J.K. Dobbins injury update is good news for Broncos but won't help fantasy football managers

Mike Moraitis

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J.K. Dobbins injury update is good news for Broncos but won't help fantasy football managers image

Isaiah J. Downing-Imagn Images

The Denver Broncos could get running back J.K. Dobbins back this season after all, but not in time to help fantasy football managers.

Dobbins sustained a foot injury in Week 10 that required surgery and led to his placement on injured reserve.

While the injury was initially believed to be season-ending, Broncos head coach Sean Payton has now said on multiple occasions that Dobbins could return this season.

Payton made the comment after talking about the prospects of injured linebacker Drew Sanders returning in 2025.

J.K. Dobbins injury update

“Yes. It’s going to be later, but yes," he said of Sanders, per Jon Heath of Broncos Wire. "We monitor the progress. [V.P. Of player health and performance] Beau [Lowery] goes through the report. I don’t have the game, [but he'll return]."

"And honestly, the same can be said with Dobbins," Payton added.

Dobbins was placed on injured reserve in Week 11, which forces him to miss at least four games.

That means the earliest he can return is Week 16 (the bye week doesn't count toward the IR stay).

But that seems far-fetched given the severity of the injury and the time he's going to need to get re-acclimated once he's healthy enough to practice.

The best-case scenario is probably a Week 17 return, but even that seems unlikely. Even if he does return then, starting Dobbins in his first game back from injury in what is typically the week of fantasy championships would be risky, at best.

So, while it's great news for the Broncos that they might get their No. 1 running back back at some point, his potential return isn't likely to come soon enough to assist fantasy managers for their championship runs.

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Staff Writer