ENGLEWOOD — The Broncos haven’t had a 1,000-yard rusher since Phillip Lindsay in 2019 and J.K. Dobbins said before the season that he would apparently zoom past that milestone.
The often-injured running back vowed July 31 that he would play in all 17 games and that in rushing in the NFL he was going to “be No. 1 and I’m going to keep it there for the whole year.”
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Well, through four games, Dobbins has a meager 161 yards on 46 carries for the 2-2 Broncos.
“J. K. right now definitely doesn’t look like the same player,’ Lindsay, who had 1,037 rushing yards for the Broncos as a rookie in 2018 and 1,011 in 2019, told The Denver Gazette on Thursday.
Dobbins last season rushed for 772 yards while averaging 5.0 per carry before suffering a season-ending Lisfranc foot fracture in Week 10. But he is averaging just 3.5 per attempt this season, dropping his career mark from 5.2 to 5.1.
After Thursday’s practice at Broncos Park, Dobbins was asked about the considerable difference.
“I got to play better,” Dobbins said. “I got to make my plays that I make. I ain’t making them. I just got to make my plays, which I will. I’m always going to find a way. And right now, it’s a dark spot. That’s part of being in the NFL, though. And I’m going to find a way to get back to the standard that I know I can play at.”
Denver Broncos running back J.K. Dobbins (27) runs down field against the Los Angeles Rams Sunday, Sept. 27, 2026, during the second half at Empower Field at Mile High in Denver. The Broncos won 30-26. (Christian Murdock, The Gazette)
Dobbins left a training camp practice early on Aug. 10 with what Broncos coach Sean Payton called a “soft-tissue” injury, and he didn’t play in the preseason. In Week 3 against Jacksonville on Sept. 20, Dobbins didn’t play in the fourth quarter due to what was announced as a hamstring injury and what Payton called a “slight hamstring issue.” However, when an injury report came Sept. 23, it was called a hip injury.
Dobbins was asked Thursday if he is fully healthy entering Sunday’s game at the Los Angeles Chargers.
“Yeah, I’m healthy,” he said. “I’m healthy. I’m out there playing. Anytime, whether it’s fully healthy, not healthy, 75 (%), 60, 80, 90, 100, if I’m out there, I got to play good, you know what I mean. Like no matter what’s going on, I’m going out there, which means I think I can make plays. So if I’m 60%, 80%, 90%, don’t matter, I got to make my plays. I got to be me.”
For starters, Lindsay didn’t like the boasts Dobbins made on July 31. He has been bogged down by injuries since entering the NFL in 2020, having entered this season playing just 47 of a possible 101 regular-season games.
A rushing title? Dobbins’ career high was 905 yards for the Chargers in 2024, when he finished 22nd in the NFL in rushing. He did average 77.2 yards in the first 10 games last season. Had he maintained that average for 17 games, he would have finished with 1,312 yards, well behind leader James Cook of Buffalo with 1,621.
“I didn’t think J.K. should have ever went out there publicly and said what he said before the season ever started,’’ said Lindsay, a co-host of the radio show “The Drive with Zach Bye and Phillip Lindsay” on 104.3 The Fan. “He didn’t have to say those words of, ‘I’m gonna stay healthy for a full 17-game season’ and ‘I’m going to lead the league in rushing from start to finish,’ and then ‘pinkie promise’ everybody that he was going to do this. If that’s something in your head, I would keep it in my head. … I just think it’s a little bit foolish (for Dobbins to say that).”
Lindsay said it looks like Dobbins is “not healthy.” His top output this season has been 49 yards on 17 carries in Week 4 against the Los Angeles Rams. In last Sunday’s 24-14 loss at San Francisco, he had 11 carries for 40 yards.
Denver Broncos running back Phillip Lindsay (2) is hit by Chicago Bears linebacker Kylie Fitts (49) during a preseason NFL football game Aug. 18 in Denver. (Associated Press)
“Against the Jacksonville Jaguars, I believe he pulled his hamstring,” Lindsay said. “At least that’s what it looked like. … You’re seeing him on the football field not as patient as he usually is. You’re seeing him missing a couple holes he used to hit. You don’t see that explosiveness like you did last year before the injury to his foot. You don’t see a guy out there as confident as he usually is. … If you are hurt, you got to stay out and get healthy because you’re no good to yourself and you’re no good to your team if you can’t explode out of there when there is a hole that is made for you.”
Lindsay wondered if the 5-foot-10, 212-pound Dobbins has fully recovered from his Lisfranc injury last year, which required surgery.
“J. K. is over 200 pounds and that weight is always on the legs and the knees and cutting off the foot and the ankle,” Lindsay said. “I think that’s a process (coming back from the surgery). It takes time for you to truly feel like yourself.”
Lindsay also said the Broncos’ offensive line must do a better job blocking for Dobbins.
Dobbins turns 28 on Dec. 17. Lindsay is confident that Dobbins can get going again, but realizes it would create big issues for the Broncos if he doesn’t.
“That would be a huge problem because you gave this man $20 million, with $8 million guaranteed, to be the best version of his himself to help this run game with the thinking that would help take pressure off (quarterback) Bo Nix and off this defense,’’ Dobbins said of the two-year deal, $16 million contract Dobbins signed last March, which includes incentives to make more. “It’s forcing Bo Nix to put more pressure on himself on third-and-long because (the Broncos) can’t get the run game going.”
The Broncos are No. 29 in the NFL in rushing with an average of 81.3 yards per game while averaging 3.6 yards per carry. Their second-leading rusher is RJ Harvey, who has carried 12 times for 49 yards for a 4.1 average while having missed the Jaguars game with a hamstring issue.
Against the 49ers, Dobbins started the game but didn’t get his first official touch until was 10:28 was left in the second quarter and he was stopped for no gain. During his period of inactivity, Dobbins was visibly frustrated on the sideline.
“I just love the game,” Dobbins said. “I’m a passionate guy, so whatever you saw it was just me wanting to win the game.”
As far as winning the rushing title, Dobbins now ranks No. 30 in the NFL. He is 376 yards behind Kansas City’s Kenneth Walker, who leads with 537.