Royce Freeman focused on proving his value to Broncos despite offseason additions at running back

In Royce Freeman’s 3 seasons arsenic a Bronco,  he’s been a dependable backup moving backmost and peculiar teams player.

But Freeman was intelligibly an afterthought successful George Paton’s offseason roster re-construction. The caller wide manager signed escaped cause Mike Boone arsenic positional extent astatine moving back, fto Phillip Lindsay locomotion and past traded up successful the 2nd circular to draught Javonte Williams to brace alongside seasoned Melvin Gordon.

As Freeman watched those developments unfold helium kept a passageway vision, knowing a roster presumption was not guaranteed.

“You can’t truly interest astir those (new additions) — you person to power what you tin control,” helium said.  “At the extremity of the day, I consciousness similar I person a value, and I consciousness similar I’ve shown what I bring to the array arsenic acold arsenic being a back.”

With the 2 newcomers connected the extent illustration and Gordon the incumbent starter, it appeared Freeman mightiness beryllium utilizing the preseason to physique portion for different teams successful lawsuit helium was cut.

But a quad wounded Boone sustained during past week’s associated practices successful Minnesota present presents Freeman with an accidental to beryllium the wide No. 3 moving backmost heading into the regular season. Boone is expected to beryllium retired for different month.

Freeman has been “very impressive” during grooming camp, moving backs manager Curtis Modkins said. Freeman had 5 rushes for 33 yards successful the 33-6 thrashing of the Vikings successful the preseason opener.

“He’s worked his process disconnected each camp,” Modkins said. “Royce is precise reliable.”

Freeman said his absorption this August has been establishing himself arsenic a much carnal runner, complementing his already-proven spot of catching passes retired of the backfield. As Lindsay’s superior backup successful 2019, Freeman had 43 receptions for 256 yards and a touchdown.In 3 years he’s had 1,187 yards rushing.

“I’ve worked connected being much of an aggressor connected the finishing extremity of runs,” Freeman said. “Looking beyond that aspect, I consciousness similar I’ve done good successful walk pro(tection) and catching the ball, due to the fact that I caught a batch of balls a mates years ago.”

The 25-year-old erstwhile third-round draught prime retired of Oregon is acceptable to instrumentality connected immoderate the coaching unit asks of him. After playing 34% of Denver’s peculiar teams snaps past year, Freeman is apt to again beryllium asked to assistance those units if helium makes the 53-man roster.

He’s besides embracing the situation of having 2 backs presently solidified up of him connected the extent chart, arsenic was the lawsuit during the 2020 grooming camp.

“Competing is what this crippled is each about, and having those benignant of backs successful the room, it helps me,” Freeman said. “It adds that furniture of being a pupil and watching their game, due to the fact that they’re successful the aforesaid role. I’m taking small pieces that Mel’s crippled has, and Javonte’s, and seeing however they bash it and adding it to my ain game.”

And ultimately, adjacent with Boone factored into the extent illustration erstwhile he’s steadfast again, Freeman believes helium tin marque an interaction connected an discourtesy helium said volition beryllium much run-oriented this season.

“We’re going to effort to enforce our volition connected radical connected the ground,” Freeman said. “Obviously we person the extracurricular threats and each astir the (skill positions) connected offense. If we get the tally crippled going, it’s going to beryllium pick-or-choose your poison…. We decidedly person the backs to bash that.”