The Broncos thought about adding an experienced reinforcement to their running back group.

Nearly put thought to action too, as the team brought in veterans Mikel Leshoure and LaRod Stephens-Howling for running back workouts Tuesday at Dove Valley.

Ultimately, the Broncos came around to putting their trust in Ronnie Hillman, C.J. Anderson and Juwan Thompson. Hillman is a third-year running back with zero NFL starts. Anderson is a second-year running back with zero NFL starts. And Thompson is a rookie with three NFL carries.

Leshoure, a former Detroit Lion, and Stephens-Howling, a former Arizona Cardinal, left Broncos headquarters without a contract.

There seemed to be a need for running back depth after Broncos starting running back Montee Ball suffered a strained groin Sunday during Denver’s 41-20 victory against the Cardinals.

Ball is expected to be out about a month.

Hillman’s strong second-half performance against Arizona likely earned him his first NFL start Sunday against the New York Jets at — gasp! — MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, N.J., site of last season’s Super Bowl.

Anderson figures to be the No. 2 back even though he was de-activated for the game against the Cardinals. The Broncos like their No. 3 running backs to play special teams, and with Ball and Hillman the top two against Arizona, Thompson became the next man up because he’s a special-teams ace.

Thompson, however, was gimpy with a knee injury during the game Sunday. He still managed to churn his way for an 8-yard touchdown run.

The 233-pound Leshoure is a former University of Illinois star who was the Lions’ second-round draft pick in 2011. He blew out his Achilles and missed his rookie year, was suspended for the first two games of 2012, then rushed for 798 yards and nine touchdowns in the next 14 games.

The 5-foot-7, 185-pound Stephens-Howling was Arizona’s seventh-round pick out of Pitt in 2009. He had two touchdown kickoff returns in 2010 and was an effective third-down back in 2012, but he tore his anterior cruciate ligament in the opener of the 2013 season with Pittsburgh and hasn’t played since.

Ryan Miller released. The Broncos cut offensive lineman Ryan Miller from their practice squad. Miller was a two-way star at Columbine High School and was a rare five-year starter for the Colorado Buffaloes. He received a medical hardship after starting four games as a sophomore.

Miller was a fifth-round pick of the Cleveland Browns in 2012 and played in eight games as a rookie, but he hasn’t been the same since suffering a severe concussion during training camp of 2013.