Updated Jan. 19, 2026, 4:08 p.m. MT
Story update: The Broncos officially designated running back J.K. Dobbins to return from injured reserve on Monday, according to the NFL’s transaction wire. He is now eligible to practice this week and, if cleared, can be activated from IR. View our original post below.
This is huge.
The Denver Broncos are opening the practice window for running back J.K. Dobbins this week, ESPN’s Adam Schefter first reported on Monday. The Broncos are expected to return to the practice field on Wednesday, and if Dobbins practices, it will open his 21-day window to be activated to the 53-man roster.
Dobbins suffered a Lisfranc injury in November and landed on injured reserve. Initial reports indicated that a potential Super Bowl return would be a best-case scenario for Dobbins, but coach Sean Payton (and the running back himself) hinted leading up to Week 18 that Dobbins might be able to return for the AFC Championship game, if the team made it that far.
Denver has since advanced to host the New England Patriots in the AFC title game on Jan. 25, but they will be without starting quarterback Bo Nix, who suffered a season-ending ankle injury in the divisional round. The Broncos are now set to start backup quarterback Jarrett Stidham, and getting Dobbins back would provide a huge boost to the offense.
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The 27-year-old running back totaled 809 yards from scrimmage and scored four touchdowns in ten games before his foot injury. Dobbins was averaging 5.0 yards per carry before the injury and rookie RJ Harvey has only managed 3.3, 1.9, and 3.1 YPC over the last three games.
If the Broncos are going to activate Dobbins from IR in time for the Patriots game, a decision will have to be made by Saturday afternoon. Denver’s considered a home underdog going into the AFC championship.
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