Nobody on the Denver Broncos’ coaching staff was surprised by running back Jaleel McLaughlin’s impressive performance in preseason after he stood out at during training camp.
“We’ve kind of been seeing it, if you’ve been paying attention to practice,” head coach Sean Payton said on Aug. 19. “I wouldn’t say anyone’s surprised.”
Buy Broncos TicketsNobody was surprised, either, when McLaughlin made the team’s 53-man roster last week. The undrafted rookie running back has impressed coaches and teammates not only by his on-field performance but also by his dedication off the field.
“Everybody will obviously talk about him scoring and making plays, but that doesn’t just happen overnight,” quarterback Russell Wilson said. “It’s one of those things that you work at it every day. He’s a guy that comes in early. He’s one of the first guys there every morning and sits in the front of the room. He takes notes every day and he’s a professional. There’s a certain process. Success leaves clues. A lot of the hard work that a guy gives and what he gives to the process, especially as a young player, and to really learn how to be a professional.”
McLaughlin led the Broncos with 113 rushing yards in preseason on 21 carries (5.38 yards per carry) and he led the NFL with four touchdowns. McLaughlin also made plays as a returner and as a receiver out of the backfield. He is an exciting, versatile player.
“Man, what a blessing to have such a young player who can really do a lot of special things like his kick return … his runs, his catches — he can do it all,” Wilson said. “More importantly, the best thing that I see is his work habits. When it comes to practice, he runs ball to the right, runs to the left, and he runs to the end zone every single time. That’s his mentality. That’s where greatness comes.”
McLaughlin will serve as Denver’s third-string running back this season behind Javonte Williams and Samaje Perine. He will make his (regular-season) NFL debut when the Broncos host the Las Vegas Raiders on Sept. 10.
