The Broncos are getting a welcome shot in the arm back at running back, with rookie Jonah Coleman officially designated to return from short-term injured reserve and on track to be available as soon as Sunday’s matchup with the Cardinals.
Coleman, who landed on IR after suffering an ankle injury following Week 2, was listed as a full participant on Denver’s first Week 7 practice report. Cornerback Riley Moss was also a full participant because of his ribs.
Denver now has a 21-day window to activate Coleman to the 53-man roster, and the team will need to clear a spot when it does.
The rookie has flashed in limited work this season. Selected 108th overall in this year’s draft, Coleman turned 10 carries into 39 yards and a touchdown, and added three receptions for 19 yards before getting hurt in Denver’s Sept. 20 win over the Jacksonville Jaguars.
“He played well," head coach Sean Payton said after the Jaguars game. "Then the very end, that last carry was… We work on four-minute [situations], but that certainly didn’t feel like a rookie series, if you will.
He came up big, and we needed it. You carry three [running backs] on gameday like everyone else.
We were down to two and the fullback. Those guys did a good job, and then we found a couple schemes that we liked and stayed with it.
His play right at the end, staying in bounds, that was something you cover, but maybe he doesn’t get those same reps in practice. He did a good job.”
That kind of presence has been badly needed. Denver’s rushing game has been stuck in the mud, with veteran starter J.K.
Dobbins averaging a career-low 3.3 yards per carry through the first six games. RJ Harvey has value as a receiver out of the backfield, but he’s not built as a true volume runner.
Tyler Badie also missed Wednesday’s practice with a thumb issue.
As a unit, the Broncos have been 26th in rushing offense, averaging just 84.2 yards per game.
Coleman’s return could change the feel of the backfield right away. He should be in the mix in Arizona and could fit naturally into a game plan that leans on the ground game against a defense that can be attacked there, working alongside Dobbins on early downs and then giving way to Harvey in passing situations.
"We think it's a deep room, a talented room," Payton said Wednesday regarding Coleman's return. "So all those things are a positive."
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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 🡒]