Sean Payton made it clear there’s no debate in Denver about J.K. Dobbins’ role. The Broncos head coach said the running back remains a central piece of what the offense wants to do, brushing off any suggestion that the rotation is a problem.
“He’s a huge part of what we’re doing,” Payton said, via PFT. “So each week we look at - a lot of times who’s the back that’s in there with the hot hand.
But he’s been fantastic. So to answer your question: No, that’s not a hot button topic with us here.
It might be with you guys, but not with us. So we’re good.
We’re good with the rotation.”
Payton’s comments came as the Broncos also got a strong public push from Patrick Surtain II to keep Ja’Quan McMillan in Denver. Surtain said the nickel corner is headed for a major payday and should be extended before he can hit the market.
“He’s due for a major payday coming soon… He’d be the highest paid at his position (nickel).”
Surtain added that he hopes the deal gets done during next week’s bye, before McMillan ever reaches free agency.
“I hope so, man. Everybody’s going to want him… Everybody’s going to want him on their team, but hopefully he’s with us again.”
In Los Angeles, Jim Harbaugh offered a mix of injury updates and a glimpse at how the Chargers may handle their backfield as they chase their first win of the season. The head coach said a return for David Njoku would be welcome, and he pointed to the team’s overall accountability as a steadying force.
“I think it’ll be good,” Harbaugh said of Njoku’s potential return, via Chargers.com. “They’ve been incredible.
Team-wide, everybody is accountable. That’s the way our team has always been.”
Harbaugh also noted that several players are working their way back into the mix. “Kayode should start working into practice,” he said.
“ Rodney Shelley, he’ll continue ramping up in practice. Donte Jackson, continue ramping up in practice”
As for the running game, Harbaugh didn’t rule out leaning on one back more heavily.
“Maybe. That’s something that we’re looking at and I think we’ll try that, yeah,” Harbaugh replied when asked about giving one running back the majority of the carries. “We’ll go with the hot hand, so to speak.”
Out in Las Vegas, Maxx Crosby sounded energized about where the Raiders are headed and said he’s locked in on the present rather than looking ahead.
“I’m not thinking too far down the road. I’m being present,” Crosby said, via PFT.
“We’re 4-4. We’ve got a really good football team.
I love this locker room. I love the guys.
We have great leadership. Klint [Kubiak] is a really good coach.
We have Robby [Leonard], who is a first time being a DC. He’s doing a hell of a job.
We’ve got a lot of new faces, new pieces, a lot of young guys as well. I love where we’re going.
We’ve got a lot of work to do. We know that.
That’s the beauty in it. Everyone can say whatever they want.
We had this conversation last week [after a 35-21 loss to the Rams], and it was like the world is ending, and now it’s all these positive vibes. For us, it’s about focus about this week, today, getting better.
That’s the mindset of this whole team. I’m excited about everything.
”
The Raiders also got a detailed explanation from offensive coordinator Andrew Janocko on Ashton Jeanty’s production. Janocko said Jeanty’s value as a receiver has stood out, while his work as a runner remains part of the offense’s broader growth.
“Running the ball is a full team thing. The greatest thing about football in general is that it’s 11 as 1 on every single play, so it takes all 11 for everybody to be successful.
So, we really don’t look at it as an individual statistic. We really look at us as an offense and where we’re improving.
Whoever is the back carrying the ball, that’s a team statistic. He’s had some success as far as receiving the ball.
He’s also been growing as a runner. We’ve been growing with him as a runner.
So it’s something that we want to just keep improving on and going forward with.” (Sam Warren)
In Other News...
Raiders Face A Trade Deadline Choice That Could Define This Run
The Raiders have spent the first part of the season making a better case for themselves than almost anyone expected, and that has turned the next few weeks into a real test of how serious they are about staying in the playoff picture. With the November 10 trade deadline approaching, the front office has a chance to answer a simple question: is this a team content to ride the momentum, or one willing to push chips in while the window is open?
The roster has clear pressure points, even if the record has softened some of the early skepticism. Help at wide receiver would make life easier on Ashton Jeanty and give the offense more balance, while the defensive front could use another body to complement Maxx Crosby and keep the pass rush from wearing down. Several names have surfaced as possible fits, and the Raiders now have to decide whether to stand pat or make the kind of move that can shape the rest of this run. [Read more 🡒]
Raiders May Have Found A First Round Answer To Their Guard Problem
The Raiders have spent enough time searching for stability inside that any promising young lineman is worth a long look, and Minnesota guard Greg Johnson is starting to look like the kind of first-round option that could fit the bill. He brings the size teams want up front, and his tape points to a blocker who can help in both phases, giving Las Vegas a potential answer to a spot that has been a recurring problem.
What makes Johnson especially intriguing is how much more than a simple guard prospect he appears to be. His versatility gives him appeal across the offensive line, and his work in pass protection and run blocking suggests a player who could step into a bigger role quickly if he continues on this path toward the 2027 NFL Draft. For a Raiders team trying to build real durability in the trenches, that kind of flexibility is hard to ignore. [Read more 🡒]
Raiders Already In Trouble Against A 49ers Offense They Can't Slow
The Raiders spent the first half trying to keep pace with a San Francisco offense that came out sharp and stayed that way. The 49ers scored touchdowns on each of their first three possessions and took a 21-10 lead into halftime, with Brock Purdy doing damage both through the air and on the ground while Christian McCaffrey kept finding the end zone.
McCaffreys impact was especially hard on Las Vegas, since he added to a run of scoring that has become part of San Franciscos identity. For the Raiders, the concern is bigger than one bad half against a division contender: if they cannot slow the 49ers rhythm or contain their top playmakers, the margin for a comeback gets thin in a hurry. [Read more 🡒]