The Denver Broncos will host the New England Patriots on Sunday in the AFC Championship game. With the run game needing a boost, the Broncos have opened up the 21-day window for running back J.K. Dobbins, who landed on injured reserve after suffering a lisfranc injury in Week 10.
Denver Broncos open 21-day window for running back J.K. Dobbins
J.K. Dobbins was putting together the best season by a Denver Broncos running back since Phillip Lindsay all the way back in 2018, before they lost him to a regular-season-ending Lisfranc injury on a hip drop tackle in Week 10 against the Las Vegas Raiders.
Dobbins, at the time, was third in the NFL in rushing yards with 772 yards and four touchdowns before he suffered the injury. He was on pace for over 1300 rushing yards had he been able to play the entire season.
He had surgery to repair the injury, then went on injured reserve, but going into this week’s game against the New England Patriots, Dobbins is expected to return to practice on Wednesday when the team takes the field for their first practice of the week.
Last week, Dobbins appeared on the side field for the first time. And quietly over the last two weeks, he’s been more present in the locker room when the media has open locker availability. As a matter of fact, Dobbins was in the Broncos locker room on Saturday night after Denver beat the Buffalo Bills in overtime to advance to the AFC Championship game.
His 21-day window has officially opened, and it gives the Broncos nothing but time and flexibility when it comes to making roster decisions. That doesn’t necessarily mean Dobbins will return and play on Sunday against New England, but perhaps his ramping things up and practicing this week can allow him to establish the feel for contact, planting, and cutting in his first look back from injury.
Denver will have essentially time leading up to the Super Bowl to fully decide whether or not he can come back and play because of the 21-day window. There is always the chance he could return and play on Sunday, but we’ll have to see how he responds throughout practice this week.
