Denver Broncos running backs Javonte Williams and Jaleel McLaughlin continue to struggle to make things happen on the ground.
McLaughlin had a nice juke on a touchdown run against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Sunday, but he finished the game with a 1.4 yards per carry average. Williams was only slightly better with 2.4 YPC.
Tyler Badie (“bidet“), meanwhile, got opportunities in the second half and made the most of them. He ripped off a 43-yard run in the fourth quarter and finished the game with nine carries for 70 yards with an impressive 7.8 YPC average.
Broncos fans and pundits have taken to Twitter/X to call for Badie to be the team’s starting running back going forward.
Tyler Badie breaks a long one and is making a case for more and more touchespic.twitter.com/lLWgUqMeSX
— MileHighReport (@MileHighReport) September 22, 2024
Tyler Badie's first touch goes for a first down. Good things seem to happen whenever the guy touches the ball
— Sayre Bedinger (@SayreBedinger) September 22, 2024
Nix was about to become Denver's leading rusher for the third straight game. Then, Tyler Badie ripped off a 43-yard run. He finished with 70 yards on nine carries.
Imagine he'll continue to see more carries.
— Nick Kosmider (@NickKosmider) September 22, 2024
Dondrea Tillman and Tyler Badie
Two guys that balled out in the preseason and should’ve made the opening roster! They should see extended play time all season now
— Michael 🇲🇽 (@RespectMyCos) September 22, 2024
Yeah, it’s time to give Javonte’s carries to Tyler Badie.
Absolutely inexcusable fumble there.
— Predominantly Orange (@PredomOrange) September 22, 2024
See what I mean?! I said we need to get Tyler Badie more carries!
— BroncoFanatic97 (@BroncoFanatic97) September 22, 2024
Tyler Badie is the Broncos’ best running back right now.
— Zac Stevens (@ZacStevensDNVR) September 22, 2024
Tyler Badie is an absolute ball player
— Sayre Bedinger (@SayreBedinger) September 22, 2024
If you give Tyler Badie an inch, he will take a marathon 🫡🫡🫡
— Lindsay Bebout (@lindsaybebout) September 22, 2024
Tyler Badie might push himself into the starting role.
— Cody Roark (@CodyRoarkNFL) September 22, 2024
I'm sorry, but Tyler Badie has to start running back next week. He's got the hot hand, man.
— Cody Roark (@CodyRoarkNFL) September 22, 2024
Tyler Badie for RB1. Yes, I’m serious. #BroncosCountry
— Will Petersen (@PetersenWill) September 22, 2024
Does Tyler Badie become the new RB1 in Denver now ? #BroncosCountry
— Phillip Lindsay (@I_CU_boy) September 22, 2024
Tyler Badie is your RB1 #BroncosCountry
— Mike Sanford (@Coach_Sanford2) September 22, 2024
Tyler Badie’s top speed of 20.99 MPH on this run makes him the 3rd fastest ball carrier of Week 3, and 10th fastest ball carrier of the entire season on any one play.
RB1.
— EpicNormie (@EpicNormie_) September 23, 2024
Time to make Tyler Badie RB1.
— Nick Kosmider (@NickKosmider) September 22, 2024
After a 26-7 win over the Bucs, Denver coach Sean Payton was asked about Badie making the most of his carries.
“Yeah, look, I’m used to – right, wrong or indifferent – it’s easy to work two backs into a rotation; it’s hard with three,” Payton said. “It’s hard to feed three. He’d been practicing well.
“There were a handful of [plays ] – ‘Bad 21,’ we just abbreviate his tags B.A.D… ‘Bad 12’ – there were a handful of plays designed with his name on it and then he’s running well and so he gets some more plays, but we’ll keep working that combination. I was pleased that we were able to run the ball.”
After Sunday’s performance, Badie seems likely to have more involvement on offense in the coming weeks.
