Following the Denver Broncos’ Week 2 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers, wide receiver Courtland Sutton emphasized that the team must improve internally. Head coach Sean Payton echoed this sentiment, while also highlighting a specific area of concern: the ground game. The recent loss of rookie running back Audric Estime to injured reserve has only made the issue worse.
Bleacher Report’s NFL contributors offered a potential cost-effective solution.
“The Broncos’ offense took a hit when they placed rookie running back Audric Estime on injured reserve. Estime, known for his power running between the tackles, will be out for at least four weeks. His absence leaves a gap in the run game, as Javonte Williams and Jaleel McLaughlin don’t provide the same between-the-tackles power,” noted Bleacher Report’s NFL Scouting Department on September 16.
Their proposed fix? Bringing in former Washington Commanders running back Chris Rodriguez Jr. Standing at 5’11” and weighing 224 pounds, Rodriguez brings a similar power-back style, averaging 4.8 yards per carry on 51 attempts during the 2023 preseason with Washington.
Rodriguez entered the league as a sixth-round pick in the 2023 NFL Draft, accumulating 247 yards and two touchdowns on 51 carries in 13 games as a rookie. Unfortunately, his season was cut short by an ankle injury that landed him on injured reserve for the final two games. Despite his efforts, Rodriguez was cut by the Commanders before the 2024 season.
Concerns remain about Rodriguez’s long-term potential as a featured back. NFL.com’s Lance Zierlein noted that while Rodriguez is a powerful runner, he lacks the burst and creativity needed to excel as more than a downhill rusher. Zierlein projected him as a solid grinder between the tackles, but questioned his ability to hit holes quickly at the NFL level. However, his physicality as a pass protector could make him valuable as a second-half power runner and third-down protector.
The Broncos currently rank 27th in the NFL in team rushing yards, and Payton emphasized that improvement in the run game is essential. “The concerning thing for me is the rushing game and the rushing numbers defensively. Those have to switch, or you’re just going to be playing behind the eight ball,” Payton told reporters on September 16.
The team’s current leading rusher, quarterback Bo Nix, has just 60 yards, averaging 6.7 yards per carry. But the lack of support from the backfield is putting added pressure on Nix in the passing game, where concerns already exist. Known for relying heavily on the short passing game in college, opposing defenses are keying in on that aspect of his play.
If the Broncos are to turn things around, adding a power runner like Rodriguez could be the boost they need.
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