The Denver Broncos will head into Sunday’s AFC Championship showdown against the New England Patriots without running back J.K. Dobbins, who has officially been ruled out as he continues to recover from a foot injury that’s kept him sidelined since Week 10.
Dobbins had his 21-day practice window opened earlier this week and was a limited participant in all three sessions, but the team ultimately decided he wasn’t ready for game action. The veteran back, who was placed on injured reserve back in mid-November, had been a key piece of Denver’s ground game before the injury. In the 2025 season, he racked up 772 rushing yards and four touchdowns, averaging a strong five yards per carry - a mark that speaks to both his efficiency and explosiveness when healthy.
With Dobbins unavailable, Denver’s backfield will lean on a mix of youth and speed. Rookie RJ Harvey figures to see an increased workload, alongside Jaleel McLaughlin and Tyler Badie. It’s a group that’s shown flashes throughout the year, but this will be their biggest test yet - a conference title game with a trip to the Super Bowl on the line, and against a Patriots defense that’s been tough against the run.
The pressure won’t just fall on the running backs, though. Quarterback Jarrett Stidham is set to lead the offense once again after Bo Nix went down with a season-ending ankle injury in the previous game. Stidham stepped in and helped guide the Broncos to this point, but now he’ll have to do it again - this time on the biggest stage of his career.
Denver also ruled out tight end Lucas Krull and linebacker Drew Sanders, both of whom are still working through their own 21-day return windows. Their absences will be felt, particularly in terms of depth, but the Broncos have shown resilience all season long. Now, they’ll need one more gritty performance to punch their ticket to the Super Bowl.