The Broncos kept four running backs on their active roster and gave carries to three during their Week 1 loss to the Seahawks. One of those options will not be available against the Steelers and beyond.

Audric Estime is heading to IR due to an ankle injury, per the Denver Gazette’s Chris Tomasson. This will sideline the rookie until at least Week 6. The Broncos used one of their cutdown-day IR-return spots — on cornerback Damarri Mathis — to leave them seven activations. Estime would stand to count toward one of those slots if he is activated from IR.

Fullback Michael Burton is coming up from Denver’s practice squad to its 53-man roster to fill Estime’s spot, KPRC2’s Aaron Wilson tweets. The veteran had played Week 1 as a P-squad elevation, joining Lil’Jordan Humphrey in that regard. This is Burton’s second Broncos season, and while he is technically a running back, Denver employs the veteran for his blocking.

This leaves Javonte Williams and Jaleel McLaughlin as Denver’s primary ball-carriers, with rookie UDFA Blake Watson still on the active roster as well. Watson was a healthy scratch in Week 1. The pass-catching back may well need to make his debut against Pittsburgh on Sunday.

A fifth-round pick out of Notre Dame, Estime already ran into injury trouble during the offseason; he underwent a minor knee procedure that limited his time at OTAs and shelved him for minicamp. While this slowed Estime’s development, the Broncos have plans for the former Fighting Irish standout. With Williams in a contract year and having not yet looked himself since October 2022 ACL and LCL tears — though, the fourth-year back impressed in training camp — Estime profiles as a successor. He is signed through 2027.

Estime fell to Round 5 due in part to a 4.71-second 40-yard dash time at the Combine. He clocked a sub-4.6-second time at Notre Dame’s pro day, which came after he had combined for 30 touchdowns from 2022-23. Estime rambled for 18 rushing TDs last season, totaling 1,341 yards on 10 carries. Estime logged two carries for 14 yards and fumbled, though a Broncos teammate recovered, in the team’s 26-20 loss. The Broncos will aim to have their rookie power runner right come October, though Estime’s timetable is not yet known.