Broncos rookie RB Audric Estime takes advantage of expanded role vs. Chiefs: “He’s a handful”

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — When Audric Estime’s opportunity arrived, he ran with it.

The rookie running back provided punch to the Broncos’ ground game Sunday in his most extensive work to date.

It might signal just the start of an expanded role for the fifth-round draft pick out of Notre Dame.

“We keep wanting to get him involved,” head coach Sean Payton said. “He’s a handful.”

Estime carried 14 times for 53 yards overall in the Broncos’ gutting 16-14 loss, but it was more than just the numbers that suggest his status in Denver’s backfield is changing.

Consider this: Estime fumbled twice in his first 15 carries as a pro.

On Sunday, as the Broncos bled the clock down to the final second and kept two-time NFL MVP Patrick Mahomes watching on the sideline, Payton had Estime on the field next to Broncos quarterback Bo Nix. Not only that, but Nix handed him the ball twice before setting up Denver’s ill-fated field goal attempt.

“I wouldn’t say (ball security) was the main thing on my mind but I definitely keep it in the back of my mind,” Estime said afterward. “I knew they were going to try to get the ball out. That’s just a testament to Coach Payton and (running backs coach Lou Ayeni) for trusting me in moments like that.

“Hopefully they keep trusting me in moments like that.”

The Broncos mixed up their running back rotation more in this game than they had all season, but Estime’s 14 carries were more than the rest of the group combined. In fact, second was wide receiver Marvin Mims Jr. (three) and then Jaleel McLaughlin (two). Javonte Williams had just one.

“I felt great,” Estime said. “Definitely a confidence booster that the coaches believed in me to keep me out there for that many plays. They said I grew up today. I might be the second youngest (running back) in the league but I had to play like a vet today.”

Payton mum on critical penalty. The Broncos defense appeared to have a big stop made in the second quarter when Nik Bonitto sacked Mahomes and drove Kansas City out of field goal range.

Instead, the Chiefs ended up scoring their lone touchdown a few plays later.

Instead of fourth down at the Denver 44, Kansas City logged a first down at the 28 because of an illegal contact penalty on Broncos safety Brandon Jones down the field.

The flag came out late, as Bonitto was taking Mahomes to the ground.

Six plays later, Mahomes found tight end Travis Kelce for a 2-yard touchdown on fourth-and-goal.

Instead of getting the ball back with a 14-3 lead, Denver saw its lead trimmed to 14-10 with 1:44 left in the half.

“I haven’t seen it,” Payton said when asked about the play. “How would I have seen it?”

Wattenberg starts in return. Broncos center Luke Wattenberg jumped right back into the starting lineup Sunday against Kansas City after missing the previous four games with an ankle injury.

Wattenberg was activated from injured reserve Saturday and took his place in the lineup back from Alex Forsyth, who had started the previous four games.

Wattenberg drew a penalty for being too far down the field and also had one exchange issue with Nix, but overall he and the Broncos offensive line continued their run of strong play.

Inactives. The Broncos didn’t have any surprises among their inactives for Sunday: QB Zach Wilson (emergency third QB), TE Greg Dulcich, S Keidron Smith, CB Kris Abrams-Draine, DL Eyioma Uwazurike and OLs Frank Crum and Calvin Throckmorton.

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