RB C.J. Anderson Should Be Active Against the Washington Redskins

Sep 29, 2013; Denver, CO, USA; Denver Broncos running back Ronnie Hillman (21) runs the ball against Philadelphia Eagles linebacker Jake Knott (54) during the first half at Sports Authority Field at Mile High. Mandatory Credit: Chris Humphreys-USA TODAY Sports

I don’t have an official report or anything, but Ronnie Hillman’s fumble against the Colts likely landed him in the same doghouse Knowshon Moreno spent a good chunk of the 2012 season. With Montee Ball’s fumbles now seeming like a distant memory and mere speed bump in a blowout victory, Hillman has become the Broncos’ new goat offensively.

It sucks for Hillman, who is a very talented player, but he needs some time to get himself right mentally after a brutal game-changing fumble against the Indianapolis Colts.

The stat sheet reads that Hillman has fumbled just twice this year, and maybe it’s just the fact that the Broncos fumble so much as a team but it seems like it has been far more than that. He’s fumbled a total of four times not including the playoffs in his two years with the Broncos, so maybe it’s just the fact that he hasn’t seen very many touches and still has four fumbles.

Hillman’s turnover isn’t any different than any other fumble or interception the Broncos had yesterday in terms of what it looks like on the stat sheet, but it was a gross error that pretty much cost the Broncos the game.

As I explained in my earlier rant, the Broncos would have cut the Colts’ lead to 39-37 with over three minutes left, all of their timeouts, and a defense that had finally started to click.

With Hillman likely in the doghouse, it could mean good things for undrafted rookie C.J. Anderson, who has been chomping at the bit to get his first NFL action. Anderson has vowed to hold on and not let go to the running back job if he gets his shot, and it’s worth it at this point to see what the kid from Cal can do.

Knowshon Moreno is obviously still the Broncos’ best pass protector and receiver, but getting those early down yards could be something that Anderson could really help with, so long as the Broncos are dead-set on making that happen.

I think against the Redskins, we ought to see Anderson for the first time this season.