Broncos Place Star RB on Injured Reserve in Shocking Turn of Events

This article was originally published on Total Pro Sports.

The Denver Broncos placed rookie running back Jonah Coleman on short-term injured reserve Saturday. The fourth-round pick suffered a high-ankle sprain in the team’s Week 2 win over the Jacksonville Jaguars.

Adam Schefter reported the move and the expected timeline. Coleman will miss the next few games and is projected to return for the Broncos’ late-October matchup against the Arizona Cardinals. The decision removes a promising young piece from Denver’s backfield at a critical point in the early season.

Injury Ends Promising Early Stretch

Coleman had already been ruled out of Sunday night’s game against the Los Angeles Rams. The IR designation means he must miss at least four games under NFL rules. Short-term injured reserve allows teams to free a roster spot while keeping the player available for activation after the minimum absence.

He sustained the ankle injury early against Jacksonville yet continued playing. After starter J.K. Dobbins left with a hip issue, Coleman carried the load in the fourth quarter. He scored his first career touchdown on a 3-yard run and then gained 33 yards on the final drive that sealed the victory. Those carries ate up the final 4:41 of game clock and protected a hard-fought win.

The performance showed why Denver selected him in the fourth round out of Washington. Playing through a high-ankle sprain only added to the impression he made in limited opportunities.

Backfield Adjusts Without Coleman

Jeff Legwold reported that J.K. Dobbins practiced fully this week and is expected to handle primary duties against the Rams. Second-year back RJ Harvey has also been cleared after dealing with a hamstring injury that kept him out of the Jacksonville contest. Tyler Badie remains available for third-down work and change-of-pace snaps.

The Broncos lose a young piece who had begun to earn trust in critical moments. Coleman’s absence forces the team to lean more heavily on its veteran and second-year options while he recovers. Dobbins brings experience and vision, while Harvey offers explosive potential when healthy. The group must now absorb the carries that Coleman had started to claim.

Denver will monitor his progress closely over the next month. High-ankle sprains often require careful management to avoid lingering issues later in the season. The earliest possible return remains the Week 7 game at Arizona on October 25.