Sean Payton isn’t sounding the alarm on J.K. Dobbins, even if the early returns have been rough.
Denver’s veteran back has opened the 2026 season with a slow grind that has done little to change the look of the Broncos’ offense. Through three games, Dobbins has carried the ball 35 times for 121 yards and no touchdowns, a 3.5-yard average that marks the worst of his career. He’s been even quieter as a receiver, catching one of two targets for four yards while playing 42% of Denver’s offensive snaps.
That’s a far cry from what the Broncos expected when Dobbins, who turns 28 in December, signed a two-year extension this offseason. Injuries have already played a role, from a preseason soft-tissue issue to the hip problem he appeared to pick up in Week 1, but the production has simply not been there.
Payton addressed that Wednesday as Denver prepared for its Week 4 trip to San Francisco, and he made it clear he still believes the running back can turn it around.
“I think he’s ready, and I just think that there’ll be a combination of things that can lead into that, but I’m looking forward to watching him," Payton told reporters. "There’s a big reason why we brought him back and re-signed him because we saw the skill set and what drives him. He’s very competitive.”
The most recent sample didn’t help Dobbins’ case. Against the Rams last Sunday, he handled a team-high 17 carries but managed only 49 yards, a 2.9-yard average. His longest run went for six yards, and Denver’s other backs didn’t give the ground game much of a lift either, with RJ Harvey gaining six yards and Tyler Badie finishing with two.
The next chance comes against a 49ers defense that gives the Broncos a possible opening. San Francisco is allowing 105.7 rushing yards per game, which places it 15th in the league. At the same time, the Niners are much stronger everywhere else, ranking tied for third in points allowed, sixth in the red zone and seventh in yards per play allowed.
That makes Denver’s run game more than just a side note. If the Broncos can find some traction on the ground, it could ease the burden on quarterback Bo Nix and keep San Francisco from dictating the game.
“It’s important. I’ve been in times where you throw the ball too much, and you feel like that’s all you can do," Nix told reporters on Wednesday.
"Then I feel like running the ball a lot, and you want to throw it and stretch them downfield. At the end of the day, it’s what is the defense giving us?
How can we attack them? How can we be threats?
How can we get our guys in space? At the end of the day, if you run the ball down the field and you go score, nobody’s going to say anything.
If you throw the ball down the field and go score, nobody’s going to say anything. It’s finding that happy medium of doing it well balanced and just being able to go down the field and sustain drives.
I think a lot of it right now is just first and second down run-pass, first and second down early success, having good runs and really trying the best we can to stay out of third downs because that’s how defenses get off the field obviously.”
In Other News...
Broncos Could Get A Dangerous Weapon Back Just In Time
Marvin Mims Jr. was back on the practice field in full Wednesday, a welcome sign for a Broncos offense that has been waiting to get one of its more explosive pieces back in the mix. The second-year wide receiver missed the last two games because of a foot injury, and his return to full participation suggests Denver may be getting close to restoring a dangerous vertical threat just in time for a matchup with the 49ers.
The Broncos will still have to wait for the rest of the week before anything is official, but Mims availability is suddenly a storyline worth watching. If he can keep trending in the right direction, Denver could have a timely boost in a game where every bit of speed and spacing matters. [Read more 🡒]
Broncos Get Early Injury Relief Before A Huge 49ers Test
The Broncos got a little encouraging injury news early in the week as they began preparing for a tough test against the 49ers. Wide receiver Jaylen Waddle was back on the practice field after previously being seen in a walking boot, and Marvin Mims Jr. also logged a full session after being limited and then inactive for a game. Running back J.K. Dobbins was another welcome sight, practicing in full despite the hip issue that had been hanging over him.
There were still a few spots to monitor, though. Edge rusher Dondrea Tillman sat out with a hamstring issue, even if he was around the team, and defensive lineman Zach Allen was limited as the Broncos managed his workload for rest. With San Francisco looming, Denvers early-week health picture is trending in the right direction, but the availability of a few key pieces will still matter as the week unfolds. [Read more 🡒]
Broncos Defense Is Flipping A Costly Trend From Last Season
Through three games in the Sean Payton era, the Broncos have found something that was hard to come by at times last season: takeaways. Denvers defense has already forced four interceptions, the most in the league so far, and has produced at least one turnover in every game, giving the unit a steadier edge than it showed a year ago.
The payoff has shown up in the numbers, too, with opposing quarterbacks managing only a 74.3 passer rating against Denver. For a team that spent much of last season chasing consistency on defense, the early return is encouraging, even if the real test will be whether this turnover streak can hold once the schedule starts to sharpen. [Read more 🡒]