Broncos training camp spotlight lands on the running back room

What to watch first when the Broncos open training camp is their running back group. In a position room that rarely gets the same attention as the quarterbacks or the pass rush, the timing of how Denver’s backfield holds up can shape the entire offense. The reason is simple: the Broncos’ run game last season was largely ineffective once J.K. Dobbins was injured, according to Yahoo Sports, and the overall offense struggled to replace what his presence provided.

Dobbins’ role matters here not as a storyline by itself, but as a reference point for how Denver’s rushing attack operated. The published analysis frames the problem as more than just a temporary dip. Once Dobbins was unavailable, the Broncos could not consistently run the football in a way that forces defenses to respect the entire playbook, turning Denver’s offensive balance into a one-dimensional challenge.

For a team trying to turn training camp work into regular-season repeatability, that is an urgent development focus. The “running back room” becomes the catch-all for multiple parts of the offense: the ability to hit the right crease quickly, the willingness of the unit to pass-protect in the pocket, and the adaptability to different run concepts depending on down and distance. Even if the offensive line is doing its job, the backfield still has to deliver runners who can carry the scheme without a major drop-off.

This is also where camp evaluation can look different than it does for other positions. Running back play is often defined by momentum and small decision points, not just individual flashes. Who can choose the correct lane when play-action disguises the defense? Who can stay patient enough to let blocks form? Who can accelerate through contact, and who can do it when the team’s first option is unavailable? Those are the kinds of questions that can reveal whether Denver’s running game can operate as a stable element rather than a fragile one.

The Broncos, like most NFL teams, will have a mix of veterans and developing players competing for reps. But the stakes in this specific group are higher because of how last season ended up looking when Dobbins could not go. If the Broncos want to build an offense that can control games, they need to make sure the running game is not dependent on one body in one role. That does not mean Denver has to mirror what it did when Dobbins was active, but it does mean the ground attack has to remain credible enough to protect the passing game.

There is also an organizational angle to the question. A running game that functions changes how coordinators call plays, how defenses align, and how consistently the offense can sustain drives. The Yahoo Sports framing is blunt, suggesting that with an actual functioning running game, Denver would have been capable of a much deeper postseason run. Even if that is ultimately an opinion, it underscores what many teams treat as a baseline requirement: the ability to run effectively when the first plan breaks.