The Broncos are almost at training camp, and one rookie already has a lot of buzz attached to his name: fourth-round running back Jonah Coleman.
Rookies are set to report on July 22, with veterans arriving six days later. Then, starting July 28, Denver’s 2026 season starts to take shape in a hurry.
Among the players fans are most eager to watch is Coleman, who turned heads during offseason workouts and is already lined up as the No. 3 back behind J.K. Dobbins and RJ Harvey.
That kind of attention is unusual for a fourth-round pick, but Coleman has picked up plenty of it anyway. NFL Draft On SI’s Justin Melo recently ranked him No. 1 on a list of 10 rookies he believes are positioned to “embarrass” the teams that passed on them.
“Jonah Coleman is a potential three-down back whose 2024 tape was better than his 2025 film. The Denver Broncos got a sneaky-good back who should have been drafted earlier.
Despite having J.K. Dobbins and RJ Harvey in this backfield, head coach Sean Payton will carve out reps for his rookie back.
Coleman possesses a high football IQ when it comes to different schemes and protections. His versatility and toughness will force Payton to find a role for him,” Melo wrote.
Denver had chances to take Coleman and passed twice, first in Round 2 before trading back and then again in Round 3 when it selected defensive lineman Tyler Onyedim. Even so, the Broncos had Coleman on their radar throughout the draft process and viewed him as one of the few three-down backs in the 2026 class.
Coleman also wanted Denver. Before the draft, he posted a social media image of himself at the podium, reading the selection card that had the Broncos taking him in the second round.
However he got there, the important part now is that he’s in Denver, and the Broncos clearly have a plan for him.
Last season, Dobbins averaged 15 carries per game when healthy, while Harvey got five in each game over that stretch. That added up to 20 planned running back carries. This year, if Denver wants to keep Dobbins fresher and get Coleman involved, a split closer to 10 carries for Dobbins and five apiece for Harvey and Coleman wouldn’t be a shock.
Coleman brings more than just hope to the table. He’s a capable pass protector, a useful receiver out of the backfield, and a runner who may not be blazing fast but does have explosion and real power between the tackles.
Sean Payton could use him as the short-yardage option, and maybe even near the goal line. No matter the exact role, Coleman looks set to get on the field.
That gives the Broncos a three-man running back group with real depth. If Dobbins stays healthy, Denver may have one of the deeper backfields in the league.
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Three Broncos Camp Battles Could Shape Denver's Next Step
With training camp set to open July 28, the Broncos are heading into summer with more clarity than they had a year ago, but still plenty to sort out after their AFC Championship Game run. The roster has enough established pieces to feel competitive, yet the next step in Denver may come down to a few jobs that are still very much up for grabs, especially in the backfield, on the edge and in the receiver room.
The running back question behind J.K. Dobbins is one of the more interesting ones, with RJ Harvey and Jonah Coleman offering different skill sets for the staff to weigh. The same kind of choice exists on defense, where Eyioma Uwazurike, Sai'vion Jones and Tyler Onyedim are all in the mix to help replace John Franklin-Myers' production, while Troy Franklin and Pat Bryant could turn the WR3 role into another camp-long fight worth watching. [Read more 🡒]
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A pair of Broncos linemen just got a little national attention for the kind of work that usually stays inside the building. ESPN analyst Bill Barnwell put Alex Palczewski and Eyioma Uwazurike on an All-Backup team, a nod to the kind of roster depth Denver has tried to build in the trenches. Palczewski has already shown he can step in when injuries hit up front, while Uwazurike is part of a defensive line group that has been asked to absorb change and keep the unit steady.
For Denver, the bigger question is how much more those backup roles turn into real responsibility. The offensive line is expected to take on a different look under new offensive coordinator Davis Webb, with more emphasis on the run game after a season spent protecting Bo Nix, and the defensive front is adjusting to departures and new coaching. If the Broncos are going to keep their line play among the teams biggest strengths, it may depend on players like Palczewski and Uwazurike proving that the depth chart is more than just insurance. [Read more 🡒]