Dobbins suffered the foot injury in Week 10 against the Las Vegas Raiders, requiring surgery and ending his regular season. Denver opened a practice window for him ahead of the AFC Championship, and Dobbins said he was “100%” ready to play if the team had reached the Super Bowl.
Denver’s running game struggled without Dobbins, totaling 79 rushing yards on 24 carries against the Patriots and 70 yards in the divisional round loss to the Bills. By contrast, the Broncos averaged 128.6 rushing yards per game with Dobbins in the lineup, highlighting how critical he was to their ground attack.
Without Dobbins, Denver’s offense showed a notable run-pass imbalance, ranking far more heavily toward the passing game. Injuries along the offensive line and starter Bo Nix’s playoff absence contributed to the run-game struggles, although Dobbins’ presence was a clear differentiator when healthy.
Dobbins has expressed a strong desire to return and re-sign with Denver, signing a one-year, $2 million contract in the 2025 offseason. He said he is committed to the Broncos and proud to be a Bronco, while acknowledging his extensive injury history as an extenuating factor rather than labeling himself injury-prone.
The Broncos have signaled ongoing plans at running back, including mentoring rookie RJ Harvey, a second-round pick who appeared in the season finale and totaled 37 yards on 13 carries. Dobbins described Harvey’s development as a priority, underscoring the team’s approach to balancing a jeune depth chart with a veteran presence.
