Considering the Broncos’ depth at running back, many did a double take when Jaleel McLaughlin opted to re-sign last March as a free agent.

McLaughlin was benched for nine of the first 10 games in 2025 and only ended up getting some limited playing time after starter J.K. Dobbins was lost for the season with a foot injury suffered in Week 10. He finished the season with 187 yards rushing, well below the 410 yards he had as a rookie in 2023 and the 496 he had in 2024.

When free agency arrived, Dobbins re-signed with Denver as an unrestricted free agent and Tyler Badie, who played ahead of McLaughlin throughout last season in part because he was a better pass blocker on third downs, returned as an exclusive rights free agent. And RJ Harvey, the starter as a rookie after Dobbins was hurt, remained under contract.

So it was going to be goodbye to McLaughlin, right?

Nope.

The Broncos did not tender him as a restricted free agent, making him unrestricted. But enticed by a $125,000 signing bonus and some roster bonuses added to his nonguaranteed one-year, $1.145 million base salary if he makes the team, McLaughlin agreed to return.

“I love it here in Denver,” McLaughlin said. “I love playing for this team. I love our offensive line. I love our quarterback (Bo Nix). I love our receivers. I love our running back room. I love our defense, for sure. It’s just amazing. I want to win here, and that’s my main thing. I told (Broncos coach Sean) Payton I want to win here. So that was my decision.”

A month after McLaughlin re-signed, the Broncos’ running back room got even deeper when they selected Jonah Coleman in the fourth round of the draft out of Washington. But McLaughlin remains undeterred.

“I got to keep my head down and keep working,” he said. “Shoutout to those guys. Our running back room is loaded, and it’s amazing. You come out there and compete every single day. It’s just amazing to be a part of this team and keep working.”

The 5-foot-9 McLaughlin, listed at 183 pounds, said he has put on some additional muscle to meet the challenge.

“It’s been crazy,” McLaughlin said after the Broncos concluded the first week of organized team activities with practices Tuesday through Thursday. “I’ve been out there killing myself in the weight room, spitting up a little bit, throwing up a little bit. But it’s been amazing and I’m working my tail off so that I can help this team, the Denver Broncos, win football games. … I ain’t going to tell you (how much muscle was put on), but I definitely gained some.”

Denver’s starting running back remains Dobbins, who rushed for 772 yards in 10 games before being hurt. Also locks to make the team are Harvey, who rushed for 540 yards and had 12 total touchdowns as a rookie, and Coleman.

There’s no guarantee the Broncos will keep a fourth running back on the 53-man roster, which they did last year. If they look to do so again, McLaughlin would battle Badie for that spot. And that fourth running back, unless there are injuries or if Coleman isn’t deemed ready, likely would be inactive a lot.

But the 5-foot-9, 220-pound Coleman is showing no signs so far of not being ready. Payton said he “had a good rookie camp” from May 8-10 and that he is “put together well.”

Payton also is optimistic Dobbins can stay healthy even though he has missed 47 of a possible 101 regular-season games in his first six seasons.

“He was a big part of our success a year ago,” Payton said. “I think certainly where we’re at with that running back room today, we feel like is further along than maybe when we first got here (in 2023),”

It sure is. When Payton arrived, he had starter Javonte Williams, who was still recovering from a severe knee injury that ended his season in Week 4 in 2022; Samaje Perine, a disappointment as a free-agent signee; and McLaughlin. McLaughlin made the team that season as an undrafted free agent out of While Jaleel McLaughlin did start his college career at Notre Dame College, he transferred and played his final three seasons at Youngstown State.

“We got depth at running back,” Harvey said. “Everybody. … We come in every day and put the work in, push each other and competition is only going to make each and every one better. I’m excited and we’re getting rolling.”

McLaughlin became well known as a rookie for arriving at Broncos Park regularly in the wee hours of the morning to work out, and he’s still doing that.

“I love Jaleel,” Harvey said. “He’s a hard worker. He’ll get to the facility at 4 or 5 in the morning just putting in the extra work. I like seeing that because it just pushes me and it makes me want to go harder. So Jaleel, he’s a great running back, a great competitor and I love learning from him and competing with him every day.”

Nevertheless, the odds are against McLaughlin making much of an impact in 2026 even if he loves everything about the Broncos.