The Denver Broncos received encouraging news on rookie running back RJ Harvey this week.
But as the Denver Post reported, the team appears set to take a cautious approach with his workload as the season enters a critical stretch.
Harvey avoided a serious rib injury late in Sunday’s win over the Green Bay Packers, a scare that briefly raised concerns given how heavily Denver has leaned on the rookie in recent weeks.
While the Broncos expect Harvey to be available this Sunday against the Jacksonville Jaguars, his growing usage has now become a point of focus internally.
Harvey’s role has steadily grown since taking over as the team’s lead back after J.K. Dobbins went down with a season-ending foot injury.
With limited depth behind him, balancing his usage has become a key consideration for head coach Sean Payton and the Broncos’ staff.
RJ Harvey Avoids Major Injury, Returns to Practice
Harvey left the game in the fourth quarter in the win against the Packers after taking a hard hit up the middle.
This was a moment that drew attention given his heavy usage in recent weeks.
Over the last two games, Harvey has averaged 18 carries per game.
This is a massive increase from earlier in the season where he only averaged five carries through his first ten games.
Fortunately for Denver, the injury is not serious.
Harvey returned to practice in full on Wednesday, a strong indicator that he avoided anything serious.
Payton downplayed the issue, telling reporters that the rookie was “doing good” and should be ready to go this weekend.
As CBS Sports noted, full participation early in the week typically signals confidence from a coaching staff, especially at this stage of the season.
That optimism was reinforced when Harvey was spotted taking part in all portions of practice.
The Broncos also clarified that the recent signing of running back Cody Schrader was unrelated to Harvey’s health.
This further signals that the team does not anticipate the rib issue lingering.
Broncos Keeping Close Eye on Workload
While Harvey’s availability is not in question the Broncos are being mindful of how much they ask of the rookie going forward.
Since Dobbins went down, Harvey has handled a steadily increasing share of the offense.
Against Green Bay, he logged a 68 percent snap share, carrying the ball 19 times for 65 yards and a touchdown.
Over the past four games, Harvey has ranked among the most productive running backs in football, cementing himself as a centerpiece of Denver’s offense.
That level of usage, paired with limited depth at the position, has naturally led to internal discussions about managing his touches.
Denver would rather not overuse him and make sure he is healthy for a playoff run.
Payton acknowledged earlier this week that getting Jaleel McLaughlin more involved is something the team has discussed.
This is a move that could help keep Harvey fresh without taking him off the field entirely.
Harvey’s emergence has been one of the biggest stabilizing forces for a Broncos offense that struggled early in the season.
His stellar play as a rookie has earned the trust of the coaching staff.
For now, Denver appears to have avoided the worst-case scenario as his rib injury is not expected to be serious.
But as the Broncos push toward the postseason without much margin for error at running back, how they manage Harvey’s workload is something to look for going forward.
Broncos Monitoring Rookie RB After Heavy Usage and Injury Scare