The Denver Broncos took Jonah Coleman in Round 4 of the 2026 NFL Draft, and it didn't take long for the rookie to make his presence felt in the team's first preseason game. While Coleman only received four carries, he gained 24 yards on those carries and was able to show vision, contact balance, breaking tackles, making players, and burst.
For as much damage as a rookie can do in four carries, Coleman found a way maximize that opportunity, and it is pretty telling that he wasn't on the field much and really didn't play outside of the first offensive series.
Typically, players that hardly see preseason action are not only roster locks, but perhaps in line for a significant role. He played 14 snaps in that game, and fellow running back RJ Harvey played in 11, gaining 16 yards on five carries. When you think about how this running back room can shake out in 2026, Coleman may be the Broncos ultimate wildcard.
Denver Broncos rookie RB Jonah Coleman could be the team's wildcard for the 2026 campaign
It's pretty much a guarantee that J.K. Dobbins is going to be the Broncos RB1. He averaged five yards per carry last year and was on a 1,300-yard pace through Week 10 before his injury. With Coleman and Harvey both showing off receiving ability, Dobbins simply isn't going to be asked to do that much at all.
Given his running efficiency and injury history, Dobbins may exclusively be used as a runner, which is fine, as he's quite good at that. With that said, that does also leave a ton of snaps for Coleman and Harvey to shave some carries off Dobbins' workload and also simply be another running back option in the backfield.
Well, these comments from head coach Sean Payton are quite interesting:
Sounds like Sean Payton took Jonah Coleman out early because he didn’t need to see anymore last night
— Zain Dhanani (@DhananiZain) August 15, 2026
Coleman has been labeled as Dobbins insurance plenty throughout the offseason and last night helped prove that he looks ready to step in
via @MaseDenver pic.twitter.com/FELdlmET9g
It's clear that Payton knows what he has with Coleman, as he really didn't need to see him get 10+ carries to know that this is a legitimate running back, but Coleman isn't just a solid runner, either. Payton had compared his running style to Dobbins' earlier in the offseason, and Coleman also brings 'plus' traits of pass protection and protecting the football into the NFL.
Frankly, while it's still early, Coleman does have all the traits you want in a future RB1, but with Dobbins and Harvey both in the room and deserving of snaps, this is where Coleman can truly be a wildcard for the Broncos this year.
Both Coleman and Dobbins, for example, can't both have 15 carries per game each week. That just isn't realistic, as there are not enough snaps and reps to go around. However, if Coleman keeps this up throughout the rest of camp and into the preseason, we could see a legitimate 1A/1B situation brewing with the two rugged runners.
This would obviously take away some carries from Dobbins, but that is also likely the goal, as again giving Dobbins 15+ carries per game might not be a smart idea, as having fresh legs for the playoffs would really be the main goal, especially if the Broncos can do just that without sacrificing production.
While Dobbins is and may continue to be the Broncos best running back, Coleman's overall talent as a runner could get him onto the field often, or, if the Broncos still want to primarily ride with Dobbins, he may not get a done of work.
But with a three-down profile and an exciting debut, Coleman could be soneone who really gets the run game rolling, which has been a part of the offense that has plagued the Broncos for years now.
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