Denver Broncos: C.J. Anderson is On the Road to Recovery

Six weeks removed from surgery, Broncos running back C.J. Anderson has taken the next steps in his rehabilitation process. Could a return be on the horizon?

On October 26, 2016, the Denver Broncos took a sucker punch right to the face.  Only two days after his finest rushing performance of the season, running back C.J. Anderson was placed on IR after undergoing a procedure to repair a torn meniscus in his right knee.  The Broncos weren’t exactly setting the league on fire with their offensive attack, but this injury hurt.  Not only was C.J. Anderson their best back with the ball in his hands, but he was also a key cog in helping young quarterback Trevor Siemian identify where the protection needed to be.  He knew the playbook as well as anyone on the field, and was the chattiest member of the offense on the field, a real tool for a young QB.  He has been missed.

Through 7 weeks, the Broncos were averaging 111 yards per game.  which would

rank 9th in the league at this point in the year.  However, since Anderson’s injury, that figure has dropped to just a tick above 100 yards a game—good for 23rd in the NFL.  With their starting QB nursing a foot injury, the running game needs to be big to protect this passing attack.  Not to mention it is now December.  The weather has turned.  It is cold, and passing attacks are slowing.  It is time for the Broncos to ramp up the rushing attack.   The good news is that C.J. Anderson is working tirelessly to get back for this team as quickly as possible.

Return Nearing?

Under the IR rules, the earliest Anderson could be back on the field is the week 16 game against the Chiefs.  He is eligible to return to practice next week if he is feeling ready.  According to Anderson’s Twitter feed, he seems to be doing well:

From this, it is unclear if Anderson will be ready to resume practice in just a weeks time.  However, the fact that he has taken the next step in his rehab process is certainly encouraging for a Broncos team that can really use him in a big way.

Running Back Blues

Denver is now paper-thin at the running back position.  Rookie Devontae Booker has been the featured back in lieu of Anderson.  The results have been mixed along the way, but recently he has appeared to have hit the rookie wall.  Booker isn’t the back that Anderson is.  He is missing creases, missing cutback lanes, and at times, appears to be seeking contact as opposed to running around tacklers.  He is still a rookie, but right now, the Broncos need more.

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Kapri Bibbs had begun to get more and more carries with positive results.  However, just as he looked ready to be the featured back, Bibbs suffered a high ankle sprain that forced the team to place him onto IR.  The team did claim veteran Justin Forsett off of waivers—a player very familiar with the Kubiak zone-blocking scheme.

Forsett had the most productive season of his career with the Ravens in 2014 when Gary Kubiak was the offensive coordinator.  That year he averaged 5.4 yards per carry on his way to 1,266 yards on the ground.  However, the seasoned veteran is now 31 years old, and has already been cut by the Ravens and the Lions this season.  While he is a natural scheme fit due to familiarity, it is uncertain how that will actually translate on to the field.

Getting C.J. Anderson back in a few weeks could be just what this team needs in order to make a run to a Super Bowl—especially if they will have to do it on the road this time around.  For the Broncos, it would be ideal to get him back in the regular season so that he has a game or two to get his legs underneath him.  Once he does, he should be fresh in a time when other teams aren’t.  His return could propel them right to where they want to be—Houston in February.