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Sean Payton Sends Message to Broncos RB Stable After the RJ Harvey Pick

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Sean Payton Sends Message to Broncos RB Stable After the RJ Harvey Pick


When an NFL team drafts a running back in the first or second round, it sends a message to its incumbent depth chart. The Denver Broncos selected UCF running back RJ Harvey at No. 60 overall, a player whom GM George Paton described as the scouting department’s “pet cat.”

Harvey is primed to lead a Broncos running back stable featuring 2024 fifth-rounder Audric Estime, Jaleel McLaughlin, Tyler Badie, and Blake Watson. With a new handpicked weapon to deploy in his offense, head coach Sean Payton dished on the implications of the Harvey selection on his incumbent running back room, a group sure to have received the team’s message, loud and clear.

“When we’re talking about some of our younger players, [during] Year 1, they get exposed to what we’re doing. We’ll see growth in Year 2,” Payton said after the draft. “We’re excited to see that with these guys, and that’s whether it’s Blake, Audric, Tyler Badie… we look forward to seeing their development…”

To compare the new iteration of the Broncos, Payton has assembled a facsimile of his vaunted New Orleans Saints offense, with Bo Nix as his Drew Brees. Payton’s Marques Colston is Courtland Sutton, while free-agent acquisition Evan Engram assuming the Jimmy Graham role.

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At running back, Harvey steps into the Alvin Kamara or Darren Sproles role, but who is the power back Payton can slam between the tackles or in short-yardage situations, ala Mark Ingram II?

Only one current Broncos running back checks some of the Ingram boxes, and that’s Estime, so it seems that the initial one-two punch will include him alongside Harvey. But regardless of what role each running back assumes, the Broncos relish the spirit of competition that will be created this summer by Harvey’s arrival.

“This is one part of making your team better,” Payton said. “Then you create that high-level competition.”

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Harvey brings a premium draft pedigree to the table, but make no mistake; he’ll have to sing for his supper. Payton is about to make that crystal clear when the Broncos host rookie minicamp and begin holding full team meetings for the offseason training program shortly after.

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“Ultimately—and these guys will hear this from me in two weeks in the team meeting, along with the rest of the rookie class—we’re going to go by what we see,” Payton said. “How you arrived here—this is a process.. Once they’re here, it’s up to them to earn their stripes.”

That invitation to earn a job and a role extends to young veteran running back Chris Evans, a former Cincinnati Bengals sixth-rounder whom the Broncos will host for a tryout during rookie minicamp. Evans has been in the league since 2021 and brings the experience of 34 career games, totaling 277 yards from scrimmage and three total touchdowns across 38 touches.

The Broncos have a vision for the players acquired this offseason via free agency and the NFL draft. Payton feels like this year’s draft haul, in particular, offered the Broncos more “freedom” to maneuver, thanks to back-to-back years of good drafting and pro personnel acquisitions within the scope of his regime.

“As we discussed this group of players, there’s a clear vision relative to what we think their strengths are and how they’ll compete in Year 1,” Payton said. “We’re further along than two years ago.”

On paper, it would seem that the Broncos’ running back depth chart will likely be topped by Harvey and Estime. But McLaughlin is loved and respected by Payton and his staff, which makes him a near-lock for the roster.

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How Badie and Watson fit remains to be seen. But McLaughlin and Badie each have two years of Payton’s system under their belts. Watson has one.

Payton hopes to see a jump in a player’s production after at least one year in the system, so time will tell whether Estime, who was a rookie last year with Watson, McLaughlin, and Badie, can take some steps forward in the Broncos offense. And in the event that there’s a failure to launch, Harvey offers the Broncos a nice second-round fail-safe as the team’s projected starter.

Heavy emphasis on ‘projected.’ The rookie will have to earn it.

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Denver, CO

Packers monitoring their backfield entering key game in Denver

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Packers monitoring their backfield entering key game in Denver


True to form, Jacobs pushed to practice but said team doctors told him to chill and be smart about it. The goal is to reduce the inflammation as much as possible to increase his chances of playing.

In his pre-practice news conference on Thursday, Head Coach Matt LaFleur praised Jacobs for “doing everything in his power to get ready to go.” From his perspective, Jacobs said he feels more relief than frustration.

