Are the Broncos solving their biggest problem on offense?

Early impressions of the running game were positive Friday night during a 27-7 preseason win over the Falcons to begin the preseason.

Broncos starter J.K. Dobbins didn’t play while recovering from a soft tissue muscle injury. But teammates RJ Harvey, Jaleel McLaughlin, Jonah Coleman, Tyler Badie and Cody Schrader combined for 27 carries and 99 rushing yards. The Broncos rushed for 162 total yards.

Don’t forget about fullback Adam Prentice either. He ran for a goal line touchdown with the first-team offense on the opening Broncos drive.

“I was pleased with that,” Broncos coach Sean Payton told reporters in Atlanta. “I thought the runners played well and I thought we blocked them pretty well.”

There were several big gains:

—A 14-yard carry by Schrader in the third quarter.

— A 13-yard carry by Coleman in the first quarter.

— A 12-yard carry by McLaughlin in the second quarter.

It marked the first preseason game with offensive coordinator Davis Webb calling plays. The Broncos were also down to their fourth-string center in Calvin Throckmorton due to injuries.

The one real blemish on Denver’s ground game Friday was a third-quarter McLaughlin fumble recovered by the Falcons. But McLaughlin also caught a 5-yard touchdown pass earlier in the game.

“I know we had one fumble,” Payton told reporters in Atlanta. “But those guys ran hard.”

Payton has cited a greater commitment to the running game as a priority throughout training camp. The Broncos finished 14-3 a year ago but sputtered in the AFC Championship Game loss with Dobbins injured and Harvey rushing for just 37 yards. So, what changed in 2026?

Dobbins will (presumably) be healthy when the regular season starts. Harvey has increased confidence heading into his second year in the NFL. The Broncos also used a fourth-round draft pick to select Coleman from the University of Washington. The 5-foot-8 and 220-pound running back showcased Friday why the Broncos are so high on his potential.

“Just what we’ve been seeing, right?” Payton told reporters in Atlanta. “Then you see enough of it, and you’re like: ‘Alright.’ … He’s had a good camp. I liked his balance coming out of some of the tackles. I thought overall that group had a good night.”