Broncos running back J.K. Dobbins had high hopes for his second season with the Broncos. Through four games, he has yet to perform at the level he’d anticipated.
“Right now, it’s a dark spot,” Dobbins said Thursday, via Parker Gabriel of the Denver Post. “That’s part of being in the NFL, though. I’m going to find a way to play to the standard that I play at.”
Dobbins has only 161 rushing yards through four games, on 46 attempts. He’s averaging a career-low 3.5 yards per carry. (His career average remains 5.1 yards per attempt.)
He suffered a soft-tissue injury during training camp, but he won’t blame his production to date on that or any other injury.
“I’m healthy,” Dobbins said. “I’m out there playing. Any time — whether it’s fully healthy, not healthy, 75 percent, 60, 80, 90, 100, if I’m out there, I’ve got to play good, you know what I mean? No matter what’s going on, if I’m going out there, that means I think I can make plays. . . . It don’t matter. . . . I’ve got to make my plays and I’ve got to be me.”
Against the 49ers on Sunday, Dobbins was on the field for only 21 snaps; RJ Harvey took 29 reps.
He was asked whether he was frustrated early in the game; he didn’t get a carry until the second quarter.
“I just love the game,” Dobbins said. “I’m a passionate guy. Whatever you saw, it was just me wanting to win the game. I just want to win no matter what, you know? It could be me getting two carries in two minutes of playing time. As long as we win the game, I’m fine. It has nothing to do with me being a passionate guy and wanting to win the game.”
The Broncos haven’t won as many as they’d hoped in the early going; after a 14-3 season in 2025, they’re 2-2.
The shift back to Sean Payton as the play-caller could unlock the offense against the Chargers on Sunday — and it possibly will better unleash Dobbins.