Alright, this one stings a bit, even if it’s not our guys. ESPN’s lead NFL insider Adam Schefter just dropped the news: the Denver Broncos are placing rookie running back Jonah Coleman on the short-term IR. The reason? A high-ankle sprain he picked up during their Week 2 victory against the Jaguars. The silver lining, if there is one, is Schefter says Coleman should only miss the mandatory four games and is expected back for their game against the Arizona Cardinals in late October. Still, losing any player, especially a rookie who’s showing out, just sucks.
Playing Through The Pain, Then The Sideline
What makes this sting even more is how Coleman got here. He left that Jaguars game early, but then, after veteran JK Dobbins went down with a hamstring injury, Coleman *returned* to the field. Think about that for a second. The dude was playing through a high-ankle sprain. And not just playing, he had a massive role in the offense, scoring his first career rushing touchdown and literally icing the game late for the Broncos. Honestly, his showing that Sunday was impressive on its own, but knowing he was gutting it out on a high-ankle sprain? That’s next-level toughness. A lot of us were wondering if he’d earned the starting RB spot after that. He gave them a ground threat they badly needed, something they’d struggled with, especially in closing out games. Now, he’s sidelined for a month.
Who Steps Up While Coleman Is Out?
So, with Coleman out, the Broncos’ run game is suddenly leaning on some other guys. JK Dobbins is gonna lead the charge, and he’s gotta bounce back after a slow start to the season. Good news is he’s off the injury report and looks good for Sunday Night. Second-year back RJ Harvey also missed last Sunday’s game with a hamstring injury, but he’s cleared too. We saw Harvey get a ton of snaps in Week 1, so expect that to ramp up against the Rams and going forward. Tyler Badie will likely take on third-down duties, both blocking and catching, much like his 27-yard gain against the Jaguars showed he can do. And don’t forget preseason star Cody Schrader, who’s still on the practice squad as depth. The Broncos are gonna need all three of these guys playing at a high level. A consistent run game means a more dangerous play-action game and some much-needed rest for their defense.
This whole situation for Coleman is a bummer, but four weeks isn’t forever. The rookie will be back, and hopefully, he can still contribute big-time as they head deeper into their season. You just hate to see a young player get hurt after putting on such a gutsy performance.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Mile High Report.
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