![\"Broncos](\"https:\/\/news2.watchtowatch.top\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/MixCollage-22-Sep-2025-02-14-PM-9551-e1758568473801-1.jpg\")
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J.K. Dobbins #27 of the Denver Broncos reacts after scoring a touchdown against the Los Angeles Chargers.<\/p>\n
The\u00a0Denver Broncos\u00a0listed running back\u00a0J.K. Dobbins\u00a0as a non-participant in the first practice session of Week 11 as he navigates a foot injury. Broncos head coach\u00a0Sean Payton\u2019s comments about Dobbins\u00a0drew even more attention\u00a0ahead of a pivotal Week 11.<\/p>\n
Dobbins was injured\u00a0in Week 10 on \u201cThursday Night Football\u201d on a tackle by\u00a0Las Vegas Raiders\u00a0defensive end\u00a0Tyree Wilson. Dobbins downplayed it, but Denver is considering injured reserve.<\/p>\n
For now, Dobbins and the Broncos remain in a noteworthy state of limbo.<\/p>\n
GettyJ.K. Dobbins #27 of the Denver Broncos greets teammates before facing the Las Vegas Raiders.<\/p>\n
Payton met with the media to begin Week 11, and he noted that the Broncos have not yet decided whether or not to place Dobbins on injured reserve. They already drew attention for\u00a0not placing him on IR\u00a0to begin the week amid a\u00a0flurry of roster decisions.<\/p>\n
\u201cNothing\u2019s been decided yet,\u201d\u00a0Payton told reporters\u00a0on November 12. \u201cAt some point, there\u2019ll be more clarity with him and some of these other players.\u201d<\/p>\n
Dobbin, 26, has rushed for 772 yards and 4 touchdowns on 153 carries this season.<\/p>\n
In addition to Dobbins, the Broncos are without star cornerback and reigning Defensive Player of the Year\u00a0Pat Surtain II\u00a0and starting right guard\u00a0Ben Powers. While Payton was not definitive, other comments made during his media availability suggested Dobbins would miss time.<\/p>\n
GettyRJ Harvey #12 of the Denver Broncos scores a touchdown against the\u00a0Cincinnati Bengals.<\/p>\n
Payton suggested rookie second-round pick\u00a0RJ Harvey\u00a0could receive a larger workload in Week 11, when the Broncos will face the\u00a0Kansas City Chiefs. That may hold, even if Dobbins manages to play.<\/p>\n
However, Payton also named-dropped former coaching staff darling\u00a0Jaleel McLaughlin, who has played in one game this season, Week 6 against the\u00a0New York Jets.<\/p>\n
Rookie wideout\u00a0Pat Bryant, the Broncos\u2019 third-round pick, also received kudos.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhen we drafted him, it was his running skill set and, man, he had a lot of touches,\u201d Payton told media members. \u201cThen, you have experience in a guy like Jaleel, who\u2019s explosive and has been chomping at the bit.<\/p>\n
\u201cI think sometimes players are not held back. But when you\u2019re watching Pat Bryant grow right in front of our eyes, and you\u2019re starting to see that with RJ \u2013 and, obviously, he\u2019ll have more opportunities here um in this game. So, yeah. He\u2019s built. When you see his frame, he\u2019s built to last, and that\u2019s important.\u201d<\/p>\n
Payton\u2019s recent comments closely align with what the veteran head coach said about Harvey\u2019s size before the season. Durability is even more important for Harvey, a former who tore his ACL in college, with Dobbins injured.<\/p>\n
\u201cI know the question is, \u2018Is he a three-down back?\u2019 Well, he\u2019s going to play on third down,\u201d\u00a0Payton told reporters\u00a0in May. \u201cIf you watch his stature \u2026 he\u2019s put together pretty well. So, there\u2019s a difference between a small runner and a short runner. We\u2019re not interested in the small runners, but we\u2019re okay with the short runners.\u201d<\/p>\n
Harvey has 214 yards and 2 TDs on 50 carries, adding another 175 yards and 4 scores on 25 receptions.<\/p>\n
How the Broncos balance Harvey\u2019s workload if Dobbins sits is the key against the Chiefs.<\/p>\n
The New Orleans Saints have heard plenty of noise this season, but none louder than the recent wave of criticism labeling them a \u201cwashed-up team.\u201d Analysts pointed to inconsistent performances, a turbulent stretch of injuries, and a midseason identity crisis as reasons the franchise had supposedly fallen out of relevance. But inside the locker room, that narrative hasn\u2019t sat well\u2014especially with quarterback Tyler Shough, who has quickly become one of the most vocal figures pushing back.<\/p>\n
Shough, who stepped into a more prominent role this season, addressed the growing criticism following practice this week. His response was sharp, confident, and a reminder that the Saints don\u2019t plan on fading quietly.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere\u2019s always going to be people ready to write your story for you,\u201d Shough said. \u201cThey want to say we\u2019re washed, that we\u2019re done, that our window\u2019s closed. That\u2019s fine\u2014they can talk. Our job is to prove that the story isn\u2019t finished.\u201d<\/p>\n
Despite struggles, Shough emphasized that the team\u2019s issues aren\u2019t signs of decline but part of the natural evolution of a roster dealing with adversity. He pointed out that close losses have overshadowed strong stretches of play and highlighted the team\u2019s commitment to growth rather than resignation.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019ve had games where one play flips everything,\u201d he said. \u201cPeople outside see the record. We see the details\u2014the adjustments we\u2019ve made, the fight we\u2019ve shown, the progress behind the scenes. If being \u2018washed-up\u2019 means we\u2019re hungry, angry, and working harder every day, then I\u2019ll take that label.\u201d<\/p>\n
Coaches and teammates echoed his sentiment, praising Shough for bringing calm leadership<\/p>\n
Shough ended his remarks with a message that resonated far beyond the players\u2019 meeting room.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe hear everything,\u201d he said. \u201cBut we\u2019re not here to replay the past or accept anyone else\u2019s version of who we are. We\u2019re here to write the next chapter\u2014and we\u2019re not close to done.\u201d<\/p>\n
The Saints may be facing doubts, but if Tyler Shough\u2019s energy is any indication, they have no intention of letting this season become a eulogy. Instead, they\u2019re treating it as a challenge\u2014and a chance to prove the critics wrong.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Getty J.K. Dobbins #27 of the Denver Broncos reacts after scoring a touchdown against the Los Angeles Chargers. The\u00a0Denver Broncos\u00a0listed running back\u00a0J.K. Dobbins\u00a0as a non-participant in the first practice session of Week…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":8869,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-8870","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-hot-news"],"aioseo_notices":[],"aioseo_head":"\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t