The Broncos got a terrific closing punch from their rookie running back, Jonah Coleman, to close out a Week 2 win against Jacksonville.
They may have reinforcements by the time they host the Los Angeles Rams on Sunday night at Empower Field.
Head coach Sean Payton didn’t say it directly, but indicated he thought there was a chance that both J.K. Dobbins and RJ Harvey, each managing hamstring injuries, will be available to play against the Rams.
Asked Monday about his confidence in Denver’s depth should one or both miss another game, Payton said, “None of that today on Monday is at a place where we’re — I think all three of those players we’re discussing can be a bell cow (backs) and handle a majority of the carries.
“I think there’s a lot ahead of us this week relative to who our runners are going to be.”
Harvey didn’t play at all against Jacksonville after hurting his hamstring in Week 1 against Kansas City. The second-year man out of Central Florida, however, was a limited participant in practice Thursday and Friday, so he did not appear to be far off from playing against the Jaguars.
Dobbins, meanwhile, started against Jacksonville on Sunday but limped off in the second half and didn’t return. After the game, Payton said Dobbins was “frustrated” and “had a little hamstring” issue.
When all three were available Week 1, Coleman took a back seat to Dobbins and Harvey.
If the Broncos have to decide how to split usage among the trio against the Rams, Payton would consider that a good problem to have.
Payton still dealing with back injury himself
Payton isn’t typically willing to give much insight into injuries during the season. He swerved a bit in his answer about Harvey and Dobbins after starting to perhaps address their availability.
He did, however, talk about his own ongoing back issues Monday. No competitive advantage risk there.
Payton said he had an L4/L5 vertebrae injury in 2013 due to “too much CrossFit,” and had a procedure done back then.
The back pain flared up on him this summer and the coach said the pain tends to get aggravated when he stands for multiple hours at a time. That, of course, means game days. Payton said the issue causes “radiating” pain in his back. He also said recently that sometimes the pain goes down his leg.
The 62-year-old has spent periods of games watching with his hands on his knees, a position he says brings some relief from the pain.
Payton said he also recently had an epidural to help with pain management and he doesn’t expect to need surgery during the season.
“There’s no surgery (needed),” Payton said. “I’ve got a toe issue and there’s some other issues, now, that are crickety, but the stress on the back can be relieved if you get into that position.”
It’s not just the back pain that Payton is getting accustomed to on the sideline, though.
The veteran head coach is also figuring out how to navigate game day when he’s not calling plays. He’s still got a play sheet with him on the sideline and he’s involved in the operation, but there is a lot more time to do other things when he’s not the one actually deciding on every play call and radioing them in to quarterback Bo Nix.
Players, so far, see a difference.
“I’ve noticed his energy toward us a lot more,” tight end Evan Engram said. “He’s very charismatic, he’s very energized in practice. He’s pretty vocal in practice and in games. He obviously had a lot on his plate calling plays, but now his energy, he’s able to pour into us more, he’s able to conversate more.
“It’s definitely impacting us in a positive way just seeing his energy and his excitement.”