“I’ve been in this league a long time, and it’s not too much that really gets me discouraged or anything like that,” Jacobs said.

“We still know what’s ahead of us. Now, if we were having this going into the playoffs, it would be a little weird, but at that point I wouldn’t care because it’s either do or don’t. But for me, I know my body, there’s nothing structurally wrong, so I don’t feel like it’s something I have to overly think about.”

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If Jacobs can’t go Sunday, Wilson would be in line to make his second NFL start against the team with whom he broke into the league back in 2023.

Signed as an undrafted free agent out of NCAA Division II Fort Valley State (Ga.), Wilson spent just three days with the Broncos before he was released. Ten days later, he signed with the Packers and later made the team’s 53-man roster.

The 5-foot-10, 226-pound Wilson has since rushed for 938 yards and seven touchdowns on 205 carries (4.6 yards per carry) in 37 games, highlighted by a gratifying career day against Minnesota a few weeks ago.

“I still got that mentality to go out there and do it again,” Wilson said. “If (Jacobs) is going, he’s going. If I get my opportunity once again, I’m going to take advantage of it.”

Whoever starts against Denver understands the challenge its defense presents. In addition to the Broncos pacing the NFL with 55 sacks, they also boast a No. 2-ranked run defense that’s allowing just 89.0 yards per game.

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Denver hasn’t allowed a running back to gain more than 100 yards since Jonathan Taylor’s 165-yard effort powered Indianapolis to a 29-28 victory in Week 2.

As much as Jacobs enjoys practicing, he doesn’t feel it’s a requirement in order for him to play in Denver. It all comes down to how his body is feeling and whether the team doctors give him the green light on Sunday afternoon.

“I always plan to play,” Jacobs said. “They gotta kinda tell me I can’t play for me not to play. For me, that’s where my head is at, but I’m also realistically just day-to-day right now.”



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Game Thread: Denver Nuggets vs Sacramento Kings. December 11th, 2025. – Denver Stiffs

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Game Thread: Denver Nuggets vs Sacramento Kings. December 11th, 2025. – Denver Stiffs


Community Guidelines

Welcome to Denver Stiffs! We’re glad you’re here.

Denver Stiffs is a community where sports fans from all backgrounds gather to share their passion. We strive to create a fun and welcoming place for everyone to come fan with us. These guidelines help ensure that happens. Here’s the short version:

  • Be respectful in your interactions with contributors and fellow fans.
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  • We’ll remove anything we see that jeopardizes our communities.
  • We ask that you do your best to keep the conversation to sports and primarily our favorite NBA team. Why? Because there are plenty of other sites where you can air your opinions about everything from politics to soup recipes.
  • You can help with that. If you see something that doesn’t align with our guidelines, let us know. Flag any comments or usernames that violate our guidelines so our community managers can review them.

These rules extend to our communities everywhere: in our comments, on social media, and in real life.

We do not allow any of the following:

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  • Personal attacks: This includes name-calling, insults, threats, hurtful comments about someone’s appearance, voice, or style, and all other forms of attacks. We want our communities to be welcoming and fun. Personal attacks are the opposite of that.
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Anyone who doesn’t follow these rules when engaging in our communities will at best be removed from the conversation, and at worst will end up banned from that community. These decisions will be made at the discretion of our community managers and other Mile High Sports personnel. Community managers and moderators have final say on interpretation of violating our community guidelines, and on all decisions resulting in a warning, suspension, and/or ban.

If you see any of these things happening in our communities, please flag it and it will be reviewed. You can also reach out via our contact page.



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Things To Do In And Around Denver This Weekend – 12/11-12/14 – 303 Magazine

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Things To Do In And Around Denver This Weekend – 12/11-12/14 – 303 Magazine


When: Dec 7, 11 a.m.-3 p.m.
Where: Fight Club – 1959 16th St Mall Denver
Cost: Price varies
The Lowdown: 

Guests have the option of $39 bottomless flatbreads, which includes the price of their oche reservation for Social Darts®. The bottomless flatbread menu features Smoked Salmon Flatbread, Four Cheese Flatbread, Breakfast Flatbread, or Garden Vegetable Flatbread. Guests can also order off the á la carte menu, which includes a fresh-cut fruit plate, breakfast sliders,, avocado toast, and Flight Club’s famous churros.





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