ENGLEWOOD, Colo. (AP) — The Denver Broncos beefed up their offensive backfield on Tuesday, agreeing with free agent running back J.K. Dobbins on a one-year deal worth up to $5.25 million.

A 2020 second-round pick by Baltimore, Dobbins has an extensive injury history, including an ACL tear in 2021 and a torn Achilles tendon in 2023, but he's been productive when healthy.

He gained a career-best 905 yards on 195 carries and tied his career high with nine rushing touchdowns last year with the Los Angeles Chargers despite missing four games with a sprained knee.

Word broke of Dobbins' acquisition just as the first day of the Broncos' mandatory minicamp was wrapping up, and coach Sean Payton was coy when asked about, saying, “I'm not going to answer to any reports. I think we're close.”

When Dobbins visited the team last week, Payton said: “It's just another opportunity to possibly bring in another good football player to help us win.”

If healthy, Dobbins figures to be one of the primary ballcarriers along with rookie R.J. Harvey, a second-round draft pick out of Central Florida. Other running backs on the roster include second-year pros Blake Watson and Audric Estime, third-year player Jaleel McLaughlin and fourth-year pro Tyler Badie.

A lot will be expected of Dobbins on third down after the Broncos lost their best pass protector in their backfield when Javonte Williams left for Dallas in free agency.

One of Dobbins' best games last season was at Denver in mid-October, when he rushed 25 times for 96 yards and a touchdown in the Chargers' 23-16 win.

“Yeah, he's a good back, especially when healthy,” Broncos safety Brandon Jones said. “We kind of go back a little bit to high school and college, so I'm very familiar with him as a person and his game on the field. Yeah, he's a baller. He was one of the running backs that had the better rushing games against us last year.

“So, I'm super excited for him to be here.”

Shedeur Sanders is preaching patience as he settles in as the Browns' 4th-string QB

BEREA, Ohio (AP) — Shedeur Sanders is used to his every move being scrutinized.

But one thing he hasn't been accustomed to is not getting all the snaps in practice.

In his first couple of months in the NFL, Sanders has had to learn what life is like as a fourth-string quarterback.

“I’m managing it real well,” Sanders said Tuesday after the Cleveland Browns completed their first practice of their mandatory minicamp. “I would say it’s just a mindset, this adjustment. You got to go and understand the situation that you’re in and be able to approach that and get the best out of it. You could view things as you’re not getting reps in a negative way, or you could view it as, OK, when is my time to get out there? Let’s be proactive and let’s get going.”

Sanders has shown steady progress since he was selected in the fifth round (144th overall) by the Browns and reported for the team's rookie minicamp on May 9.

With Joe Flacco's workload reduced on Tuesday, Sanders got his first extensive snaps in full-team drills during practices that were open to the media.

On the final snap, Sanders connected with Luke Floriea on a skinny post route while under pressure.

One highlight came during a 7-on-7 drill when he threw a deep ball up the right sideline to Gage Larvadin with cornerback Dom Jones in coverage.

Another big adjustment for Sanders is trying to get through his progressions quicker so that he avoids sacks. Sanders was sacked 94 times over his last two seasons at Colorado, the most by a QB in the Football Bowl Subdivision, and that contributed to his drop in the draft.

“It’s definitely going through the progressions and getting comfortable and knowing the ins and outs of everything. So, when you go on the field, I already have a different type of confidence by myself, regardless,” he said, adding that when training camp begins, “I’ll be there.”

Coach Kevin Stefanski said going through progressions is a bedrock of offensive efficiency, but mastering that skill can take time.

“Being able to get through a progression is not as easy as it sounds. Your eyes are studying the defenders and seeing what they’re doing, and then ultimately, you’re listening to your feet,” Stefanski said. “To quote an old Gary Kubiak line, you have a prescribed drop for a play, and that drop, and those hitches will take you where the ball is supposed to go.”

While some Browns fans would love to see him start the Sept. 7 opener against the Cincinnati Bengals — or soon thereafter — Sanders said his goal is to become as polished as he can.

“I got time to be able to grow and mature and be able to understand the ins and outs of the defenses and be able to get the good insight from the vets in the room," he said. "So, I look at it as a plus. I got time to actually be able to really have a great understanding. And whenever, you know, it’s time for me to play, then it’s time for me to play.

"But I’m not looking too far in the future about all that. I’m looking about every day in practice because I had some misses out there today that, you know, we got to go in there and correct, reads getting in and out drops a little bit faster from under center. So that’s the main thing. I’m focused on the small things, and over time, the big things will happen.”

One questions Sanders did not answer was about the health of his father — Pro Football Hall of Famer and Colorado coach Deion Sanders. The elder Sanders has not attended football camps at Colorado and discussed some health challenges on a recent podcast.

Yastrzemski's RBI single caps a 4-run 9th, Giants beat the Rockies 6-5 for 6th straight 1-run win

DENVER (AP) — Mike Yastrzemski hit a go-ahead single in a four-run ninth inning, and the San Francisco Giants beat Colorado Rockies 6-5 on Tuesday night for their sixth win in a row — all by one run.

