ENGLEWOOD, Colo. — Melvin Gordon was the Broncos’ starting running back on Monday Night Football against the Los Angeles Chargers.
The former Charger got the first carry of the game for the Broncos. In the first quarter, which was one of Denver’s best quarters of the season, Gordon’s two carries led the team. At halftime, Melvin was the Broncos’ leading rusher, racking up eight yards on three carries.
Despite all of that, the 6-foot-1, 215-pound running back didn’t step foot on the field the rest of the game.
But he didn’t do anything wrong to be benched, according to the head coach and offensive play caller.
“The first quarter—he was in on the second quarter, and in the third quarter, we didn’t have a lot of football plays. We were going three and out,” Nathaniel Hackett explained, when asked on Tuesday why Gordon didn’t see the field in the second half or overtime. “Our plan was to get into manageable third-down situations to be able to move the ball and control clock. We did and we just didn’t convert on third down. When you are 29 percent on third-down, that’s a hard recipe for success.”
In the first half, when Melvin saw the field, the Broncos’ offense only had 23 plays. In the second half and overtime, Denver had 32 total plays. There were actually more opportunities for Gordon to see the field in the latter part of the game, but the coaching staff decided to go with Latavius Murray and Mike Boone instead.
“When it comes to the running back play, we need to look at that and sit there and say—if somebody’s doing a really good job, and I think Latavius was doing a fine job, he had the opportunity to go another series. Then we just didn’t have a lot of plays.” Hackett added. “We want all those guys, we need all those guys, and we have to be sure they are all on field.”
In the second half, Murray ran the ball 14 times for 58 yards for an average of 4.1 yards per carry in his first game as a Bronco.
With Murray and Boone in the game, Gordon was on the sideline without his helmet on after halftime. Gordon did not suffer an injury either. After the game, the eight-year back expressed his frustration for not being able to help the team and not knowing why he didn’t play.
By Tuesday afternoon, Hackett had not yet spoken to Gordon about the situation, but said the two will have that conversation.
“We’re going to have a conversation,” Hackett stated. “We have a very good relationship and [I] want to be sure that we’re crystal clear on everything and that he knows where I stand. I’ve always liked those awkward conversations and always want to be upfront and honest with everybody.”
“Melvin didn’t do anything wrong. He didn’t,” Hackett added. “We just didn’t have a lot of plays, and in the end, he didn’t get the reps that he wanted. He’s a competitor. He wants to be out there helping with his team. We’ll sit down and we’ll have conversation.”
Gordon’s season has not been easy.
For the first time in his career, the veteran began the year in a backup role to Javonte Williams. In the first four games, Melvin had four fumbles. In just his second start of the season, after stepping in after Williams’ season-ending knee injury, Gordon was benched at halftime for a player who Denver signed off the Saints’ practice squad less than two weeks before.
With Russell Wilson dealing with a shoulder and hamstring injury, the Broncos will need to rely heavily on their ground game against the New York Jets on Sunday. The question that will be answered against the Jets is if Melvin Gordon is included in the game plan.
