Former Bengals running back may get chance to revive his career with Broncos
The Denver Broncos, following their 2025 NFL Draft, are offering former Bengals running back Chris Evans a chance to revive his career during their rookie minicamp scheduled for May 9-11. Evans, drafted by the Bengals in the sixth round of the 2021 draft, is valued more for his receiving and special teams capabilities rather than as a traditional running back, making him a potentially good fit for Sean Payton's offensive strategy. Despite a second-round selection of R.J. Harvey, the Broncos' running back lineup is not deep, presenting Evans with a viable opportunity if he performs well. Evans, who has career stats of 89 rushing yards and 19 receptions for 188 yards with three touchdowns, missed the entire 2024 season due to a ruptured patella tendon. Besides the Broncos, the Houston Texans are also interested in evaluating Evans, indicating a possible path for his return to the NFL field.
The Denver Broncos have invited former Cincinnati Bengals running back Chris Evans to their rookie minicamp, providing him a chance to earn a spot on their roster after their 2025 NFL Draft.
Evans was originally drafted by the Bengals in the sixth round of the 2021 NFL Draft from the University of Michigan, where he made a name for himself with his receiving and special teams skills.
With the Broncos' current running back roster lacking depth despite drafting R.J. Harvey in the second round, Evans' diverse skill set could make him a suitable addition to Sean Payton's offensive scheme.
Evans has accumulated 89 rushing yards, 19 receptions for 188 yards, and three receiving touchdowns in his career, and he is aiming to return to the field after missing the 2024 season due to a ruptured patella tendon.
In addition to the Broncos, the Houston Texans are also considering Evans for a tryout, which could open multiple avenues for his potential return to professional football.
The Broncos' rookie minicamp, where Evans and others will be trying out, is scheduled for May 9-11, marking a crucial period for players seeking to secure a position on the team's roster.
Evans' participation in the minicamp is part of a broader strategy by the Broncos to enhance their roster by exploring talents beyond their recent draft picks.
The Denver Broncos added seven new players to their roster in the 2025 NFL Draft and then agreed to terms with several more undrafted free agents. The team's rookie minicamp will be next on the calendar and is scheduled for May 9-11.
The Broncos will invite several players to that minicamp to try out for roster spots and one of the more intriguing names on that list is former Cincinnati Bengals running back Chris Evans.
The Bengals drafted Evans in the sixth round of the 2021 draft out of Michigan. He is more of a threat as a receiver and special teams player than a pure running back, but he could be a fit for Sean Payton's offense due to those receiving skills.
Despite using a second-round pick on R.J. Harvey out of UCF, the Broncos aren't exactly deep at running back. Jaleel McLaughlin, Audric Estime, Tyler Badie and Blake Watson are the only other running backs on the roster, meaning there could easily be a spot for Evans if he looks good.
Evans has 89 career rushing yards and 19 catches for 188 yards and three receiving touchdowns. He ruptured his patella tendon last August and that injury shelved him for the entire 2024 season. It appears that the Broncos won't be the only team giving Evans a look as the Houston Texans are also giving him a tryout.
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The Broncos have sent out several invitations and have lined up the following players to try out at the minicamp:
Denver Broncos rookie minicamp tryouts
| Player | Position | School |
| Chris Evans | RB | Michigan |
| Aaron Young | RB | Old Dominion |
| Blake Stenstrom | QB | Princeton |
| Travis Theis | RB | South Dakota |
| Max McLeod | WR | Colorado School of Mines |
| Mikey Harrison | WR | San Diego State |
| Christian Johnstone | LS | Appalachian State |
| John Hoyland | PK | Wyoming |
| C.J. Baskerville | S | Texas Tech |
| LaVonta Bentley | LB | Colorado |
| Makeah Scippio | OLB | CSU-Pueblo |
| Zach Kennedy | DE | UC-Davis |
| Kolby Borders | OL | Miami (OH) |
| Jake Wiley | OL | Houston |
| Cameron Cooper | OL | Lindenwood |
| Justin Mayers | OL | Colorado |
| Gabe Clark | OL | Central Missouri |
Can any of these players earn a contract with the team? That remains to be seen, but the door is open for Evans to have a chance to resume his playing career.
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