Broncos Lose RJ Harvey to Knee Injury, Promote Taylor Rapp

Denver lost its most dynamic ball carrier for the stretch run when the Broncos placed running back RJ Harvey on injured reserve on Friday. The move follows a knee injury he sustained during practice on Thursday, according to the league's transaction wire. Harvey, a second-round selection out of Central Florida in the 2025 draft, will now sit out the remainder of the current week and the next three contests.

The absence creates an immediate void in Denver's offensive engine. Harvey had already been ruled out for Sunday's matchup against Kansas City, but his IR placement extends his time away through the Week 12 slate. The Broncos' earliest opportunity to see him back is a home game against Miami on Dec. 6 in Week 13. A source close to the situation indicated that the team hopes Harvey will be cleared to play by then. Multiple insiders have noted in recent days that the knee issue is not considered season-ending and that his timeline should not extend beyond the next month.

The injury complicates a backfield that was already thinning out. Tyler Badie, who is dealing with a thumb injury, is also on injured reserve and must miss Sunday's game plus two more before he becomes eligible for return. Rookie fourth-round pick Jonah Coleman provides a recent example of the depth challenge; he recently completed a four-game stint on IR and returned to the active roster last week for the win over Arizona.

With Harvey and Badie unavailable, the burden falls on veteran J.K. Dobbins and Coleman. Dobbins is the only running back on the 53-man roster who has not spent time on injured reserve during the first half of the season. This situation carries a layer of irony given Dobbins' history of health issues since his rookie year. The Broncos will also lean on fullback Adam Prentice, who has demonstrated reliable pass-protection skills, and will elevate practice squad running back Cody Schrader for Sunday's contest.

The roster moves required to accommodate Harvey's IR placement included promoting safety Taylor Rapp from the practice squad on Saturday. Rapp has become a vital component of Denver's secondary, especially with safety Jalen Thompson out and Brandon Jones questionable due to a hamstring issue that emerged during Thursday's practice. Rapp has seen extensive action in the last two games and has performed well. He had previously been elevated twice, the maximum allowed for that season, before this permanent move to the active roster.

Denver also elevated undrafted rookie offensive lineman Gavin Ortega from the practice squad for Sunday's game. This marks his first elevation and, if he is active, his first time wearing an NFL uniform in a regular-season contest. Ortega adds size to the offensive line, a necessity with left tackle Garett Bolles questionable to play due to a hip problem.

In other roster news, inside linebacker Alex Singleton incurred a substantial penalty. Singleton, who leads the league in tackles, was fined $47,762 for illegal use of his helmet during the third quarter of the Broncos' 30-16 victory over Arizona. The play involved a tackle to the offense's left and was not called on the field. A source said Singleton intends to appeal the fine, which is his fourth this year, with at least one previous penalty already rescinded upon review.