Denver Broncos running back severely hampers chances of making the team

Travis Wakeman

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Denver Broncos running back severely hampers chances of making the team image

During the Denver Broncos' 34-30 preseason win over the Indianapolis Colts, the running backs on the roster were quite the story. 

The Broncos focused on the rushing attack in this game, giving five of the six running backs on the roster carries in this game. The other — Samaje Perine — had a pass thrown his way and it turned into disaster for the Broncos. 

On the team's second possession and facing 2nd-and-20 from their own 43-yard line, Jarrett Stidham threw a ball out into the flat to Perine but Perine was unable to grab it, instead bobbling it multiple times before knocking it towards Colts safety Kenny Moore, who ended up with the interception. 

It wasn't a bad ball from Stidham. It was right where it needed to be. Perine just made a bad play. 

Samaje Perine could be falling down the Broncos depth chart, quickly

It was a day where the rest of the Broncos' backfield — save for a fumble by Audric Estime that was returned for a touchdown — was quite positive. Estime, Blake Watson and Tyler Badie all scored rushing touchdowns. 

Perine is going to be in a fight for a roster spot, likely with the undrafted rookie Watson, and plays like this do not help his cause. Perine was good for the Broncos last season and Sean Payton usually values experience over a rookie, but plays like this are hard to ignore. 

If the Broncos only keep three running backs, they will be Javonte Williams, Jaleel McLaughlin and Estime. But if they keep a fourth, and they likely will, it will come down to Perine, Watson or even Badie. 

The team has two preseason games left and Perine will need to make the most of his opportunities to erase this glaring blunder. 

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Travis Wakeman

Travis Wakeman Photo

Travis Wakeman has been covering the NFL since 2012 when he started with Bleacher Report. After reporting about the Broncos there until 2016, he joined the FanSided network as a site expert covering the San Diego/Los Angeles Chargers while simultaneously covering the Broncos at Broncos Wire when that site launched. He then took over the Broncos site at FanSided in March 2020 and covered the team there until spring of 2024. A lifelong Broncos fan and fan of the game, Travis is filled with sometimes useless NFL knowledge, but it always serves him well in any trivia contest. You can follow him on Twitter/X @traviswakeman10.