Three weeks ago, the Denver Broncos appeared ready to transition from a two-back rotation to a game plan that featured Javonte Williams.
Against the Las Vegas Raiders in Week 4, Broncos running back Melvin Gordon didn’t get his first carry of the game until late in the second quarter, and he promptly fumbled the ball, his fourth fumble of the year.
Even before that fumble, Denver had reduced Gordon’s touches. The running back got a second chance last week out of necessity because the Broncos lost Williams to a season-ending knee injury.
Denver signed veteran Latavius Murray after losing Williams but Murray wasn’t ready to play on Thursday last week after previously playing with the New Orleans Saints in London on Sunday.
So the Broncos’ backfield against the Indianapolis Colts in Week 5 featured Gordon and third-string running back Mike Boone.
Murray was ready to play in Week 6 and he quickly became the lead back for Denver, rushing 15 times for 66 yards on 27 snaps against the Los Angeles Chargers on Monday. Boone got the second-most snaps at running back (21). Gordon was seemingly benched at halftime.
Gordon played nine snaps in the first two quarters, rushing three times for eight yards. He had no snaps in the second half. Gordon was listed on the injury report with a neck injury last week, but coach Nathaniel Hackett said after a 19-16 loss that the running back did not suffer an injury during Monday’s game.
Gordon not getting any second-half snaps was a coach’s decision.
Going forward, Murray appears to be the Broncos’ new starter. With the NFL’s trade deadline (Nov. 1) approaching, Gordon will be a name to watch.
Follow the Broncos Wire Podcast:
Apple Podcasts
Spotify
Google Podcasts
