The Broncos’ offense has hit a wall, and the run game is a big reason why.
Through four games of the 2026 NFL season, Denver ranks fourth-worst in the league on the ground, averaging just 81.3 rushing yards per game. That kind of production doesn’t just look bad on paper - it changes how defenses line up against you.
Right now, opponents are comfortable crowding the Broncos and daring them to prove they can run, while also taking away the passing game. The result is an offense that struggles to string together anything steady.
That’s why a trade for Tony Pollard makes sense.
Adam Schefter recently noted that Pollard could be available ahead of next month’s NFL trade deadline, pointing to his final year of his deal and Tennessee’s losing record. Pollard is 29, in his eighth NFL season and his third with the Titans. He’s put up 221 yards on 4.1 yards per carry through four games, and he’s also spent time with the Dallas Cowboys.
What makes Pollard appealing is the reliability. He’s topped 1,000 rushing yards in four straight seasons, and from 2022 through 2025 he piled up 4,173 rushing yards and 25 touchdowns while averaging 4.4 yards per carry.
That works out to about 1,075 yards over a 17-game season. He’s also chipped in as a receiver, which only adds to his value.
His scrimmage-yard totals over that stretch tell the same story: 1,378, 1,316, 1,317, and 1,288. That’s not flashy, but it’s productive - and Denver could use exactly that kind of stability.
The Broncos have 90 rushing attempts for just 325 yards through four games, a rough 3.6 yards per carry. J.K. Dobbins leads the backfield with 161 yards, but his 3.5 yards per carry is well below the 5.0 he posted in his first year with Denver last season.
Jonah Coleman is on IR, so there’s at least a chance the group looks better when he returns. Even so, the Broncos have a clear problem in the backfield, and Pollard would give them a proven option who has been consistently productive for years. Dobbins has not shown enough through the first month to quiet concerns, and Denver needs more from this position group right now.
In Other News...
Broncos Leave Ugly Week 4 Loss With A Bigger Roster Concern
The Broncos came out of their Week 4 loss to the 49ers with more than another frustrating result on the ledger. The offense never found much rhythm in the first half, even as rookie back RJ Harvey provided one of the brighter spots with more than 100 all-purpose yards, and the defense again had trouble creating steady pressure.
Patrick Surtain II, Riley Moss and Pat Bryant all left the game with injuries and did not return, turning an ugly afternoon into a bigger roster concern as Denver tries to regroup. Losing that many key pieces in one game puts more pressure on a group already searching for answers, especially with the pass rush still not producing consistently. [Read more 🡒]
Broncos May Have Found A Backfield Answer In A Tough Loss
A tough loss to San Francisco did not keep RJ Harvey from giving the Broncos something to build on. The second-year running back was busy in every phase of the Week 4 game, handling carries, catching passes and even contributing in the return game, finishing with 157 all-purpose yards as Denver tried to keep pace before George Kittles late touchdown put the game away.
With Jonah Coleman on injured reserve and J.K. Dobbins still looking for a rhythm, Harveys workload could be headed in one direction. Denver may not have found the answer it wanted in the standings, but the way Harvey was used against the 49ers suggested the Broncos have at least one backfield option they can lean on as the season moves forward. [Read more 🡒]
Dre Greenlaw Just Reopened An Ugly Broncos Storyline
Dre Greenlaws return to the 49ers brought him right back into a familiar kind of spotlight, and this time it came with a pointed message for the Broncos sideline. During San Franciscos game against Denver, Greenlaw was recorded telling Sean Payton that he made a mistake releasing him, a blunt reminder of how quickly an uneasy personnel decision can turn into a public sore spot. Greenlaw spent the 2025 season in Denver, but injuries limited his availability enough that the Broncos moved on.
Back with San Francisco on a one-year contract, Greenlaw has settled back into a starting role and looked like a player with something to prove. For Denver, the exchange only reopens an ugly storyline around a defender the team once hoped would be a difference-maker, then couldnt keep on the field long enough to find out. It is the kind of scene that can linger, especially when the player making the point is back performing like he never left. [Read more 🡒]