There’s a chance that J.K. Dobbins could return for the Denver Broncos during the AFC championship game against the New England Patriots on Sunday. The team has officially activated the player’s practice window, which could mean he’s expected to return for the AFC championship or in the Super Bowl.
This is an unexpected update, given that the player had suffered what was thought to be a season-ending injury in Week 10 against the Las Vegas Raiders. Despite not playing since Nov. 6, he’s the Broncos’ leading rusher with 772 yards and four touchdowns on 153 carries.
If he’s available to play against the Patriots on Sunday, it would be very good news for Denver’s offensive unit. The Broncos lost starting quarterback Bo Nix to a season-ending fracture to his right ankle during the overtime victory over the Buffalo Bills in the Divisional round, which has forced them to rely on backup quarterback Jarrett Stidham for whatever remains of their postseason.
What Happened to J.K. Dobbins?
J.K. Dobbins suffered a Lisfranc (foot) injury in Week 10 against the Las Vegas Raiders. The injury was thought to be a season-ending one, with all eyes being on a return for the 2026 season initially, but given the current state of the Broncos’ offense (Without Bo Nix) and the high stakes of what remains of the postseason, the team seems willing to roll the dice.
During the third quarter of the game against the Raiders, Dobbins picked up the ball for a 2-yard carry, when he was stopped by defensive lineman Tyree Wilson. There’s some controversy around the play, as Dobbins and some in the media believe that Wilson used a “Hip-Drop” tackle against the running back. In this specific type of tackles the defender puts his whole body weight onto the opposing player’s legs, which has been banned.
Nonetheless, Wilson didn’t receive any penalty.
Is J.K. Dobbins Playing This Week?
It’s unknown at this point. That’s certainly the Broncos intent; there’s no other reason to activate a player’s practice window less than a week before a sudden-death encounter like the AFC championship. It’s probably a touch-and-go issue that depends on how J.K. Dobbins performs in practice throughout the week.
Last week, while the Broncos practiced for the Divisional round, Dobbins took part in individual drills in an adjacent field.
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