Mike Boone is on track to make his Broncos debut Sunday. Sidelined since training camp due to a quad injury, the veteran running back will be activated off IR ahead of Denver’s Week 6 game, 9News’ Mike Klis tweets.
After the Vikings non-tendered Boone as a restricted free agent, ex-Minnesota assistant GM George Paton brought him to Denver, where he is now GM. Boone signed a two-year deal worth $2.6MM, giving the Broncos a backup back at a modest price. Boone should be expected to contribute on special teams and potentially mix in as a role player on offense.
Denver reshaped its backfield this offseason, cutting Phillip Lindsay in March and waiving Royce Freeman just before the season. Boone is set to join Melvin Gordon and Javonte Williams in Denver’s backfield. Boone’s return to health stands to aid a Broncos team that is without pass catchers Jerry Jeudy, K.J. Hamler and Albert Okwuegbunam going into a key matchup against the Raiders.
Boone’s most notable work sample came in 2019, when injuries to Dalvin Cook and Alexander Mattison brought him to the forefront in Minnesota. The former UDFA averaged 5.6 yards per carry (273 total) on 49 totes that year, helping the Vikings to the playoffs.