In June, Sean Payton told reporters the words that would come to define the Broncos’ backfield for two months: “Don’t start counting.”

But as training camp developed, it soon became impossible not to count the names in perhaps the tightest position battle on the roster. J.K. Dobbins was signed as Denver’s potential RB1 late in free agency. RJ Harvey was drafted in the second round to pour in some game-changing juice. Jaleel McLaughlin was back to scamper around. Tyler Badie, Audric Estime and Blake Watson each had their own case for making Denver’s 53-man. And thus, Payton’s tune changed come mid-August.

Broncos roster cutdown tracker: Denver waiving RBs Audric Estime, Blake Watson as competition whittles

"You start looking at Badie, and then you start looking at Blake and then Jal

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