Denver Broncos running back RJ Harvey is unlikely to play Sunday against the Jacksonville Jaguars because of a hamstring injury, according to Sunday morning reporting cited by NFL.com. The update is a meaningful change from Friday, when Denver officially listed Harvey as questionable after he finished the week with consecutive limited practices.
FSN previously covered Harvey’s progression from missed work to a questionable designation in its Broncos-Jaguars Week 2 injury update. Sunday’s report now points toward Denver having to play without him, even though the final inactive list will not be official until closer to kickoff.
RJ Harvey trends from questionable toward out
Harvey did not practice Wednesday because of the hamstring injury, then returned as a limited participant Thursday and Friday. That improvement was enough for the Broncos to leave the door open with a questionable designation, but Sunday morning reporting indicated he is unlikely to be available.
That distinction matters. A questionable tag means a player is not certain to play; the Sunday update gives Denver a much stronger indication that it should prepare its offensive and special-teams plans without Harvey.
The Broncos’ official Friday injury report also ruled out wide receiver Marvin Mims Jr. with a foot injury, so Harvey’s expected absence would remove another explosive option from the lineup.
Denver’s backfield would lean more on J.K. Dobbins and Jonah Coleman
If Harvey is inactive, J.K. Dobbins becomes the most experienced available runner in the Broncos’ backfield. Rookie Jonah Coleman and Tyler Badie are also on the active roster and give Denver additional options to divide early-down, change-of-pace and passing-game responsibilities.
Denver drafted Coleman in the fourth round in April, adding him to a room that already included Harvey and Dobbins. The Broncos described the group during the offseason as a potentially deep rotation rather than a one-back operation, and Harvey’s injury would test that depth earlier than expected.
Harvey’s role is not limited to carries. In Week 1, he rushed three times for 18 yards, caught four passes for 23 yards and returned four kickoffs, averaging 27.8 yards per return. Losing him therefore affects both offensive flexibility and the return game.
Why the timing matters against Jacksonville
Denver is trying to rebound after its Week 1 loss, and the Jaguars arrive after an emphatic opening win. Removing Harvey from the rotation would reduce the number of explosive touches available to the Broncos and place more responsibility on Dobbins, Coleman and the passing game around quarterback Bo Nix.
The Broncos do have some positive injury news. Outside linebacker Jonah Elliss and wide receiver Troy Franklin finished the week as full participants without game-status designations, meaning they are expected to be available.
The key question now is whether Harvey experiences an unexpected improvement before the inactive deadline. Until then, Denver has to operate as though he may not be part of the Week 2 plan.
What comes next for Harvey
Because the issue is a hamstring injury, the next week of practice participation will be important. Harvey’s ability to return to full-speed work without a setback will likely determine whether this becomes a one-game absence or a problem that carries into Week 3.
For Sunday, though, the latest reporting represents a clear shift from “questionable” toward “unlikely to play,” making Denver’s backfield depth one of the most important lineup developments ahead of Broncos-Jaguars.