Broncos watching rookie RB RJ Harvey’s workload as role expands

RJ Harvey plunged into the middle of Green Bay’s defense in the fourth quarter Sunday and ended up at the bottom of a pile.

Packers defensive lineman Karl Brooks and Denver tight end Nate Adkins both hoisted themselves off the ground, and when Harvey finally got up, he grabbed under his shoulder pads on his left side and exited the game.

The rookie running back did not return over Denver’s final nine offensive snaps in a 31-24 win, though he avoided any serious issue and was a full participant in Wednesday’s practice as Denver (12-2) prepares to host Jacksonville (10-4) Sunday.

The momentary scare, though, is instructive of where Denver’s running back room is at present. Harvey played 48 of Denver’s first 57 snaps against Green Bay and still pulled a 68% workload overall despite missing the final nine. The week before against Las Vegas: same mark.

J.K. Dobbins only approached that big a playing time share once in the 10 games before a Lisfranc injury ended his regular season (67% Week 3 at the Los Angeles Chargers), and outside of that, he never played more than 53% of offensive snaps.

So while Harvey’s young and spry, Denver still has an eye on his workload as the final three regular-season games approach.

“We’re (getting him rest) in third-down situations with (Tyler) Badie and (fullback Adam Prentice),” head coach Sean Payton said Wednesday. “Jaeel (McLaughlin), I thought we need to get him a little bit more touches. I made that note after the game.

“Again, Harvey is built in a way where he can handle a good dose of running.”

Overall, Harvey has seen his workload and touches trend upward in a four-game stretch since taking over the starting job.

Harvey’s output looks like this:

• Week 11 vs. Kansas City: 61% snaps, 14 touches for 50 yards
• Week 13 at Washington: 47% snaps, 16 touches for 62 yards and two TDs
• Week 14 at Las Vegas: 68% snaps, 23 touches for 100 yards and a TD
• Week 15 vs. Green Bay: 68% snaps, 19 touches for 65 yards and a TD

In those games, he’s averaging 18 total touches (15 carries), 3.8 yards per touch. The yardage doesn’t jump off the page — Harvey has not generated a gain longer than 15 yards in those four games, and he’s got just five plays of 10-plus (three rushes, two receptions).

What he is doing, though, is carrying a substantial workload and finding the end zone. Harvey’s four touchdowns in the past three games give him 10 total on the season, tied for 13th in the NFL.

In that same span, McLaughlin has become essentially the No. 2 running back, played 14.6% of snaps and logged 21 touches (18 carries) for 79 yards (69 rushing). Badie has kept a similar third-down and two-minute role, totaling 10 touches (6 catches) for 40 yards (24 receiving) over 16.4% workload.

Now enter Cody Schrader, whom the Broncos claimed off waivers Monday from Houston. Schrader, undrafted in 2024, spent time in his rookie year in San Francisco and with the Los Angeles Rams. Since September, he has been with the Rams, Jacksonville, Houston and now Denver.

Payton said there “was a lot read into” Denver claiming Schrader off waivers after Harvey’s injury, but that adding him to the 53-man roster was more of a forward-looking move rather than reactionary.