‘You see enough of it and you’re like alright’ – Sean Payton confirms suspicion about Broncos rookie running back after win over Falcons
The Denver Broncos kicked off preseason action with a 27-7 win over the Atlanta Falcons on Friday night.
Sean Payton caused a bit of a panic among Broncos fans and fantasy football owners last week when rookie running back Jonah Coleman was listed at the bottom of Denver’s depth chart.
The Broncos’ 27-7 win over the Falcons on Friday night, however, confirmed that Coleman’s placement on the depth chart was completely meaningless.
Coleman was the first running back in the game after RJ Harvey got the start (JK Dobbins didn’t play against the Falcons).
Payton was quick to praise Coleman after the game, making it clear that he’s a fan of the rookie.
“It’s just what we’ve been seeing (in camp),” said Payton when asked about Coleman after the game. “And then you see enough of it, and you’re like, ‘alright.’ He’s had a good camp, and I liked his balance coming out of some of the tackles.”
Based on Coleman’s usage, it’s apparent that he’s the No. 3 running back on the depth chart, and he’d likely jump to the top option if Dobbins were to miss time.
Coleman, to his credit, is staying humble despite the fact his stock is obviously rising quickly ahead of the season.
“I ain’t do nothing yet,” said Coleman to 9News. “I got a couple carries, got my feet wet, but I still ain’t do nothing. It felt good today to be able to play football again and that football is back. But I’m still hungry. I still have goals to achieve, and I still ain’t made my mark yet.”
Denver is hoping that Dobbins can stay healthy for the entire season, but if he can’t, it sounds like the Broncos have a potential star waiting in the wings in Coleman.
