The Denver Broncos received a much-needed boost in their backfield following a tough 10-9 victory over the New York Jets in Week 4. Despite the win, the Broncos’ offense struggled, with rookie quarterback Bo Nix completing just 12-of-25 passes for 60 yards, one of the least productive passing performances in NFL history for a winning quarterback.
Adding to the concern, running back Tyler Badie suffered a serious back injury during the game and had to be taken off the field on a backboard. In response, the Broncos moved quickly to bolster their running back corps by signing veteran Salvon Ahmed to the practice squad. Ahmed spent the last four seasons with the Miami Dolphins.
The team announced the signing on their official website, describing Ahmed as a 5-foot-11, 197-pound player who has rushed for 593 yards and five touchdowns throughout his career. During his time with the Dolphins from 2020-2023, Ahmed appeared in 38 games, averaging 3.6 yards per carry. His best season came in 2020, where he ran for 319 yards and three touchdowns, averaging 4.3 yards per attempt.
Ahmed’s College Career: A Pac-12 Standout
Before his NFL career, Salvon Ahmed played three seasons at the University of Washington, where he was a two-time All-Pac-12 selection. His best year came as a junior in 2019 when he rushed for 1,020 yards and 11 touchdowns, making him one of the top rushers in the conference.
After declaring for the 2020 NFL Draft, Ahmed went undrafted but signed with the San Francisco 49ers. Although the 49ers released him, Ahmed found a home with the Dolphins, where he carved out a role over four seasons. However, injuries caught up to him, and he was placed on the non-football injury list in June before being waived in August.
Broncos’ Running Back Struggles Continue
The Broncos have faced ongoing issues in the running game, which has mirrored their overall struggles as a team. Quarterback Bo Nix led the team in rushing through the first three weeks before Javonte Williams stepped up with 77 yards on 16 carries in Week 4, averaging 4.8 yards per carry. Williams had a strong 2023 season with 774 rushing yards and three touchdowns, but his 2024 output has been underwhelming, with only 126 yards through four games and a 3.2-yard average.
Denver’s inability to establish a dominant ground game has contributed to their recent playoff drought. The Broncos haven’t made the postseason since 2015 and haven’t had a winning season since 2016. Additionally, they haven’t had a 1,000-yard rusher since Phillip Lindsay in 2019.
With the acquisition of Ahmed, the Broncos hope to address these challenges and inject some much-needed energy into their running back rotation.
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