Denver Broncos receive glaring reminder of how important RBs RJ Harvey and Jonah Coleman will be during 2026 NFL season
Another injury to Denver Broncos RB J.K. Dobbins should be a glaring warning to the team. RJ Harvey and Jonah Coleman must be ready to carry the load in the backfield this season and beyond.
The Denver Broncos received a painful reminder during Monday’s training camp practice of how critical the continued development of their young running backs will be this season.
Veteran running back J.K. Dobbins exited practice midway through the session, jogging off the field with training staff close behind him. Dobbins suffered what head coach Sean Payton described as a “soft tissue” injury, adding to a troubling pattern of muscle strains that have plagued Denver throughout camp.
The Broncos have dealt with a muscle strain to wide receiver Jaylen Waddle and several other nicks and bruises during training camp. Payton addressed the trend directly.
“We’ve got to get a handle on some of these soft tissues,” Payton told reporters. “We’ve had a couple of strains, hamstrings or groins. We have to continue to fight through that.”
Payton mentioned that the pre-practice routine, hydration, and getting their bodies right fall on the players. Avoiding such “strains” all comes down to how they handle things leading up to a practice session.
The injury-prone story continues to follow around Denver Broncos RB J.K. Dobbins
This specific situation is a bit more snake-bitten than your typical nagging training camp injuries. The truth is that Dobbins has struggled to avoid injuries in his NFL career. He has not played a full season due to various injuries. He played in just 10 games with the Broncos last year.
Earlier in training camp, he vowed to stay healthy and play a full 17 regular-season games to win the NFL’s rushing title. That goal seems to be on hold, at least for now. The Broncos don’t feel this is anything serious, but it remains a painful reminder of the injury history Dobbins has carried throughout his career.
While Dobbins remains an important part of what Denver seeks to accomplish this season, the two other players in the room seem equally important to those goals.
RJ Harvey, Jonah Coleman must continue to develop behind J.K. Dobbins
During his rookie campaign in 2025, Broncos running back RJ Harvey compiled 540 rushing yards and seven touchdowns on 146 carries. He also caught 47 of 58 targets for 356 yards and five scores in 17 games. Harvey is in a spot where he has an opportunity to take control of the backfield, and his focus this season is to continue making big plays.
“I feel like that’s my game,” he said. “That was my game in college. I made a lot of big plays, and this year, I want to get back to that and make a lot more big plays for my team.”
If Dobbins cannot contribute, Harvey will certainly step into that lead running back role, just as he did a season ago. However, rookie running back Jonah Coleman could also serve to bolster that backfield. The 5-foot-9 and 200-pound running back possesses rare contact balance and impressive vision. He rushed for 3,054 yards and 34 touchdowns in college between his time at Arizona and Washington. Coleman also added 87 receptions for 838 yards and three more scores as a receiver. He has a lot of tread on the tires, but that can also help lead to early production in his NFL career.
If the Broncos can’t rely on Dobbins to stay healthy for a full 17-game season, Denver will need Harvey and Coleman to carry the load. The question is whether they can develop enough to make strong contributions in the running game. Harvey already has proven NFL production, but the verdict is still out on Coleman.
