Jonah Coleman just gave the Broncos the RB controversy they badly needed

The Denver Broncos had a clear pecking order at the running back position until their win over the Jacksonville Jaguars in Week 2.

The Broncos came into this season with the plan of JK Dobbins and RJ Harvey leading their backfield, while rookie Jonah Coleman and veteran Tyler Badie would be there to rotate in on an as-needed basis. With Harvey missing the team's Week 2 matchup against the Jaguars with a hamstring injury, Coleman was elevated to the #2 back behind Dobbins.

When Dobbins suffered a bit of a hamstring injury in the 4th quarter against the Jaguars, it was Coleman's time to shine, and he did not disappoint. His game against the Jaguars might have caused the running back controversy the Broncos have needed.

Jonah Coleman might have just run his way into the Broncos RB1 job in Week 2

After some tough sledding earlier in the game, Coleman finished with 39 rushing yards on 10 carries, his first career touchdown run, and three receptions for 19 yards. He was unstoppable in the Broncos' 4-minute offense to close out the game against the Jaguars, ripping off a 6-yard rush and two 12-yard runs.

Coleman basically ended the game with a brilliant 12-yard rush where he bounced outside, showing off his outstanding burst and vision. Not only did he bounce the run to the outside and pick up a first down, but he also had the presence of mind to slide down and keep the clock running.

And that sealed it for the Broncos in the 4th.

For a team that had absolutely no running game to speak of in the second half of the 2025 season, seeing Coleman close out a game like this was a borderline cathartic breath of fresh air. Even before his runs late in the 4th quarter, Coleman cashing in one of the team's red zone attempts was also exactly what the doctor ordered for the offense.

The way the Broncos' running game looked with Coleman getting the bulk of the workload in the 4th, it's abundantly clear that this team can, in fact, play some bully ball. They have desperately needed to be able to impose their will in the running game dating back to halfway through last season, but it just hasn't happened.

Coleman turned that around, and he should be properly rewarded going forward.

This doesn't mean RJ Harvey and JK Dobbins have to be done away with, by any means, but Coleman might have done enough against the Jaguars for the Broncos to ride the hot hand against the Rams in Week 3. Coleman is physical, he's tough, he was outstanding in pass protection in the 4th quarter, and he can catch passes naturally out of the backfield.

He did more as a three-down back than we've seen anyone do for the Broncos.

Hopefully, the injury to Dobbins won't cause him to miss time (and his prediction of playing in all 17 games this season). But regardless of what happens with Dobbins or Harvey, the Broncos finally have a back they can lean on.

And the coaching staff knows it.

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