The Denver Broncos faced the Indianapolis Colts in the second-to-last preseason game of Week 1. A key thing to watch during the game was how the running back depth chart shakes out, with a battle going on for the team’s RB2 spot. What does the group look like?
Denver Broncos Running Back Depth Chart
There’s a battle for RB2, but there isn’t one for the Broncos’ lead back. That would be Javonte Williams, who is entering his fourth NFL season. Most recently, in 2023, Williams played in 16 games (starting 13) and rushed for 774 yards and three touchdowns.
Williams missed 2022 with a season-ending injury and had 203 attempts for 903 yards and four touchdowns as a rookie in 2021. In the preseason against the Colts, he played the first two drives and had four attempts for 15 yards. He also caught one pass for five yards.
Behind Williams is a battle between Jaleel McLaughlin, Audric Estimé, and Samaje Perine. McLaughlin likely has the lead, entering the second year of his career. In 2023, he saw action in 17 games, starting three of them, totaling 76 attempts for 410 yards and one touchdown. He also caught 31 passes for 160 yards and two more touchdowns.
In the preseason debut, McLaughlin had seven attempts for 30 yards, a 4.3-yard average. He also caught two passes for 26 yards. Included in those two passes was one that he took for 16 yards.
For Perine, he’s the most experienced back in the entire room. Entering the eighth year of his career, 2024 will be his second in Denver. In 2023, Perine played all 17 games, starting one, and had 53 attempts for 238 yards and one touchdown. He also caught 50 passes for 455 yards and no touchdowns.
Perine’s preseason debut was a bit rough, however. He received no carries and was targeted once but didn’t catch the pass. The target, more specifically, was a short pass that he bobbled multiple times, resulting in an interception by Kenny Moore II.
Right place. Right time for 2️⃣3️⃣
📺: #DENvsIND on @NFLNetwork
📱: Stream on #NFLPlus pic.twitter.com/8bxVLNUJtq— NFL (@NFL) August 11, 2024
Finally, there’s Estimé, a rookie who was taken in the fifth round of the 2024 NFL Draft. At 5’11, 233 pounds, he’s the biggest running back in Denver’s room.
During his time at Notre Dame, Estimé had 373 attempts for 2,321 yards and 18 touchdowns. In 2023 alone, he had 210 attempts for 1,341 yards and 18 touchdowns, a 6.4-yard average.
In his preseason NFL debut, he had 10 attempts for 31 yards and one touchdown. Estimé also caught three passes for 13 yards. He did, however, have one fumble that was returned for a touchdown before his day ended.
Audric Estimé finds pay dirt for the @Broncos!
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📱: Stream on #NFLPlus pic.twitter.com/0JAPIxucco— NFL (@NFL) August 11, 2024
There’s still two preseason games left and plenty of practice, but McLaughlin looks like he’ll be the team’s RB2 with the other two battling for a roster spot.