Colorado has lost four straight following its first three-game winning streak and fell to a major league-worst 12-54.

Willy Adames and Casey Schmitt homered for the Giants.

Jake Bird, Seth Halvorsen, Tyler Kinley had retired 12 consecutive batters and Colorado led 5-2 before Schmitt’s home run off Zach Agnos (0-3) leading off the ninth. Heliot Ramos hit a sacrifice fly and Wilmer Flores a tying single before Yastrzemski's go-ahead hit.

Erik Miller (3-0) relieved with a runner on third and two outs in the eighth, walked Mickey Moniak and struck out Ryan Ritter. Camilo Doval gave up two hits and a walk but got Jordan Beck to ground into a 5-4-3 double play and Thairo Estrada to fly out with runners at the corners for his 10th save in 13 chances.

Jung Hoo Lee led off the game with a triple and Adames followed with a sacrifice fly.

Ryan Ritter had a RBI single and Ryan McMahon and Kyle Farmer each hit a solo shot before Hunter Goodman and Doyle tripled in Colorado's two-run eighth.

Key moment

Estrada fouled off three 0-2 pitches in the ninth, then flied out on a cutter.

Key stat

San Francisco, which leads the major leagues with 17 one-run wins, are the first team to win six consecutive games by one run since the 1989 California Angels.

Up next

Robbie Ray (8-1, 2.44 ERA) is scheduled to pitch Wednesday for the Giants against Kyle Freeland (1-8, 5.19 ERA) in the second of a three-game series.

Deion Sanders says 'everything is OKAY' after not attending football camps in Boulder, Colorado

DENVER (AP) — Deion Sanders posted on social media Wednesday that “everything is OKAY” after not being able to attend football camps in Boulder, Colorado, so far this spring.

The Colorado coach's health has come into question because of his extended absence. Sanders wrote on X that he was “truly blessed for the abundance of well wishes, for all the thoughts and all of the prayers. THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU!”

Sanders later added that he's “excited to get back to Colorado to be at home with my staff, team & all associated to our program.” He said that once he arrives back in Boulder he will provide updates. He concluded his post with, “Until then, I’M COMING BABY, #CoachPrime.”

The school had no comment Wednesday or a reason for his absence. ESPN, citing a source it did not name, reported Tuesday that Sanders has been ill and out of the office recently. His son Deion Sanders Jr. posted a livestream video on YouTube over the weekend in which he said his father remains at home in Texas and “feeling well,” according to USA Today.

The 57-year-old Sanders has dealt with issues surrounding his left foot since having two toes amputated in 2021 because of blood clot issues while at Jackson State. He missed media day in 2023, his inaugural year at Colorado, after a procedure to remove a blood clot from his right leg and another to straighten toes on his left foot.

As part of the contract extension he signed in March, Sanders is required to operate a minimum of three on-campus football camps.

The Buffaloes are set to begin Year 3 under Sanders on Aug. 29 against Georgia Tech at Folsom Field.

Colorado's Cale Makar wins Norris Trophy as league's top defenseman for 2nd time in 4 seasons

DENVER (AP) — Cale Makar captured the Norris Trophy as the league's top defenseman for a second time in four seasons.

The Colorado Avalanche standout finished the regular season with 30 goals to become to first NHL blueliner to reach that mark since Mike Green scored 31 for Washington in 2008-09. Makar also led all defensemen this season with 62 assists and 92 points.

He received first-place votes on 176 of the 191 ballots cast by members of the Professional Hockey Writers Association. The 26-year-old from Calgary, Alberta, has been a Norris finalist in each of the last five seasons.

Makar finds himself in elite company as he joins Bobby Orr (eight times), Denis Potvin (three), Paul Coffey, Rod Langway and Erik Karlsson as the only players to take home two or more Norris Trophies before turning 27.

Makar was surprised with the award by his family and friends. He was golfing with his buddies in a video posted on the NHL's social media account when they stopped midround. A big group was waiting in the yard for him and clapped as he received the trophy.

“My first thought was, honestly, that one of the boys that I was playing with won some golf trophy and it was a surprise thing,” Makar said in the video. “It definitely was not on my radar.”

His mom added: “Even though he doesn't like surprises, his reaction today was awesome.”

Makar's regular season included such milestone moments as scoring his 100th career NHL goal (Jan. 18 against Dallas) and becoming the third-fastest defenseman in history to reach 400 career points (Feb. 23 at St. Louis).

He began the season by matching a career high with a 13-game point streak. He was in a tie with Mark Stone for the scoring lead at the end of October. That was the first time a blueliner led or shared the league lead in points at the end of October since Orr was in a four-way tie on Nov. 1, 1974.

In addition, Makar helped Canada take home the title in the midseason 4 Nations Face-Off. He led the tournament in ice time.

Makar had a goal and four assists in a first-round playoff loss to Dallas during a series that went seven games. His 1.08 points per game average in the postseason is the third-best among defensemen with at least 60 playoff games.

He also won the Norris in 2022, a season in which the Avalanche hoisted the Stanley Cup. Makar earned the Conn Smythe Trophy that year as the MVP of the playoffs.