Denver Broncos: The Melvin Gordon signing makes less sense by the week
Melvin Gordon’s tenure with the Denver Broncos is not off to the best start.
The running back was recently charged with DUI and could face a potential suspension due to a violation of league policy. Through five weeks, his addition to the team has been much less than many were expecting in terms of production.
Last season, Gordon held out for a new contract from the Los Angeles Chargers and by the time he returned to the field, it was clear that he had been supplanted by Austin Ekeler. Gordon, a former first-round pick, lost his job to a player that went undrafted.
It was clear in the offseason that Gordon needed a change of scenery, though it was possible he would return to LA. That didn’t happen and after entering the open market, he signed a two-year deal with the Broncos.
Though many liked the idea of having one of the league’s perceived top young running backs on the roster, the signing was always a headscratcher.
The Broncos already had a solid running game in place with Phillip Lindsay, who had just completed back-to-back 1,000-yard seasons to open his career. He became the first undrafted player in history to accomplish that feat.
Behind him, the Broncos had Royce Freeman, a former third-round pick who is still in his prime. He was great as a pass-catcher last season, snagging 50 receptions.
Going into free agency, running back was far from a pressing need for the Broncos, but there was something about Gordon they couldn’t pass up. Maybe the thought was that he would come in and give Lindsay some relief and less of a workload, making him more effective overall. But Lindsay almost assuredly wasn’t crazy about the move.
When Lindsay went down with a toe injury in the season opener, Gordon became the primary back and pretty much the only guy getting any carries, with Freeman getting a few here and there.
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In four games, Gordon has rushed for 281 yards, with 43 of them coming on a touchdown run toward the end of the team’s victory over the New York Jets that was more of a fluke than anything. As a runner, Gordon has been very average in Denver.
With Lindsay expected to return to the lineup in Week 6 against the New England Patriots, it will be interesting to see how the team chooses to use its two running backs since it has only had them together for part of one game this season.
That’s if Gordon isn’t hit with a suspension from the league.
It’s likely that Lindsay will return motivated to take over his old spot as the team’s featured running back and if he looks like his old self while Gordon continues to look like he has, his signing will continue to look like one the team didn’t really need to make.