There may be a shift in the Broncos’ running back workload soon.

Despite offensive struggles that have plagued the team the past two weeks, running back Devontae Booker has been a bright spot. Now, Broncos coach Gary Kubiak wants to see if the rookie can maintain his success with an expanded role.

“When he’s had some opportunities, he’s done some really good things,” Kubiak said. “As a young player, we’re trying to get him going as far as (pass) protection and those type of things. He’s starting to handle himself better. I think he deserves some more opportunities to touch the football.”

Kubiak hinted that the best solution might not be abandoning C.J. Anderson as the lead running back, but rather giving Booker a larger share of the touches. Booker hasn’t had double-digit carries this season and has played only 23.8 percent of the Broncos’ offensive snaps.

Most of the run game’s struggles start with the offensive line, but Booker has rushed for 161 yards and a solid 4.7 yards-per-carry average. Anderson has 330 rushing yards and a 3.5 yards-per-carry average, although his best three plays at San Diego last week – a 12-yard rush, a 15-yard rush and a 20-yard catch-and-run touchdown – were called back because of penalties by the offensive line.

Anderson and Booker display different skill sets that might challenge defenses more when used in combination. Anderson has shown an ability to break tackles, be reliable in late-game situations and turn in the big play when his team needs it. Booker has shown explosiveness hitting the hole and an ability to cut quickly. He also has hands like a receiver. A mixture of both Anderson and Booker could get defenses more off balance and help offset a struggling offensive line.

Booker said his true “Welcome to the NFL” moment, an inauspicious start to his career against Carolina in the season opener, still has an impact on his preparation more than a month later. He fumbled on his first career carry and later missed a key block in pass protection.

“That whole first game changed the way I looked at everything,” said Booker, the Broncos’ late fourth-round pick from Utah in April’s draft. “From the way I was carrying the ball to pass protection, it changed my whole game. Every week now, I think about that game and prepare differently for games.”

Booker attributed his expected increased role starting Monday against Houston to “working his butt off” in practice, asking the right questions in meeting rooms and spending extra time with running backs coach Eric Studesville after practice. Booker earned the Broncos’ No. 2 running back role this summer by beating out Ronnie Hillman, the team’s leading rusher a season ago.

Last season, through the regular season and playoffs, Hillman (47.2 percent) and Anderson (45.1 percent) split carries, and it seemed to help Anderson have a strong finish to the season. Anderson came in as the unquestioned top back this year, and he hasn’t lost that role. Yet Booker’s strong play makes it apparent that he should get more touches.

Whether it’s Anderson, Booker or Kapri Bibbs running the ball, the Broncos’ backs know they need better production in the running game to help out quarterback Trevor Siemian. They believe they’ve started to attack the issue right at its heart.

“It’s back to the communication with myself and the O-line,” Anderson said. “Back to trying to find spots and pick them. Us in the backfield, myself and ‘Book,’ being special, stepping out on more tackles, breaking more tackles, finding ways to create those bigger plays. It’s on all of us. We had two weeks to grade ourselves on it. Monday, we graded ourselves really, really hard. Probably hurt a couple guys’ feelings. But that’s what you need. We’re definitely looking to get back on track this week.”

Carrying the load

A look at the reps and production from the Broncos running backs so far this season. Name Rushes Yards TDs Yds/Carry Play % C.J. Anderson 94 330 3 3.5 69.1 Devontae Booker 34 161 0 4.7 23.8 Kapri Bibbs 4 21 0 5.3 4.4

Cameron Wolfe, The Denver Post