Jonah Coleman gave the Broncos a real jolt in Week 7, but one strong showing should not take Denver out of the Jonathan Taylor conversation as the NFL trade deadline approaches.
Coleman was sidelined for four games from Weeks 3-6 after landing on IR with an ankle injury, and he had already shown his value before that. In Week 2 against the Jacksonville Jaguars, he helped “ice” the game with tough, smart running.
Then came his return. In his first game back in Week 7, Coleman logged 11 total touches and out-snapped and out-touched both J.K.
Dobbins and RJ Harvey. That workload, in his first game since September 20th, was surprising.
So was the way Denver’s ground game responded. The Broncos’ run game has looked its best in the two games where Coleman has had a notable workload, and that doesn’t feel like a random development.
Still, Coleman’s breakout shouldn’t end the discussion. The Broncos may still need to chase the bigger swing, and according to Adam Schefter, that could mean interest in Jonathan Taylor of the Indianapolis Colts:
Adam Schefter also linked Jonathan Taylor to the Broncos 👀 pic.twitter.com/SUh5JZZ6q0 https://t.co/dg2b7qzIsA
- DNVR Broncos (@DNVR_Broncos) October 25, 2026
The link between Taylor and Denver picked up right away after the Colts fired General Manager Chris Ballard. At 2-5, Indianapolis looks headed for sell mode, with the kind of lost season that should push a team toward collecting draft picks for the next regime.
That’s part of why Coleman’s early success doesn’t have to shut anything down. He’s been excellent, and in Week 7 he averaged six yards per carry.
But he’s also got only two NFL games of notable action on his resume, and that leaves plenty still unanswered. Coleman checks every box for a future RB1, yet the Broncos are still fighting through offensive inconsistency while sitting in a clear Super Bowl window.
That’s where the urgency comes in. Windows don’t stay open long, and adding a pure, elite runner like Taylor would keep this rushing attack humming. Denver has had more bad than good on offense this season, and while Coleman should absolutely keep getting chances, it would be risky to assume he alone can stabilize the backfield all the way through a hopeful playoff run in January.
The Broncos have already made a major move, trading multiple draft picks for Jaylen Waddle, but the roster still has enough resources to make another deal if they choose to push in again. Sean Payton is also chasing something rare: becoming the first head coach in NFL history to win a Super Bowl with two different teams.
Coleman looks like a future lead back. That much is clear. But with the season in front of them and Taylor potentially available, Denver still has every reason to go after the biggest prize at running back.
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