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The Broncos Are Down to Two Healthy Backs, and There's a Cheaper Fix Than Jonathan Taylor
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- The Broncos Are Down to Two Healthy Backs, and There's a Cheaper Fix Than Jonathan Taylor
Denver's backfield got thinner the same weekend the team moved into first place in the AFC West. The Broncos placed RJ Harvey on injured reserve Saturday with a knee injury, joining Tyler Badie, who broke his thumb Oct. 15 against Seattle. That leaves rookie Jonah Coleman and J.K. Dobbins as the only healthy running backs on the 53-man roster, a week before the trade deadline and with the Colts still holding out for a big return on Jonathan Taylor.
Tennessee's Tony Pollard is the cheaper answer. FanSided's Wynston Wilcox pitched the Titans running back as a fit for Denver, arguing the Broncos shouldn't cling to picks if the goal is contending this season. Taylor's price is another matter. Tom Pelissero reported Saturday that the Colts turned down a 2027 second-round pick plus another selection for him.
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What Tony Pollard would bring Denver
Nov 1, 2026; Denver, Colorado, USA; Denver Broncos running back Jonah Coleman (20) leaves the field after defeating the Kansas City Chiefs at Empower Field at Mile High. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-Imagn Images
Coleman carried the offense in the 28-24 win over Kansas City, finishing with 104 scrimmage yards and the go-ahead touchdown in the fourth quarter, per the Denver Gazette . "Everyone was covering someone. No one had Jonah," Sean Payton said. Coleman played 41 snaps to Dobbins' 13, according to PFF, and Dobbins didn't get a carry after halftime.
That's a heavy load for a rookie. Harvey had 25 catches for 217 yards as Denver's top receiving back, and he can't return until the Dec. 6 game against Miami.
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Pollard has 595 rushing yards and six touchdowns for the 1-7 Titans, including five scores over his last two games, and he topped 1,000 rushing yards in each of the past four seasons. He's in the final year of his deal, and only the unpaid portion of his 2026 salary would come with him. Denver has about $4.7 million in cap space, per Over the Cap , so the math works without sending salary back.
The Titans may want more after his surge, and Pelissero has also reported that general manager Mike Borgonzi told callers Pollard isn't available. We wrote last week that his $2 million dead-cap hit makes him easy to move, though. Adding him would also settle whether the Broncos keep or trade Dobbins .
If the Colts hold firm on Taylor, a mid-round pick for Pollard is how Denver protects first place without draining its deadline budget before Nov. 10.
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This story was originally published by Athlon on Nov 3, 2026, where it first appeared in the NFL section. Add Athlon as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
