Devontae Booker entered the 2017 Denver Broncos training camp with the hopes that he could rebound from a disappointing rookie season and win the starting running back job in his second season. However, a wrist injury has almost destroyed that possibility. With Booker needing surgery, C.J. Anderson has likely wrapped up the starting job and the Broncos even signed another running back to come and compete for carries.
Devontae Booker’s struggles in Denver
Last year, the Denver Broncos drafted Devontae Booker and hoped that he could step into the role as their starting running back of the future.
However, when the season started, it was clear that Booker was not up to the level of the Broncos’ current starter C.J. Anderson and he ended up getting limited carries. When Anderson went down to injury, Booker still couldn’t solidify his role as the lead tail back and lost his job back to Anderson.
Devontae Booker never once eclipsed 100 yards in a game and his average-per-carry was a low 3.5 yards. Add to that the fact that he only scored four touchdowns on the season, and none after Week 11, and it was clear that Devontae might not be the answer that the Denver Broncos hoped for.
Over the last six games of the season, Booker never carried the ball more than nine times in a game, with a season low three carries in the 2016 season finale against the Carolina Panthers.
Booker finished with a total of 612 yards in his rookie campaign. Anderson proved to be the workhorse back and Booker seemed to lose his grasp on winning the role in any fashion.
2017 Denver Broncos running back battle
Despite that, the Denver Broncos tried to head into the 2017 NFL training camp with the idea that all positions were up for grabs and that included giving Devontae Booker a chance to win the starting role from C.J.
Anderson once again. That won’t happen now. Booker will miss six weeks due to a wrist injury that required surgery. The Broncos moved Booker to the PUP list and he might not even be ready to start the regular season either.
Because of the injury, C.J. Anderson is almost assured of the role as lead running back for the Denver Broncos to start the 2017 NFL season.
Furthermore, there is now a chance that Devontae Booker even loses his backup role. Jamaal Charles has joined the Broncos for this season and while he is not the superstar running back that he was when he was younger, he is still good enough to make a difference behind a good offensive line. Denver also signed former New England Patriots back Stevan Ridley to a one-year deal after the Booker injury.
