At times across the past few months, John Franklin-Myers has packed up for the day and turned to his locker-mate a couple of cubbies to the right.
What you about to do? Franklin-Myers has asked Jaleel McLaughlin, the third-year running back who’s been stuck outside the Sunday rotation.
Another workout, McLaughlin often responds. Another workout.
“It’s like, ‘Bruh, go home,’ you know?” Franklin-Myers chuckled on Friday. “Go spend time with your family.”
McLaughlin and his partner welcomed a new baby daughter — Zuri Leilani McLaughlin — during training camp in August. But he came too far in his three years in Denver to simply accept his lack of game-day reps this fall. The 5-foot-7 back grinded his way to stardom at FCS program Youngstown State, forced Broncos coach Sean Payton to roster him in the preseason of 2023, and earned major touches in his first two years. His behind-the-scenes response to a string of inactives this season has been unique to Franklin-Myers, an eight-year vet who came from an FCS program (Stephen F. Austin) himself.
“It was just like, ‘I’m about to make them make sure I have to play.’ It was like, ‘Man, I’m about to make them play me,’” Franklin-Myers recalled to The Denver Post. “I mean, his locker’s right next to mine. So I hear it all the time.”
The Broncos now have no choice on Sunday. With workhorse running back J.K. Dobbins officially ruled out with a foot injury, McLaughlin is primed for a toss in the fire against the Chiefs. He has received just one carry in 2025, stashed as inactive for nine of 10 games after finishing second on the Broncos in touches in 2024. Dobbins’ absence leaves at least 15 carries a game available to the rest of Denver’s backfield.
Rookie second-rounder RJ Harvey will likely pick up much of the slack. But McLaughlin is “ready,” head coach Sean Payton said Friday.
“There’s always those decisions that are challenging,” Payton said when asked about McLaughlin’s lack of playing time. “And then, it’s communicating constantly with the players – ‘I can’t tell you when.’ And then, here’s ‘when.’
“And so, he’ll be ready.”
By now, the 25-year-old’s work ethic has become the stuff of legend around Denver. This was a running back who spent nearly $5,000 to buy a JUGS machine and asked a Broncos equipment manager for a heap of old footballs to improve his catching ability after his rookie year. Payton gestured Friday at the Broncos’ new under-construction facility, which replaced one of McLaughlin’s beloved training grounds.
“There used to be a hill he ran,” Payton said, “so he doesn’t get to run that anymore. But he’ll walk through the script, and then work out, and then be eating breakfast when people are just arriving.
“He’s one of those guys that we refer to as — he’s got no ‘Plan B.’ And that’s pretty powerful.”
In August, McLaughlin said he’d upped his weight to about 199 pounds — up 12 from his previous listed weight — in an effort to improve his explosiveness and effectiveness in pass protection.
“I’ve been in the weight room,” McLaughlin said then. “I didn’t take no time off this offseason. I’ve been in the weight room. And shoot, I left my — my girl, we’re having a baby and stuff like that — I actually had to go to Arizona and train. Shout-out to her.”
McLaughlin again made the roster in camp, but was quickly surpassed by reserve back Tyler Badie on the depth chart. The Broncos have since only carried three backs on gamedays. Offensive coordinator Joe Lombardi said in September that it’d be a conversation “every week” on whether to elevate Badie or McLaughlin, but the only week McLaughlin’s been active in 2025 is when Badie missed a game against the Jets.
“It’s a tough decision, because Jaleel’s such a good player,” Lombardi said then. “I think most of it was just third-down protection, and just, a little stouter in there. But it’s hard not to have Jaleel up there on gameday.”
They still saw a bright future for McLaughlin, Lombardi added. And all signs point to Sunday as McLaughlin’s chance to stake his claim to more game-day activations down the stretch.
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