Phillip Lindsay understands the instinct behind J.K. Dobbins’ public pushback, but he also sees why the Broncos running back’s approach raises eyebrows.
Lindsay, now a radio analyst for 104.3 The Fan in Denver, said he appreciates the confidence Dobbins has shown while trying to shake the “injury prone” label. At the same time, he questioned whether Dobbins needed to make such a loud statement about it in the first place.
“I do love the confidence,” Lindsey began in a piece written by Kyle Odegard of ActionNetwork.com. “I don’t think he had to go out there and call his shot like that, but I also understand he’s been hearing this from everybody.
From national radio to here in Colorado, that this man can’t stay healthy. The truth is, when he is healthy, he’s very productive and really, really good as a running back.
There’s no doubt about that.”
Lindsey also pointed to how Denver can help Dobbins by tailoring the offense to what he does best. In his view, the Broncos should be leaning into creativity instead of asking him to grind through the same kinds of carries over and over.
“Not just running up the middle,” the running back added. “We are going to be creative with you.
We’re going to get pullers in front of you to give you an opportunity to be one-on-one with the safety. We’re going to be creative with the pass game out in space, so that you can bring your superpower to our team.”
Still, Lindsey didn’t dodge the bigger issue hanging over Dobbins: the injury history that keeps fueling doubts about whether he can hold up for a full season. He said that if he were in Dobbins’ shoes, he would have kept the goal to himself rather than putting it out there publicly.
“Me, personally, how would I have addressed it? I wouldn’t say anything” Lindsey explained.
“I would have that in my head, that this is my goal. Because the fact of the matter is, it’s hard to stay healthy in this league, and a lot of it has to do with luck.
“You can put in so much work on your knees and ankles, but everybody has the same joints, the same ligaments. If it’s hit the right way, it’s going to tear. So, yes, you’re putting in the work, putting the proper food in your body, getting the proper rest, and then you have to pray that this is your year.”
The Broncos, for their part, are not building their plan around prayer. Their current backup option is Jonah Coleman, though Coleman also brings an injury history that leaves the whole setup looking a little fragile.
In Other News...
Sean Payton Just Entered The Broncos Stadium Debate
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The complication, of course, is that not every building makes that easy. Payton pointed to the logistical hurdles of putting grass into covered stadiums, which is where the debate gets less philosophical and more operational for Denver as it looks ahead to its new place in 2030. For the Broncos, the field itself is not just a football choice but a money question too, with maintenance costs part of the calculation as the stadium plans continue to take shape. [Read more 🡒]
ESPN Just Gave Broncos Fans Another Reason To Be Furious Over Garett Bolles
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The ranking also reopened an old argument about how much value voters place on Bolles beyond pass protection, with some still viewing him as limited enough to cap his ceiling in these kinds of lists. For a player who has been so steady and so important to Denvers offense, the debate is less about whether he belongs in the conversation and more about why it still feels like he has to keep proving it. [Read more 🡒]
Garrett Bolles Is Finally Getting National Respect But One Doubt Remains
Garrett Bolles has spent enough seasons in Denver that his name no longer comes attached to the old questions about whether he could become a dependable left tackle. Now, after an All-Pro season and another year of steady growth under Sean Payton, he is starting to get the kind of national recognition that usually follows sustained play, not just one good stretch. Jeremy Fowlers latest ESPN positional list put Bolles 10th among tackles, his first appearance on one of these rankings, which says plenty about how far his game has come.
Bolles has earned that respect with his pass protection, and there are people around the league who view him as one of the most consistent in that area. Still, the conversation around him is not finished, because the same evaluation that lifts him up also leaves room for debate about how complete his game really is. For the Broncos, that makes Bolles an easy player to appreciate and a harder one to fully settle on, even as his profile keeps rising. [Read more 🡒]