The Denver Broncos are betting on J.K. Dobbins.
Dobbins, who has battled injuries throughout his career, rushed for 772 yards and four touchdowns last fall before a foot injury ended his season. Despite that injury setback, Denver re-signed Dobbins this spring on a two-year, $16 million contract.
“There’s a lot to him, and when you’re evaluating the type of injury he had, how it happened and what he brings to the team, we had strong opinions, George [Paton] and I and the rest of the group about re-signing him," coach Sean Payton said at the beginning of training camp. "He was a big part of why we won 14 games last year, and sometimes that can get lost in the narrative.
"Certainly, he’s been injured, and yet what we were able to do when he was healthy had a lot to do with where we ended up, so it was unfortunate [that he injured his foot in 2025]. I believe in the player a lot. That room has gotten markedly better from what I remember in 2023.”
Dobbins has pinky-promised media members that he will stay healthy for a full 17-game season in 2026. The 27-year-old running back believes his past injuries have been flukes moreso than a sign of being injury-prone. It seems that the Broncos agree after bringing him back on a two-year deal. Dobbins ranked among the best running backs in the NFL when healthy last season, so Denver's bet could pay off in a big way if Dobbins is able to stay on the field in 2026.
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This article originally appeared on Broncos Wire: Broncos putting faith in veteran running back J.K. Dobbins in 2026