What happened: Troy Renck wrote that J.K. Dobbins can't be trusted to handle a diminishing role and that Denver needs another back, naming Jonathan Taylor, Derrick Henry or Tony Pollard. Dobbins said he is not upset with his role, but that he would be "mad" if the Broncos were losing and he wasn't getting carries. Renck has also floated a Broncos call to Baltimore on Henry.

Why it matters: Dobbins tied his frustration to losing, and Denver has not been losing: the Broncos won 28-24 over Kansas City on Nov. 1. A back who wants the ball when the team needs a win is a normal competitor, and Dobbins said he is fine with his role. Henry (158 carries, 632 yards, 8 touchdowns through 8 games in 2026) and Taylor (148 carries, 610 yards, 8 touchdowns through 8 games) are the kind of workloads that would cut into his touches, which is the opposite of what Dobbins says he wants.