Broncos Redesign Ground Attack Amid Running Back Shortage

Lede

The Denver Broncos entered the second week of the 2026 NFL season without a reliable feature running back and responded by overhauling their rushing concept, leaning on versatile players and unconventional formations. The shift, highlighted by a recent three‑back workout and the coaching staff’s monitoring of defensive back Jaden Nixon for offensive duties, marks a rare departure from a traditional ground game.

Core Developments

According to the Denver Gazette, the Broncos invited three running backs to a workout on the practice field while simultaneously keeping a close eye on rookie safety‑turned‑wide‑receiver Jaden Nixon, whose speed and vision have drawn interest from the offensive staff. The Gazette notes that the team’s personnel directors are "evaluating how Nixon’s skill set could translate to ball‑carrying duties," suggesting a willingness to blur positional lines.

In a broader context, Yahoo Sports reported that Denver is redesigning its rush scheme to rely less on a single bell‑cow back and more on a distributed approach. The outlet describes the Broncos experimenting with end‑around runs for receivers, quarterback scrambles on designed reads, and even lining up defensive backs in the backfield to create mismatches. This strategic pivot is framed as a response to the "running back shortage" that has emerged after injuries to key ball carriers.

The shortage is concrete. milehighreport.com confirmed that running back R.J. Harvey, who had been slated to start, is "unlikely to play" against the Jacksonville Jaguars due to lingering health concerns. The report emphasizes that Harvey’s absence reduces the depth chart to a handful of healthy backs, heightening the urgency of the Broncos’ multi‑player experiment.

While the offensive adjustments are still nascent, defensive players have already been thrust into ball‑handling roles. Broncos Wire highlighted a "potential season‑changing" play by cornerback Riley Moss in Week 2, where Moss recovered a fumble and returned it for significant yardage, underscoring the coaching staff’s confidence in athletes outside the traditional running back pool.

The Week 2 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs further exposed Denver’s ground‑game challenges. NFL.com chronicled Chiefs rookie Kenneth Walker III’s dominant performance, noting that Walker “pummelled” the Broncos defense and that Denver struggled to generate any meaningful rushing yards of its own. The article does not attribute the Broncos’ offensive woes solely to the backfield, but the timing of the loss aligns with the ongoing roster flux.

Fantasy analysts have taken note. ESPN included the Broncos in its Week 2 takeaways, pointing out that the team’s uncertain rushing outlook adds volatility to player projections and that the lack of a clear lead back complicates weekly fantasy valuations.

Why It Matters

Running the ball has historically been a pillar of Denver’s identity, especially under head coach Sean Payton, who has emphasized a balanced attack that controls time of possession. A depleted backfield forces the Broncos to lean more heavily on the passing game, a shift that could expose weaknesses in the secondary and accelerate the pace of the game, potentially leading to defensive fatigue.

From a strategic standpoint, the hybrid approach could make Denver less predictable. If receivers, quarterbacks, and defensive backs can effectively carry the ball, opponents must prepare for a wider array of rushing threats, complicating defensive game‑planning. However, the trade‑off is a loss of consistency; without a dedicated workhorse, the offense may lack the sustained grinding that helps set up play‑action passes.

Financially, the experiment could influence future roster construction. Should the Broncos find success with a distributed rush model, the franchise might allocate fewer cap dollars to a single feature back in upcoming free‑agency periods, redirecting resources toward depth and versatility. Conversely, if the scheme fails to produce yardage, the team may be compelled to invest heavily in a traditional running back, potentially impacting other positional investments.

In the broader league context, Denver’s situation illustrates a growing trend of teams adapting to injury‑related scarcity at the running back position. The Broncos’ willingness to experiment may encourage other clubs to consider similar hybrid tactics, especially as the NFL continues to evolve toward pass‑centric offenses.

What the Sources Show

All six sources converge on the fact that Denver’s rushing attack is in a state of flux, but each emphasizes a different facet. The Denver Gazette provides the most granular detail, naming the three running backs invited to a workout and describing the staff’s active scouting of Jaden Nixon for offensive potential. The Gazette’s focus on personnel evaluation offers a concrete snapshot of the team’s immediate remedial actions.

The Yahoo Sports piece expands the narrative, framing the situation as a strategic overhaul rather than a temporary patch. It describes specific schematic elements—receiver end‑arounds, quarterback draws, and defensive‑back carries—indicating that the Broncos are redesigning playbooks, not merely shuffling personnel.

In contrast, the Broncos Wire article zeroes in on a single on‑field moment, using Riley Moss’s play to illustrate how the coaching staff is already trusting non‑traditional ball carriers in live games. This micro‑level evidence supports the macro‑level strategy outlined by Yahoo Sports.

The milehighreport.com report anchors the discussion in reality by confirming that R.J. Harvey’s health issues are not speculative; his likely absence against Jacksonville is a tangible loss that fuels the need for the experimental approach.

Performance context comes from NFL.com, which documents the Chiefs’ rushing dominance over Denver. While the article centers on Kenneth Walker III, the implication is clear: Denver’s inability to match that ground production underscores the urgency of finding alternative rush options.

Finally, the ESPN coverage situates the Broncos’ predicament within the league‑wide fantasy and analytical conversation, noting that the lack of a clear lead back adds uncertainty to statistical projections and game‑by‑game assessments.

Collectively, the sources paint a picture of a franchise confronting a backfield crisis, responding with a blend of roster workouts, positional experimentation, and schematic redesign, while simultaneously grappling with immediate competitive setbacks.

What’s Next

The Broncos’ upcoming schedule provides three immediate checkpoints. First, the September 28 home game against the Jacksonville Jaguars will reveal R.J. Harvey’s status; the milehighreport.com report suggests he may remain sidelined, which would force Denver to lean on the newly evaluated backs and hybrid players for the entire contest.

Second, the next set of practice reports—expected to be released early next week—will likely confirm whether Jaden Nixon earned a spot in the offensive rotation. The Denver Gazette indicated that the coaching staff "keeps an eye" on Nixon, so any mention of his snap counts or involvement in rush plays will be a key indicator of the experiment’s progression.

Third, post‑game statistical breakdowns from the Jaguars matchup will allow observers to quantify the new rush scheme’s impact. Metrics to watch include the number of end‑around attempts, quarterback scramble frequency, and any defensive backs listed as ball carriers in the official play‑by‑play. A noticeable uptick in these figures compared with Week 1 would validate the strategic shift described by Yahoo Sports.

Beyond the immediate game, the Broncos will face a run‑heavy opponent in the upcoming week—an event that could test the durability of the hybrid approach against a stout defensive front. If Denver can sustain a respectable rushing yardage total without a traditional feature back, the experiment may gain credibility and influence offseason roster decisions.

Finally, the NFL’s weekly injury reports will continue to shape the Broncos’ backfield options. Any return of a healthy running back—whether Harvey or another depth player—will likely prompt a reassessment of how heavily the team relies on hybrid personnel versus a conventional rushing attack.