The fourth-round rookie is expected to join Dobbins and Harvey in aiding the Broncos’ running game.

ENGLEWOOD, Colo. — You can find out a lot about a guy when he’s at his worst.

Jonah Coleman, considered a top two to four running back throughout his senior season at Washington last year, suffered a strained knee ligament in his team’s 9th game Nov. 8 at Wisconsin. He had a 1,000-yard rushing season the year before and was well on his to a better season in 2025, rushing for 643 yards and 13 touchdowns through eight games.



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The PCL injury negatively affected Coleman. He had just 2 yards on 5 carries in the game he suffered the injury against Wisconsin, then missed the following week’s game against Purdue. It was the only game Coleman missed despite an injury that normally takes four to six weeks to heal. He probably should have taken more time off as he rushed for just 6 yards on four carries against UCLA and 22 yards on 9 carries in a home loss to Oregon.

In an era when most star players protect their draft stock by skipping their team’s bowl game – heck, this is a time when many players skip their bowl game to enter the transfer portal and richer NIL deals – Coleman decided to play hurt. No doubt at the cost of his draft stock.

Coleman was the fourth running back drafted – not the second or third. And the Broncos didn’t take him until the fourth round with their No. 108 overall selection – not in the second round in the mid-50s.

Given his situation – senior year, early Day 2 draft projection – why did Coleman decide to play hurt?

“It’s not about me, it’s about the team,’’ Coleman said Saturday following the Broncos’ rookie minicamp practice. “I want to win. It wasn’t about a little pain going on in the knee. I wanted to play. I never missed a football game in my life so it was definitely tough missing that one because I wanted to go out there and compete with my guys. But it’s about winning at the end of the day, whether you’re injured or you’re hurt.”

Coleman did return to play well in Washington’s bowl game, rushing for 85 yards on 12 carries in a romp against Kage Casey’s Boise State Broncos. Casey, a left tackle who is getting moved to left guard, was taken by the Denver Broncos, three picks after Coleman.

“I had the week off after the season so having the extra time definitely helped me a lot,’’ Coleman said.

The expectation is Coleman will begin the season as the Broncos’ No. 3 running back, behind veteran starter J.K. Dobbins and last year’s second-round draft pick, RJ Harvey.

“Just do my job and be able to be a sponge,’’ Coleman said. “Take in information, be coachable and show up every day as the same person.”