The Broncos’ backfield took another hit this week, and that timing has only added fuel to the Jonathan Taylor chatter.
Denver ruled second-year running back RJ Harvey out for Sunday’s matchup with the Kansas City Chiefs after he hurt his knee in practice. Reports say the injury is not expected to be serious or long-term, but short-term IR is also being considered.
Even if the absence ends up being brief, it comes on the heels of a rough stretch for the Broncos’ running backs: Harvey already missed Week 2 with a hamstring injury, rookie Jonah Coleman has just come off injured reserve after dealing with an ankle injury, and JK Dobbins’ injury history is already well known. Dobbins also appears to be at least somewhat frustrated as his role has shrunk.
That backdrop makes the Taylor rumors feel a lot less theoretical.
ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported that multiple teams have been in contact with Indianapolis and that the conversations are “active and ongoing.” He said the clubs believed to have shown at least some interest in Taylor include the Broncos, Packers, Vikings, Giants and Seahawks.
"Multiple teams have reached out to Indianapolis, and those talks are said to be active and ongoing, according to sources.
The list of teams that have expressed at least some level of interest in trading for Taylor is thought to include the Denver Broncos, Green Bay Packers, Minnesota Vikings, New York Giants and Seattle Seahawks, sources said."
- ESPN NFL insider Adam Schefter
Schefter also reported that the Colts have already been offered a second-round pick plus additional compensation for Taylor. It’s unclear whether that offer was turned down or is still sitting on the table, but the sense around the situation is that Indianapolis wants more than a second-rounder and a little extra. The price, at least for now, sounds like it would take a serious package.
That tracks with the way the Colts are handling this. They still have Taylor under contract for multiple seasons beyond 2026, so there’s no reason for them to move him cheaply in the middle of the season. If they’re going to deal him, they want real value back.
A haul like the one San Francisco once gave up for Christian McCaffrey - a second, third, fourth and fifth-round pick - does not sound likely here. But a second and a third could be in play for the right team.
The Broncos fit that conversation. Yes, they need young talent across the roster, but they also have a clear Super Bowl window with this group. If they believe Taylor can be a difference-maker, there’s no reason to sit on their hands.
And with Harvey now sidelined, the urgency only grows. Denver has already lived through the pain of losing Dobbins at the worst possible time last year, just two days after the trade deadline, and the run game fell apart after that. The Broncos can’t afford to repeat that mistake.
If there’s a chance to make a move, this looks like the moment to do it.
In Other News...
Broncos Suddenly Have A Jonathan Taylor Decision They Can't Ignore
The Broncos backfield has become impossible to ignore, and not in a good way. RJ Harvey was listed as limited with a knee injury, while the rushing attack has struggled to find any real rhythm behind JK Dobbins, who has not delivered the kind of production Denver needed this season. For a team trying to stabilize its offense, the combination of health concerns and underwhelming results has turned the running back spot into a real problem.
Jonathan Taylor is the name that naturally jumps to the front of the conversation, especially with Indianapolis looking like a team in transition. The Colts have already moved on from other key pieces, which only adds to the sense that they could listen on more talent if the price is right. Denver does not need another theoretical fix at running back, it needs a difference-maker, and this is the kind of situation that could force the front office to act before the market gets away from it. [Read more 🡒]
Broncos May Have Found Their Answer Up Front After All
The Broncos have spent plenty of time searching for help up front, and Malcolm Roach has given them a legitimate reason to feel better about the interior of their defense. In his 2026 season, the veteran defensive tackle has taken a clear step forward against the run while also becoming a more disruptive pass rusher, a combination that has made him one of the steadier bright spots on the roster.
Roachs rise has mattered even more with John Franklin-Myers gone in free agency, because Denver needed someone to help absorb that loss without forcing the rest of the front to carry too much of the load. What makes this stretch especially encouraging is that Roach is not just filling snaps, he is affecting games in ways the Broncos have not always been able to count on from that spot, and the bigger question now is whether this level of play can hold as the season wears on. [Read more 🡒]
Broncos Enter Chiefs Rematch With A Few Big Questions Still Lingering
The Broncos head into their Chiefs rematch trying to clean up the details that cost them in the first meeting, with tackling near the top of the list and Bo Nixs status still part of the conversation as the week unfolds. There is also a clearer sense that Denver is getting healthier in the secondary, which matters against a Kansas City offense that can punish even small mistakes.
Pat Surtain IIs return from an ankle injury would be a major boost for a defense that needs its best cover man on the field, especially with Talanoa Hufanga still sidelined by the same issue. On the other side of the ball, rookie running back Jonah Coleman has given Sean Payton another piece to work with after showing burst against Arizona, and the Broncos may lean on him more if they want a steadier answer in a game that already carries plenty of pressure. [Read more 🡒]