Through six weeks, the Broncos’ clearest roster problem has stopped being subtle. It’s the run game.
Denver sits at 4-2, but the ground attack hasn’t given the offense anything close to a dependable base. There have been a few bright spots - Jonah Coleman’s rookie debut in Week 2 and the opening half of the Week 6 win over the Seattle Seahawks - yet the larger picture is hard to ignore. The Broncos still don’t have a rushing identity they can count on week to week.
That matters even more because Bo Nix has been stuck in a slump, especially over the last three games. He has 28 wins as a pro, but it’s hard to say he’s had much help on the ground. As Sean Payton has said, quarterback is the hardest position to play in the NFL sans a run game, and with the trade deadline set for November 10, that reality is front and center for Denver.
There is still time for the picture to change. The Broncos have three games before the deadline, and outside of a Week 8 matchup with the Kansas City Chiefs, the defenses ahead are not on the same level as the ones Denver has already faced.
That early stretch has been brutal. Based on opposing defenses, the Broncos have played the second-toughest schedule through six games, and it has shown in the offense’s lack of rhythm.
That’s part of why there’s optimism around Dove Valley that Nix and the offense could soon find their footing and maybe even put together a run. But if the next three games don’t produce clearer answers, Denver has to seriously consider the trade market.
J.K. Dobbins has not delivered the kind of production the Broncos need.
He’s averaging 3.3 yards per carry, which puts him on pace for a career-low season. RJ Harvey brings burst and is tough to bring down, but the Broncos haven’t shown much willingness to feature him as a true every-down runner.
Coleman, though, may be the most important piece in this whole discussion. He is expected back from injured reserve this week, and he may be Denver’s best shot at finally waking up the rushing attack unless Dobbins suddenly finds another gear.
The rookie has shown good vision, plus power, burst and contact balance. The issue is simple: he’s still young and inexperienced.
Dobbins has pointed to the schedule as the main reason the run game hasn’t taken off, and that explanation carries some weight. But he doesn’t look like the same back the Broncos got for 10 games last season. He has been indecisive and hasn’t shown the same burst.
With the deadline looming, Denver needs to learn fast what Coleman can bring. Dobbins has been trending toward 20 carries per game lately, but that workload may need to be trimmed so Coleman can take on a meaningful share.
If the Broncos decide they’re buyers, the running back market does have some intriguing names. The Indianapolis Colts are open to moving Jonathan Taylor, and there’s at least a chance the Philadelphia Eagles could listen on Saquon Barkley as rumors swirl about a possible roster reboot.
Tony Pollard, however, doesn’t look like the kind of upgrade that would justify a move over Dobbins. Kyren Williams would be a far more appealing fit in orange and blue, but the Los Angeles Rams are unlikely to sell unless their two-game losing streak gets worse before November 10.
Bucky Irving is another name worth watching. Tampa Bay appears headed toward a losing season and a new coaching regime, which makes him an interesting possibility. Denver has both options and future draft capital to work with.
There are also those who would argue the offensive line is the bigger problem, and it’s hard to dismiss that view. The unit has disappointed so far. But even if the Broncos somehow landed a player like Quenton Nelson, as talented as he is, that wouldn’t change the offense the way a true top-tier running back could.
So if Denver is going to buy, the focus should be clear: running back. But the Broncos still have three games to find out whether Dobbins and Harvey can give them more, and whether Coleman’s return from IR can help push the whole operation forward.
In Other News...
Broncos Defense Gets A Timely Boost Before Arizona Test
The Broncos are getting a much-needed defensive lift at just the right time as they prepare for Arizona. Pat Surtain II has returned to full practice after an ankle injury, and his presence gives Denver a stabilizing force on the back end as the matchup with the Cardinals approaches.
Jonathon Cooper is also back in the mix after being reinstated from the Commissioner Exempt list, giving the pass rush another option for the first time this season. On the other side of the roster, rookie running back Jonah Coleman remains on the path back and is eligible to return from injury within the next 21 days, adding another piece to watch as Denver keeps managing its roster through the season. [Read more 🡒]
Broncos Have A Growing Problem They Can't Ignore Up Front
A unit that looked like one of the Broncos biggest strengths entering the 2026 season has become a much louder question as the offense has stalled in recent games. The line was viewed as the leagues top group in preseason evaluations, and Denver committed major money to the front, building around veterans Garett Bolles, Mike McGlinchey and Quinn Meinerz with the expectation that it would be a stable foundation for Sean Paytons offense.
Instead, the production has not matched the investment, and Payton has already acknowledged the need for better play up front if the Broncos want their offense to function more efficiently. For a team trying to establish rhythm and consistency, the concern is no longer just about one rough stretch. It is whether a unit built to be a strength can quickly become a problem Denver cannot keep working around. [Read more 🡒]
Bo Nix Debate Gets More Complicated For A Broncos Team Still Winning
The Broncos quarterback conversation keeps getting louder even as the wins keep piling up, and Fox Sports analyst Joel Klatt is pushing back on the idea that a change under center would automatically solve anything. Klatt pointed to Denvers strong defense as a major reason the team is still in the hunt, while also noting that the current debate is really about whether a different quarterback would actually raise the ceiling more than Bo Nix can.
For Klatt, the answer is still no. He suggested the Broncos best path is not a quick switch, but a better version of Nix himself, which is what makes this stretch so tricky for a team that is trying to balance patience with urgency. If the offense keeps sputtering, the question only gets harder, but for now the argument around Denvers quarterback spot remains as much about the long view as the next snap. [Read more 🡒]