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Jeff LegwoldNov 14, 2025, 06:44 PM ET<\/p>\n
Close<\/a>Jeff Legwold covers the Denver Broncos at ESPN. He has covered the Broncos for more than 20 years and also assists with NFL draft coverage, joining ESPN in 2013. He has been a member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame Board of Selectors since 1999, too. Jeff previously covered the Pittsburgh Steelers, Buffalo Bills and Houston Oilers\/Tennessee Titans at previous stops prior to ESPN.<\/p>\n ENGLEWOOD, Colo. — The Denver Broncos<\/a> will be without leading rusher J.K. Dobbins<\/a> and two other starters for Sunday’s highly anticipated AFC West showdown against the Kansas City Chiefs<\/a>.<\/p>\n Dobbins, who did not practice all week, was formally ruled out Friday, as was linebacker Alex Singleton<\/a> — the team’s leading tackler — and reigning Defensive Player of the Year Pat Surtain II<\/a>.<\/p>\n Singleton had surgery Monday<\/a> to remove a cancerous tumor from one of his testicles and could miss multiple weeks. Surtain will miss his third game with a pectoral injury.<\/p>\n Dobbins, who leads Denver in rushing with 772 yards while averaging 5.0 yards per carry, injured a foot last week against the Raiders<\/a>. On Wednesday, coach Sean Payton said that the team had discussed putting Dobbins on injured reserve but that “nothing has been decided.”<\/p>\n Editor’s Picks<\/p>\n 2 Related<\/p>\n The Broncos kept Dobbins on the active roster through the past week, but he is expected to miss multiple games.<\/p>\n Dobbins’ absence puts rookie RJ Harvey<\/a>, a second-round pick by Denver, in the lead back role. Through 10 games, Harvey has 50 carries for 214 yards, plus 25 receptions. He also has the team’s longest run this season — 50 yards against the Tennessee Titans<\/a> in Week 1.<\/p>\n “Definitely excited to showcase my running ability … [but] whatever Coach wants me to do, I’m willing to do,” Harvey said Friday. “It’s going to be fun on Sunday.”<\/p>\n The Broncos will likely also have Jaleel McLaughlin<\/a> and Tyler Badie<\/a> in the rotation. Badie has played in some of the personnel groupings when Denver is in an up-tempo look, as well as in some long-yardage situations.<\/p>\n McLaughlin, who topped 400 yards rushing each of the past two seasons after making the roster as an undrafted rookie in 2023, has had one carry this season, in Week 6 against the New York Jets<\/a>.<\/p>\n “[McLaughlin] is ready,” Payton said Friday. “It would be difficult to play for two seasons and then be inactive. He’s one of those guys. He’s the first in the building. … He’ll walk through the [practice] script and then work out and then be eating breakfast when people are just arriving.”<\/p>\n The Broncos’ injury report for Sunday is more extensive than it has been for most of the season. Outside linebacker Jonah Elliss<\/a> (hamstring), who is a rotational pass rusher for the defense, and tight end Nate Adkins<\/a> (knee) have also been ruled out.<\/p>\n