The Denver Broncos will be without running back J.K. Dobbins for the foreseeable future after he was placed on injured reserve following surgery on his foot after an injury he suffered in Week 10 against the Las Vegas Raiders. Though he will be required to miss at least four games, it's likely that he will miss much more.
The exact timeline for how long Dobbins will be out could actually depend on how far the Broncos go this year. But as reported by Tom Pelissero of NFL Network, the only way he will return to action for the Broncos this season is if the team reaches the Super Bowl.
However, that is a possibility. Following a win over the Kansas City Chiefs on Sunday, the Broncos are now 9-2 and hold the No. 1 seed in the AFC. The Broncos are going to need to consider adding help at the running back position to navigate through the rest of this season, but getting Dobbins back at any point would be a huge boost for the team.
Dobbins was fifth in the league with 772 yards rushing at the time of his injury.
Back in June, Dobbins signed a one-year deal with the Broncos, meaning that he will be an unrestricted free agent following the season. He should be considered a candidate for an extension with the team, but it is also a possibility that he has played his last down in Denver.
He had a similar situation with the Los Angeles Chargers last season. He played well for the team until having to miss a month with a knee injury down the stretch. He was able to return to the field, but the Chargers opted to sign Najee Harris in free agency and use their first-round pick on Omarion Hampton.
READ: 4 reasons why the Broncos are the best team in the AFC
Much of Dobbins' future in Denver will likely hinge on the success of the rushing attack, or lack thereof, during his absence.
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