JK Dobbins Injury Update: When Will RB Be Back and Return to Broncos?

The Broncos are taking advantage of their opportunity to rest and recover thanks to their first-round bye. Denver’s biggest injury concern over the past two months has been at the running back position, as JK Dobbins has not played since Nov. 6. There has been plenty of buzz, however, that Dobbins could return during the NFL Playoffs. Below, we will look at when Dobbins will likely return and be back on the field for the Broncos. We will also look at Broncos betting odds.

When will JK Dobbins return and be back with Broncos?

Dobbins is believed to have had Lisfranc surgery in November. Typically, that type of surgery takes around eight months to fully recover from. So, it was initially believed that Dobbins would be out for the remainder of the season, no matter how far the Broncos were to go in the NFL Playoffs. 

In late November, however, Broncos head coach Sean Payton revealed that there was a chance that Dobbins could return this season. Dobbins was seen on the Broncos sideline last week, without a walking boot, leading to plenty of speculation that he was close to returning.

Will JK Dobbins play in the Divisional Round of the NFL Playoffs?

The consensus around Denver is that Dobbins should be able to return for the AFC Championship game, should the Broncos advance out of the second round next weekend. Following Dobbins’ increased presence around the team in recent weeks, however, there is growing chatter that a Dobbins return for the Divisional Round of the playoffs is not entirely out of the question.

Jake Shapiro and Richie Carnie of 104.3 The Fan in Denver discussed the possibility of a Dobbins return on Jan. 7.

Shapiro: “I don’t think JK Dobbins is completely ruled out of the picture for the Divisional Round. I kind of have a good feeling about it.”

Carnie: “Well, the talk when he was officially diagnosed and placed on IR was he could return for the Super Bowl. Maybe the AFC Championship if the Broncos were to advance that far. But the difference between that prognosis and the Divisional Round is seven days. So it does live in the realm of possibility. If that does happen, boy does the dynamic and the feeling about this Broncos offense shift.”

JK Dobbins injury update

Here is a look at the Broncos' upcoming schedule should they advance all the way to Super Bowl 60 in Santa Clara, California.

• Saturday, Jan. 17 or Sunday, Jan. 18: NFL Divisional Round at Denver Broncos
• Sunday, Jan. 25: AFC Championship Game at Denver Broncos
• Sunday, Feb. 8: Super Bowl 60 at Levi's Stadium

If Dobbins is to return for the Divisional Round, it would be just two months and 11 days since the injury. 

Lisfranc sprains, without surgery, take around eight weeks to recover from. That would line up with Dobbins’ potential return for the Divisional Round. But, it is believed that Dobbins’ Lisfranc injury was much more severe and that he underwent surgery. If he were to recover this quickly from that sort of injury and surgery, then it would be a minor miracle.

Broncos betting odds

The Broncos have the best odds to win the Lombardi Trophy out of any team in the AFC. Denver currently has +650 Super Bowl odds. Only the Seahawks (+390) and Rams (+440) are higher on odds boards at the best NFL betting sites.

Super Bowl MVP odds are now available to bet on as well. Bo Nix is the best odds of any Denver player in this market as the QB is +1000 to win. Dobbins is on the board for Super Bowl MVP and currently owns a +4500 price.