Jaleel McLaughlin is entering his fourth season with the Denver Broncos, but you would not know it from his 2025 numbers. He is coming off the lowest production of his career, and his spot on the active roster is looking iffy at best right now. This is a tough pill to swallow for fans who watched him become a favorite in his first two years with the team.
The Harsh Reality of 2025
Listen, the Broncos have some serious depth at running back. We are talking about guys like J.K. Dobbins, RJ Harvey, and rookie Jonah Coleman, who are pretty much locked into the depth chart. The big question in Denver is how many backs Sean Payton and Davis Webb are even going to keep, and who gets pushed to the practice squad. McLaughlin, at 25 years old and 5’7”, 187 pounds, brings a pure speed element to the backfield that the other guys do not always have. He can truly break any play, whether he is running or catching the ball. But the truth is, that game-breaking ability has been inconsistent, and you know why? Lack of touches. In 2025, those touches were rarer than a sunny day in November, with McLaughlin only getting 37 carries and four receptions. Compare that to his 76 carries and 31 receptions in 2023, or his 113 carries and 24 receptions in 2024. That is a massive dropoff.
Depth Chart Drama and Harvey’s Rise
You want to know what caused that insane drop in production for McLaughlin? It is RJ Harvey, plain and simple. Harvey is also a versatile threat out of the backfield, someone who can run or catch and make a play every time he touches the ball. But here is the kicker: Harvey is bigger and more physical. He stepped up big time as a rookie when Dobbins was sidelined with an injury, showing everyone he could be reliable. Now, Harvey has a full year of NFL and Denver offense experience under his belt. Dobbins is gunning to finally shake off his injury bug and play a full season, and then you have got rookie Jonah Coleman in the mix too. It is a crowded room, no doubt about it.
Special Teams Gamble and a Steep Hill
So, where does that leave McLaughlin, the fun player who used to get fans hyped every time he touched the ball? His most likely path to making the roster is on special teams, specifically as a returner. But even that is no easy ticket. Why? Because the Broncos already have Marvin Mims, who is straight up one of the best returners in the entire NFL. Mims is a huge problem for opposing teams. McLaughlin is a talent, no doubt, and he was a fan favorite for a reason. He can make things happen. But with the sheer depth of running backs, the different types of backs ahead of him on the depth chart, and that huge drop in his 2025 production, McLaughlin is staring down a ridiculously steep hill. He has got to climb it over the next six weeks if he wants to keep his spot on that active roster. It is do or die time, and honestly, it looks tough.
Over the next six weeks, every snap will count for McLaughlin. It is not just about proving he can still break plays; it is about finding a niche the team desperately needs. Can he carve out a role beyond the shadows of Dobbins, Harvey, and Coleman? That is the real test.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
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