The Denver Broncos may be getting encouraging news at the perfect time.
As Denver prepares for its playoff run after securing the AFC’s No. 1 seed and a first-round bye, new injury news has developed.
As Underdog noted, running back J.K. Dobbins could return sooner than originally expected if the team advances deep into the postseason.
Dobbins injury timeline was once viewed as a timeline around the Super Bowl.
It is now shifting, with the AFC Championship Game emerging as a realistic target.
Head coach Sean Payton indicated, via CBS during Sunday’s broadcast, that Dobbins could be available for the AFC title game if Denver reaches it.
That lines up with comments Dobbins himself made to a fan before Week 18, saying he could return “sooner” than the Super Bowl.
The news comes as the Broncos manage several minor injuries across the roster.
None of them loom as large as the continued absence of their top early-down runner.
What J.K. Dobbins’ Return Would Mean for Denver
Dobbins’ absence has been felt for weeks.
Before going down with a foot injury back in Week 10, he was on pace for well over 1,000 rushing yards.
He was the engine of Denver’s physical ground attack.
Since then, the Broncos have struggled to find consistency between the tackles.
Since Week 10, the Broncos rushing attack significantly declined.
They’ve dropping from a strong 4.8 yards per carry (tied 7th in NFL) with J.K. Dobbins in Weeks 1-10, to a much lower 4.0 yards per carry (tied 21st in NFL) in Weeks 11-17.
In the seven full games without Dobbins, Denver has posted rushing totals of 59, 87, 152, 89, 101, 128, and 116 yards.
That’s an average of just 104.6 rushing yards per game.
Rookie RJ Harvey has stepped up and has been great for Denver.
But most of success has come through the passing game or on explosive plays.
The true downhill type of runner who grinds out solid gains has been missing.
Running between the tackles, controlling tempo, and grinding out tough yards late in games were areas where Dobbins excelled.
This style of football is what propels teams deep into February.
Broncos’ Playoff Outlook and the Dobbins Timeline
Thanks to the first-round bye, Denver is in a favorable position.
The Broncos will need to win just one game in the Divisional Round to reach the AFC Championship, where Dobbins could realistically be activated from injured reserve.
NFL rules allow teams to bring back only two players from IR during the playoffs.
This means Denver will have to weigh Dobbins’ availability against other guys like Luke Wattenberg.
The possibility of adding Dobbins back into the lineup looms large and his return could be the one piece Denver is missing.
If the Broncos can take care of business in their first playoff game, the return of Dobbins could dramatically change the offensive outlook.
Broncos Get Encouraging News on J.K. Dobbins’ Potential Return