar with Sean Payton’s system, having been in it for three seasons, and Payton has the utmost confidence in him to deliver in Nix’s place. While it was just the preseason, Stidham played very well with a bunch of second- and third-string players.
The key to winning the AFC Championship will be establishing the run, which will be easy if Dobbins is out there. Before the injury, Dobbins was on pace to rush for over 1,000 yards and was rushing for 5 yards per carry. He was the first elite-level running back the Broncos had in a long time, and his return would make all of his teammates more confident when it comes to their chances of advancing to the Super Bowl.
Broncos Are In A Good Spot
While many are down and counting the Broncos out on Sunday, they still have a great chance to come out on top. Stidham is one of the better backup quarterbacks in the NFL, and will have a top-three defense supporting him. He doesn’t have to throw for 300 yards and four touchdowns; he has to play clean football and not turn the ball over. Not to mention, he’ll have one of the best offensive minds in the history of the NFL calling the plays.
Sean Payton said early yesterday that he would start adjusting the playbook to cater to Jarrett Stidham. If JK Dobbins can return, he’ll be able to open things up even more. Other key players to keep an eye on this week are WR’s Troy Franklin and Pat Bryant, who exited Saturday’s game, and starting Center Luke Wattenburg, who’s been on IR with a shoulder injury since Christmas. Denver is still in a good spot.
