In possible final game with Broncos, Melvin Gordon runs for 110 yards and TD but also has critical fourth-quarter fumble

Melvin Gordon stopped connected his mode disconnected the tract pursuing the Broncos’ 28-24 nonaccomplishment to Kansas City connected Saturday and gave his cleats to a young fan.

Admittedly emotional, Gordon — who rushed for 110 yards and a touchdown, but besides had a fourth-quarter fumble that reversed the momentum of the crippled — took successful the last moments of what could beryllium his last crippled arsenic a Bronco. Gordon has expressed his tendency to instrumentality to Denver’s backfield successful 2022 but is present acceptable to go a escaped agent.

“I was benignant of soaking it in, taking (the scene) for what it was,” Gordon said. “”I don’t cognize (on my future). It’s each up successful the air. That volition play retired eventually.”

Gordon helped gait the Broncos to a season-high 191 rushing yards. He said Denver “wanted it” contempt being retired of playoff contention and being a dense underdog.

“We laid it each connected the line, adjacent though we knew we weren’t playing for anything,” Gordon said. “It’s immoderate guys’ past clip connected this squad with the Broncos, truthful my mindset was to conscionable springiness it everything I’ve got.”

Whether Gordon volition beryllium 1 of those “guys” is yet to beryllium seen. Gordon played connected a two-year, $16 cardinal declaration successful 2020 and ’21, but his marketplace worth would apt alteration considering he’ll beryllium 29 erstwhile adjacent play starts. There is inactive a anticipation wide manager George Paton could re-sign him connected a cheaper woody to again complement Javonte Williams, who polished disconnected a coagulated rookie play with 46 yards rushing Saturday.

Whether Gordon returns oregon signs elsewhere, backmost Drew Lock believes Gordon “showed the benignant of backmost helium tin beryllium today” portion averaging a season-best 9.2 yards per carry.

“Sure, he’s a big, stout, third-and-one-and-hand-him-the-pill benignant of runner,” Lock said. “But he’s besides 1 to bust a large 1 erstwhile you request him.”

Vic Fangio, who whitethorn person coached his last crippled for the Broncos, called Gordon “a pugnacious sucker.”

“Runs hard, large teammate, large person,” Fangio said. “To me, everything astir Melvin is apical shelf.”

While Gordon enactment unneurotic 1 of his champion games of the year, his fumble precocious successful the crippled enactment a sour ending connected an different noteworthy day. With Denver up 21-20 and astatine the Kansas City 9-yard line, Lock handed disconnected to Gordon, who was instantly tackled by Kansas City antiaircraft extremity Melvin Ingram, who was unblocked.

Gordon had nary clip to react. Fangio dubbed it a “busted” blocking assignment. Ingram ran close betwixt choky ends Noah Fant and Albert Okwuegbunam to unit the fumble. Chiefs rookie Nick Bolton recovered the escaped ball, shed Lock’s attempted tackle and ran 86 yards for the touchdown that enactment Kansas City up 28-21.

“The feline I look up to (Ingram) made the play connected me,” Gordon said. “It conscionable happened truthful fast. I don’t deliberation I had afloat power of the shot yet, and I was trying to rotation and get retired of the mode to not get a loss. He made a large play. I’ve got to beryllium amended determination (with shot security) but… it was a pugnacious play.”