ENGLEWOOD — So did Broncos running back J.K. Dobbins want a few preseason carries to get ready for the regular season?

It was no way for J.K.

In the third and final preseason game of 2021, Dobbins was playing for Baltimore at Washington. Coming off a rookie season in which he gained 805 yards, Dobbins went down in the first quarter after catching a 2-yard pass from Lamar Jackson.

“Blew my whole entire knee out,’’ Dobbins said. “So I haven’t really been a fan of preseason games because that injury was a nightmare. It’s like one of the hardest things I’ve been through.”

Dobbins missed the entire 2021 season with a torn ACL, which was the first significant injury of an NFL career filled with them. He hasn’t played in a single preseason game since then.

So it was no surprise that Dobbins, coming off a season-ending foot injury suffered in Week 10 of 2025, didn’t see any action in Denver’s three exhibition games. But he will take the field when it counts in Monday night’s regular-season opener at Kansas City.

“I’m itching pretty bad,’’ Dobbins said after practice Thursday at Broncos Park. “But in a good way. No bad itches. It’s gonna be great. I think it’s gonna be a great night for us, for me as well, and it’ll be a great way to start the season.”

So how many carries is Dobbins hopeful of getting against the Chiefs?

“I’m ready for a hundred,’’ he said.

Is that a hundred yards or a hundred carries?

“Carries,’’ he said. “OK. But you know, I’m ready for anything. Whatever coach wants, whatever it takes to win the game. That’s how many carries I want.”

Broncos coach Sean Payton was mum when asked Wednesday how much of a workload Dobbins might have as he recovers from his latest injury. He suffered a Lisfranc injury in a game last November against Las Vegas and had what turned out to be season-ending surgery.

Dobbins’ injury history has been well documented. In six NFL seasons, he has played in just 47 of a possible 101 regular-season games.

It all started with that injury against Washington. In 2022, Dobbins was limited to just eight games for the Ravens due to another knee injury. In 2023, he was lost for the season in Baltimore’s opener after suffering a torn Achilles tendon. And in 2024 with the Los Angeles Chargers, he missed four games with a knee injury.

While Dobbins once again didn’t play in the preseason, he said going against Denver’s rugged defense during training camp has prepared him well for the regular season.

“We practice hard every single day,’’ he said. “I go against the best defense. So I think I get enough work that can prepare me for the game. Like, I’m on year seven now. So I think I’ll be all right.”

Payton last week said Dobbins has been “moving well” in practices leading up to the regular season.

“I love to compete,’’ Dobbins said. “The energy that I bring isn’t fake, and I think it goes out to all my teammates. And you’ll see it on Monday. … I’ve grinded hard enough to love it and have the passion for it. So, it’s gonna be good, man. And we’re gonna be ready to go Monday.”

Considering Dobbins’ injury history, the Broncos could limit his carries to start the season. It certainly helps them that they are deep at running back.

Playing behind Dobbins are second-year man RJ Harvey and rookie Jonah Coleman. Dobbins has taken Coleman, a fourth-round pick out of Washington, under his wing.

“Just trying to let him know everything that I’ve went through on the field, and just kind of teach him little things that maybe can make his game better,’’ Dobbins said. “That’s my job is to be a great big brother because he’s a rookie and I’m going on year seven now. So I’ve got some knowledge that maybe he could use and hopefully he uses it and he’s gonna be a great player.”

As for Dobbins, when healthy, he has shown flashes of being a great player. He averaged 5.0 yards per carry while rushing for a team-high 772 yards last season. Although injuries have limited him to just 3,024 career yards, his average per carry is a head-turning 5.2.

Dobbins didn’t play in either of Denver’s games last season against Kansas City due to his injury. He struggled in his last outing against the Chiefs, gaining just 32 yards on 14 carries for the Chargers in a 17-10 home loss on Sept. 29, 2024.

“I gotta worry about their defense,’’ Dobbins said. “They got (star defensive tackle) Chris Jones, they got all these guys.”

Dobbins, though, insists he will be up to the challenge. Even if it takes a hundred carries.