To get a sense of just how strange a season itap been for the Broncos running back group, perhaps itap easiest to simply ask its mercenary cast of characters whether they’ve ever been part of something like it.
“Nah, never, man. Itap new,” eighth-year man Melvin Gordon said.
“I never have,” said Marlon Mack, a sixth-year player.
How about you, nine-year veteran Latavius Murray?
“I definitely think this is a first,” he said.
Denver exits its bye week carrying four running backs on its 53-man roster — the three above plus Chase Edmonds — but the group hardly resembles that which head coach Nathaniel Hackett and company expected to rely on only a few weeks ago.
Gordon’s been around since re-signing over the summer, but Murray arrived off of New Orleans’ practice squad Oct. 4. Then Mack hurried to Denver on Oct. 24 from San Francisco’s practice squad in order to catch the team charter to London. One day after the Broncos got back from that trip, they acquired Edmonds via trade from Miami.
Any chance of revving up Denver’s 20th-ranked run game in the second half of the season relies in part on Gordon and this veteran trio that’s still figuring out its way around the Broncos’ facilities. Murray, Mack and Edmonds have a combined 240 games of NFL experience, 9,800 rushing yards and 83 touchdowns, but they also have substantial tread on their collective tires.
“The more we’re in it, especially the new guys, the more we’ll learn,” Murray said. “For the most part I know what I need to know, but still trying to learn so I can play fast.”
Running backs have a notoriously high attrition rate in the NFL, but even by that standard 2022 has been rough for the Broncos. The biggest blow, of course, came when starter Javonte Williams tore his ACL and did other damage to his knee at Las Vegas in early October, ending his season. Mike Boone suffered a high-ankle sprain against the New York Jets on Oct. 23 and is currently on short-term injured reserve, though he could return by the end of the month.
Even before that, Denver lost a pair of depth pieces in Damarea Crockett and Tyreik McAllister to training camp injuries.
“Itap a next-man-up situation and opportunity,” offensive coordinator Justin Outten said in London. “We can’t have excuses for the position that we’re in right now.”
The exact way in which Denver will piece together the group’s usage going forward remains unclear as Edmonds and Mack get integrated, but for now it appears Gordon and Murray will continue to share primary duties. Edmonds said he expects some passing game work early in his tenure.
“I feel like I’ll be up to speed by Sunday,” he added.
Mack may be the odd man out on game day if Denver opts to continue carrying its standard three backs on the 46-man active roster, but he’s enjoying the crash course.
“Mel’s just trying to help everybody out,” Mack said. “Mel, (Williams), Mike Boone, the guys are just helping us out because they know we’re new, so we’re trying to get this thing together, put our heads together and go out there and have some success.”
Gordon has started each of Denver’s four games since Williams’ injury but played just nine snaps in Week 6 against the Chargers as Hackett turned to Murray. In the two games since, each back has 25 touches and Gordon has played 74 snaps to Murray’s 58. They each ran for a touchdown in the Broncos’ win against the Jaguars.
Gordon told The Post at first he saw the signings of new backs, “as a sign of disrespect, like they don’t believe in me,” but decided he had to get past that.
“The Broncos don’t owe me anything, any loyalty or any trust,” he said. “What they’re trying to do is win games and if they think someone can come in here (and help), thatap what they’re going to do. Itap not my job to worry about who they bring in anymore. I’m going to help whoever asks me for help. I’m that guy, regardless.”
He’s also going to keep getting chances in part because nobody else has grabbed the top job and taken it.
No Denver running back has a carry longer than 18 yards this season and William’s 75-yard outing against Houston remains the group’s single-game high-water mark.
“They’re giving me, at the end of the day, the opportunity to go out there and make something happen,” Gordon said. “Thatap all I can ask for is them putting me in a position to be successful. They do that by giving me a chance to go out there and get reps and itap on me to make the best of that. We’ve got nine games. To me, thatap nine days to set up my future after this, to set up this team to be in the playoffs, to set us up in position to get a ring.
“I’ve got nine games to show the world what I’m made of. I tend to forget who I am as a player. I’m that dude. I just have to remember that. Whoever they bring in, I’m that guy and just carry and strut with that confidence out there.
“I don’t have to walk around with my nose up and chin in the air (in the locker room), but when I’m out there, it has to show.”
