ENGLEWOOD, Colo. -- In the weeks before the 2026 NFL draft, there was a scout or two who classified Jonah Coleman as a "than" player.
They thought that Coleman, then a running back from the University of Washington, was faster than, more elusive than and a better receiver than many thought.
The early returns say the fourth-round rookie, whose current résumé consists of 39 touches through eight games (30 carries for 134 rushing yards, nine receptions for 97 receiving yards), might be exactly what the 6-2 Denver Broncos need to kickstart an offense that has struggled to consistently move the ball and score points.
"I don't think it's a surprise to us, we've seen it in practice, in a lot of different situations, he's just a talented kid," Broncos tackle Mike McGlinchey said. "I think he's only going to get better the more he's out there."
While there has been what Broncos coach Sean Payton calls "internet gossip" about what the Broncos might or might not do to acquire a running back prior to the Nov. 10 trade deadline, Coleman has offered glimpses of being able to be Denver's primary ball carrier. He seems primed to fill that role again when the Broncos travel to face the 3-4 Carolina Panthers on Sunday (1 p.m. ET, Bank of America Stadium, CBS).
Coleman led the Broncos in both rushing yards (41 yards on 11 carries with a touchdown) and receiving yards (63 yards on five receptions) in Sunday's critical win over the AFC West rival Kansas City Chiefs. He accounted for all 56 yards on the Broncos' game-winning drive, with his 51-yard catch-and-run setting up his 5-yard touchdown run on the next play to put the Broncos ahead 28-24 with 1:56 left in the fourth quarter.
Denver held on to cap a comeback from 11 points down entering the final period, its third second-half, double-digit comeback win of the season. And Coleman was the only running back to carry the ball for the Broncos in the final two quarters.
"Just about going hard for one another," Coleman said. "... It was good to punch in the game-winner. ... Fourth quarter hit, we know what time it is."
Coleman's big finish against the Chiefs was preceded by a 69-yard performance (54 rushing yards, 15 receiving) on 11 touches in Week 7 against Arizona, his first game after spending four weeks on injured reserve with an ankle injury. Coleman also had 10 carries for 39 rushing yards and a touchdown in a Week 2 comeback victory over the Jaguars, the only game he played prior to the injury.
Payton said after the Arizona game that Coleman would "definitely" get more touches in the weeks ahead. So far, so good on that decree.
Coleman played 49% of Denver's offensive snaps against the Cardinals and was bumped to 66% (41 of 62 snaps) against the Chiefs. While a two-game, post-injury sample size does not make a trend, it's clear Coleman is having an impact on an offense that sorely needs a difference maker. And Sunday could be a great opportunity for Coleman to build on his momentum, as the Panthers rank 30th in the NFL in rushing defense (140.7 rushing yards allowed per game) and are tied for 28th in yards allowed per carry (4.8).
"I don't really count the carries," Coleman said. "Just make the best of the opportunities whenever I get the ball. ... I try to embrace whatever role it is to win."
The Broncos' offense was reeling entering the fourth quarter against the Chiefs, gaining only 9 yards in the third quarter as Denver trailed 24-13. But Coleman had 75 of the Broncos' 136 fourth-quarter yards.
Coleman's surge comes at an interesting time. The trade deadline is six days away, second-year running back RJ Harvey is on injured reserve for at least another three games and J.K. Dobbins -- who has started seven of the Broncos' eight games this season -- has struggled so far. He has averaged fewer than 3 yards per carry in two of the past three games and three total games in 2026. He had only eight such games in his previous six NFL seasons.
Dobbins, who missed seven games last season with a foot injury, said prior to the Chiefs game that his season-low six carries against Arizona were part of an overall plan to keep him fresh for later in the season and the playoffs. Dobbins had seven carries against Kansas City, all before halftime.
"This organization has a plan for me and I'm always there to coach our young guys ... I want to see them succeed," Dobbins said. "I want to win the game, and I also want to win in the playoffs and eventually get to the Super Bowl ... so let's be smart about it.
"If we're losing and I'm not getting the carries, s--- I'm going to be mad as f---. ... But if we're winning and it's working, I just want to win."
The Broncos are still 26th in the league in rushing (92.6 yards per game) and 25th in runs of 10 or more yards (14). The latter is another area where Coleman has already flashed. He has taken five of his 30 carries this season for more than 10 yards (16.7%). That percentage is sixth among NFL running backs with at least 25 carries. Add Coleman's knack for pass protection (especially for a rookie), and he has seen an uptick in third-down snaps since Harvey's injury.
"I did a lot of that in college," Coleman said. "Coming here, I felt like I was going to play a lot on third downs, that's what makes me special and different. I can do it all."