The Broncos got a useful look at Jonah Coleman in Week 2, and the rookie made it count. Denver’s fourth-round running back logged 10 carries for 39 yards and a touchdown, then pointed to veteran J.K. Dobbins as a steady voice in his ear.
“J.K. always preached to me, ‘Be ready for your opportunity,'” Coleman said, via BroncosWire. “‘Be ready for your moment and take full advantage of it. You never know when your number is going to be called.’”
Coleman also credited the big men up front for the score, saying the line gave him a “great push.”
“The offensive line had a great push, and I was able to get in there,” Coleman said. “But it felt great to do that and ultimately put the team up and be able to take the lead and just let the defense go out there and rush because that’s what we do. So it was great to do that.”
The running back picture in Denver is still shifting. Dobbins left last week’s game against Jacksonville with leg cramps and is listed as day-to-day. Coleman is dealing with a sprained ankle, Dobbins is expected to practice this week, and RJ Harvey continues to work back from a hamstring injury.
In Kansas City, the Chiefs are waiting on left tackle Josh Simmons after a back injury has slowed him down. Andy Reid said Simmons is pushing to get back, but the team is still watching how he responds.
“He’s doing everything. He’s working his tail off.
We knew it’d be a couple of games. He’s making progress.
We’ll see where he’s at… We’ve got to see if that thing has calmed down, and if some of the swelling has calmed down.”
Reid said Wednesday that Simmons won’t practice. ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler said the team viewed this as a point where Simmons was expected to miss somewhere between two and four games.
The Chiefs also have a decision to make with first-round corner Mansoor Delane, whose shoulder hasn’t improved quite as much as hoped. Reid said Delane will likely play, though he remains day-to-day. Matt Derrick reported that Delane wanted to suit up and could have gone if needed, but the team was still working through his status.
There’s also some movement brewing on the defensive line. Reid said DT Omarr Norman-Lott could be a candidate to come off injured reserve after the bye week, and Derrick reported that Norman-Lott has been ramping up his activity as he eyes a return.
Out in Las Vegas, the Raiders are 2-0 under Klint Kubiak, but the head coach isn’t letting the record do the talking for him.
“I enjoy that our team is 2-0, our organization is 2-0,” Kubiak said, via Pro Football Talk. “No one’s made the playoffs going 2-0.
I think it just reinforces the messages that we’ve been sending. Our guys have been very coachable, and our guys want to win.
Winning is important to this team, it’s important to this coaching staff. We also have very short memories and know that you can only win one at a time.
And so, we’re turning the page, and now we get to prepare to play a really good Saints team.”
In Other News...
Broncos Gain One Edge But Key Week 3 Questions Still Linger
The Broncos got a little healthier at a spot that has mattered to their early-season rhythm, with Javonte Williams and De'Angelo Henderson both returning to full participation in practice this week. For a Denver offense still trying to find its footing, any lift in the backfield matters, especially with a Sunday night trip to face a Rams team also working through its own injury list.
Even so, the injury report still leaves a few important questions hanging over Week 3. Tim Patrick did not practice, Baron Browning was limited, and the Broncos will be watching closely as the week moves on, because availability at wide receiver and linebacker can shape both game plan and depth. Los Angeles has its own concerns, including tight end Tyler Higbee and linebacker Ernest Jones, which only adds another layer to a matchup that already feels like it could hinge on who is healthiest by kickoff. [Read more 🡒]
Vance Joseph Faces Another Brutal Test Against A Loaded Rams Offense
The Broncos are heading into another tricky defensive assignment, this time with Matthew Stafford and a Rams attack that can stress a game in several ways. Denver defensive coordinator Vance Joseph has seen plenty of elite quarterback play in his time with the team, including matchups against Patrick Mahomes and Lamar Jackson, and the Broncos have gone 5-5 in those games under his watch.
This one could demand even more than just handling Stafford. Los Angeles also brings Davante Adams into the mix and a run game that can keep a defense from settling in, which puts a premium on discipline and communication for Denver. It comes at a time when the Broncos offense is already dealing with injuries and inconsistent quarterback play, so Joseph's unit may again need to carry a heavy load while the rest of the team sorts out its own issues. [Read more 🡒]
Patrick Surtain Draws Serious Praise Before Broncos Sunday Night Test
Davante Adams had plenty of respect for Patrick Surtain II before the Rams and Broncos meet Sunday night, and it was easy to see why. The Los Angeles receiver singled out the Denver cornerback when talking about the matchup, acknowledging Surtain as one of the leagues top players at his position. The two have seen each other before, and their history has already produced enough quality snaps to make this one worth watching.
It also comes at a time when the Rams may need Adams even more. Puka Nacua is doubtful with a hip injury, which could put a heavier load on Los Angeles passing game and make the Adams-Surtain showdown even more central to how the night unfolds. For Denver, it is another chance for Surtain to measure himself against one of the sports most accomplished receivers, with the spotlight likely staying on that duel for as long as it lasts. [Read more 🡒]