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J.K. Dobbins #27 of the Denver Broncos celebrates after defeating the Las Vegas Raiders.
It was evident that J.K. Dobbins was sorely missed on the field as the Denver Broncos struggled to run the ball consistently without him. What is less clear is just what lies ahead for Dobbins and the Broncos this offseason.
The Broncos’ campaign ended in the AFC Championship Game against the New England Patriots, and Dobbins could only spectate as his team suffered elimination.
However, Dobbins revealed just how close he was to that not being the case.
Broncos’ J.K. Dobbins Offers Unfortunate Guarantee
GettyJ.K. Dobbins #27 of the Denver Broncos greets teammates before facing the Las Vegas Raiders.
Dobbins suffered a Lisfranc injury in his foot in the Broncos’ Week 10 win over the Las Vegas Raiders that required surgery and ended his regular season. However, there was some hope that Dobbins would be able to return in time for a potential Super Bowl berth.
The Broncos opened Dobbins’ practice window ahead of the AFC Championship Game, and he said he was “very close” to playing, guaranteeing he would have suited up in the next round.
“Yeah, I was 100% playing in the Super Bowl. 100%,” Dobbins told reporters on January 26.
The Broncos rushed for 79 yards on 24 carries (3.3 yards per attempt) against a Patriots defense that ranked sixth in the league during the regular season in that regard. The struggles were not an outlier for Denver, though.
They rushed for 70 yards against the Buffalo Bills in the AFC Divisional Round. Buffalo ranked 28th against the run during the 2025 regular season.
Denver averaged 128.6 rushing yards per game with Dobbins in the lineup.
In their seven regular-season games without Dobbins, the Broncos averaged 104.6 YPG on the ground. Injuries to their offensive line, as well as starting quarterback Bo Nix during the playoffs, factor into the Broncos’ lack of success in the run game without Dobbins.
Still, it was clear just how big a part of their offensive attack he was, both as a runner with some power in his game and a potential threat as a pass-catcher, which the Broncos rarely utilized.
J.K. Dobbins ‘Hurt’ Watching Loss to Patriots
GettyJ.K. Dobbins #27 of the Denver Broncos celebrates a touchdown against the Tennessee Titans.
Dobbins addressed the Broncos’ loss to the Patriots directly and explained how being sidelined for their untimely demise on the football field affected him in explaining why he worked to return.
“It starts with God, and he blessed me with the ability to heal quickly, but the work ethic. Our trainers here were really good. The doctors, everybody was on the same page. And it’s been hours and hours and hours in the hyperbaric chamber, all kind of stuff, just trying to get back as fast as I could. And I actually felt really good, too. So, it’s been a great process, and something I’ll be back from next year and be way better,” Dobbins said.
“We were just doing what the body was allowing me to do. And so, it wasn’t a rush, and I just wanted to win. I’ve like, been in the playoffs a lot, and I felt like I could have helped my team. I wasn’t there for him. So, that hurts. It hurts to watch. It hurts to not be out there and help the team win.”
The Broncos went 6-1 during the regular season without Dobbins, but their offensive struggles partly trace back to that imbalance between the run and pass.
They ranked fourth in pass attempts and 19th in rushing tries.
J.K. Dobbins Wants to Re-Sign With Broncos
GettyJ.K. Dobbins #27 of the Denver Broncos reacts after defeating the Philadelphia Eagles.
The Broncos signed Dobbins in free agency late during the 2025 offseason. He agreed to a one-year, $2 million contract.
Dobbins, 27, expressed hope that he would return to the Broncos for next season.
“I’m a Bronco,” Dobbins, who was drafted by the Baltimore Ravens in 2020 and played for the Los Angeles Chargers in 2024, said. “I’m a Buckeye, and I’m a Bronco. I wasn’t drafted here, but I do firmly believe that I’m a Bronco and love everyone here.”
The Broncos will have to consider Dobbins’ extensive injury history, which includes knee and ankle/foot issues.
However, he denied being “injury-prone” and said his issues have been “unfortunate events.”
Dobbins has never played more than 15 games in a single regular season. That was during his rookie campaign. He missed the entire 2021 season due to a meniscus injury and then tallied nine total appearances across the 2022 and 2023 slates.
Broncos Have Plan at RB
GettyRJ Harvey #12 of the Denver Broncos looks on against the Los Angeles Chargers.
The Broncos may tweak their running back room, but they began their reset last offseason, not just with Dobbins, but also with rookie second-round pick RJ Harvey.
The No. 6 overall pick of the 2025 draft, Harvey has a willing mentor in Dobbins.
“I just tell him, ‘You gotta just go back to the film, and don’t worry about what the outsiders’re saying, because they’re gonna be on your butt. But you’re going to get better,’ and I’m going to help him get better. Even if I’m not here, he’s my rookie forever.”
Dobbins said that he is “attached” to Harvey, who tallied 37 yards on 13 carries in the Broncos’ season-ending loss.
Josh Buckhalter covers the NBA and NFL for Heavy.com. He has covered both leagues since 2016, including bylines at FanSided, Last Word on Sports and Clocker Sports. He’s based in Villa Park, Illinois. Follow Josh on Twitter and Instagram: @JoshGBuck More about Josh Buckhalter