Broncos rookie RB Jonah Coleman is headed to IR with an ankle injury

The Denver Broncos are placing rookie running back Jonah Coleman on short-term injured reserve while he manages an ankle sprain, the team announced Saturday in a series of roster moves.

Coleman, a fourth-round pick out of the University of Washington, sat out Sunday night’s game against the visiting Los Angeles Rams after missing all three practices this week. Coleman must sit out at least three more games, as he won’t be eligible to return until Denver’s Week 7 game at the Arizona Cardinals.

Coleman suffered an ankle injury in Denver’s Week 2 win over the Jacksonville Jaguars. He stayed in the game and made a strong contribution in the fourth quarter as the Broncos rallied from a 10-point deficit to earn their first win of the season, 20-13. Coleman scored the go-ahead touchdown, his first in the NFL, on a 3-yard run midway through the final quarter. He then rushed six times for 33 yards on Denver’s final drive, chewing up the clock and ending the team’s kneel-down build-up victory.

Coleman, the only Broncos rookie to play so far this season, was forced out late against the Jaguars because second-year back RJ Harvey went down with a hamstring injury and starter JK Dobbins left with a hip injury late in the third quarter. Coleman finished the game with 58 yards on 13 carries. He showed veteran savvy on his final carry when, after a first down, he slid on the ground inbounds, allowing Denver to run out the clock.

Harvey and Dobbins participated fully in practice Thursday and Friday and have been cleared to play against the Rams. Veteran Tyler Badie is also expected to be in the backfield rotation Sunday after he recorded 113 all-purpose yards in Week 2. Moving forward, the Broncos could also turn to Cody Schrader, who is in his second season on the team’s practice squad and has been a standout for Denver in the preseason.

To replace Coleman on the active roster, the Broncos are promoting long snapper Mitch Fraboni from the practice squad, according to the league’s transaction wire.

Fullback Adam Prentice and wide receiver/returner Kolbe Katsis are being lifted from the practice squad for Sunday’s game.