If Broncos running back J.K. Dobbins has hurdles to clear in order to be activated from injured reserve for Sunday’s AFC Championship Game, he appears to be off to a good start.
Dobbins was involved in the portion of practice open to reporters Wednesday, including individual work and ball security drills.
Dobbins has been on injured reserve since the middle of November due to a Lisfranc injury in his left foot sustained Nov. 7 against Las Vegas.
The initial thought from sources around Dobbins was that his best chance to return this season was if Denver advanced all the way to the Super Bowl, allowing for the maximum amount of recovery time. Later in the season, though, head coach Sean Payton hinted that Dobbins had a chance to return earlier in the postseason.
Dobbins himself has told people in the Broncos’ building throughout his rehabilitation that he would be back for the playoffs, though ultimately he was not ready to return for Denver’s Divisional game last week against Buffalo.
Dobbins signed with Denver in June and was one of the NFL’s most productive backs over the first half of the season. In 10 games, he rushed for 772 yards (5.0 per carry) and four touchdowns. He sustained the Lisfranc injury when he got tackled by Raiders defensive lineman Tyree Wilson on a play Dobbins believed was an illegal hip-drop tackle.
Dobbins and the Broncos spent more than a week going through potential treatment options before the back eventually had surgery.
Wattenberg back. Denver starting center Luke Wattenberg had his 21-day window opened Wednesday and he returned to practice.
That’s perhaps not a big surprise and it wouldn’t be a stretch to think Wattenberg returns to Denver’s starting lineup Sunday, either. Payton himself said when Wattenberg sustained a shoulder injury late in the regular season that it was right about a four-week injury and that the IR placement was about managing the roster down the stretch of the season.
Update on WRs. Rookie receiver Pat Bryant (concussion) took part in the open portion of Denver’s practice Wednesday, indicating he’s making at least some progress through the NFL’s concussion protocol. He was hit his head on the Empower Field grass on his third snap vs. Buffalo and was subsequently ruled out.
Second-year man Troy Franklin (hamstring) was at practice and had his helmet, but didn’t stretch with the team and didn’t have shells on like the rest of the players.
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