Such is the fate of the Denver Broncos this season that they've all but put up a "Help Wanted" sign in their offensive backfield.
The call for help is necessary thanks to a slew of injuries that have left the Broncos scrambling to find options at running back. On Monday, Denver signed running back Justin Forsett off the waiver wire to provide depth at a position that's been decimated. The veteran Forsett had been riding the pine in Detroit.
Devontae Booker was the only true running back left on the roster before Forsett was signed. Juwan Thompson plays both fullback and running back. C.J. Anderson, the Broncos' top running back, suffered a potentially season-ending knee injury in October if he is unable to return by Week 17 per the NFL’s new injured reserve rules.
With Anderson out, backup Kapri Bibbs was making his case for being Denver's feature back, but he suffered a season-ending ankle injury in last week's Bronco victory over Jacksonville.
Denver also lost fullback Andy Janovich for the season last week when he injured his ankle against the Jacksonville Jaguars. It's no wonder that the Broncos rank only 23rd in the NFL in rushing (100.2 yards per game).
The Broncos misfortunes at running back haven't helped an offense that's stagnant, at best. They had only 206 yards of total offense against Jacksonville and were saved by a defense that, once again, is playing as well any other in the NFL.
Rookie quarterback Paxton Lynch struggled as the Broncos starter last Sunday but is the likely starter this week against Tennessee because Trevor Siemian is still nursing a foot injury.
How much help Forsett will provide remains to be seen. It is encouraging that he had his best season as a pro in 2014 when current Broncos coach Gary Kubiak was the offensive coordinator in Baltimore. Forsett rushed for a career-high 1,266 yards that season with the Balitmore Ravens.
Forsett was a seventh-round draft pick by Seattle in 2008 and has also played for Indianapolis, Houston, Jacksonville, and the Detriot Lions in his nine-year pro career. He played in only two games with Detroit after being released by the Ravens in October.
Booker, who had only 35 yards on 18 carries against the Jags, is expected to get the majority of carries now that Bibbs has been sidelined. Bibbs, a Colorado State product, had 49 yards on only five carries last week before suffering his injury. Thompson had only three career rushing attempts before the Jacksonville game.