The Broncos flew home from their preseason win at Indianapolis about halfway through training camp. Two-plus weeks down, just about two to go when they return to practice this week.
The Broncos are home now until the regular-season opener at Seattle, but there are still several important mile-markers on the preseason journey ahead. Most notable among them: Friday’s joint practice and Sunday’s preseason game against Green Bay and then the preseason finale Aug. 25 against Arizona.
Head coach Sean Payton likes to point to running back Jaleel McLaughlin’s performance in the second week of the preseason last year as the moment he made the 53-man roster. Those opportunities are still ahead for several players on this roster.
Among the most interesting positions for Payton and company, of course, is quarterback. Most teams only keep two, though Payton earlier in camp left the door open to the idea of three on the 53-man roster. In the last week or so, Zach Wilson has turned that notion from theoretically possible to interesting.
His status is the most notable change but just one of several in this latest projection compared to the same exercise at the start of training camp.
OFFENSE (25)
Quarterback (3)
Lock: Bo Nix
In the mix: Jarrett Stidham and Zach Wilson
Key camp development: Nix’s performance Sunday at Indianapolis drew positive reviews, but Stidham and Wilson played well, too. Even though head coach Sean Payton cut Wilson out of reps with the No. 1 offense early in training camp and he’s had more volatility than the other two in practices, he also looks more like a project worth investing in. Stidham might be the steadier backup option to Nix, but Wilson’s intriguing. And even if one or the other gets through to the practice squad, another team could come in and try to sign him if a need arises. So if you end up with three on the roster at some point, maybe just start the season that way. Let’s see how it goes with the rest of the roster operating this way.
The call: Keep all three.
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Running back (4)
Near-locks: Javonte Williams, Audric Estime and Jaleel McLaughlin
In the mix: Samaje Perine, Blake Watson and Michael Burton (FB)
Key camp development: Williams didn’t just show up to camp in good shape. He’s shown signs of being a more explosive player through the first weeks and did the same in the preseason opener in limited work. Estime’s been what Denver hoped so far — though he can’t put the ball on the ground like he did in Indianapolis. It’s tempting to go with just the three plus Watson (and ideally Burton) on the practice squad. But for now, the veteran fullback makes it.
The call: Burton.
Wide receiver (6)
Locks: Courtland Sutton, Marvin Mims Jr., Josh Reynolds, Devaughn Vele
In the mix: Troy Franklin, Tim Patrick, Brandon Johnson, Lil’Jordan Humphrey, David Sills IV and several others
Key camp development: Vele has emerged quickly while Franklin’s start has been much slower. If their draft positions were reversed, Franklin might be at risk. But Denver traded up for him and Payton has said multiple times they graded him a second-round player. That guy makes the team. Tim Patrick played with the No. 1s in Indianapolis, which also feels like a notable development.
The call: Franklin and Patrick
Tight end (4)
Locks: Adam Trautman, Greg Dulcich, Lucas Krull
In the mix: Nate Adkins and Thomas Yassmin
Key camp development: Dulcich’s health so far is the most notable, but keep this in mind: Adkins has been a really good blocker this summer. And he’s got the versatility to play some fullback role. Payton complimented his blocking in space on special teams. If the Broncos need to create a spot, he could play some TE and be essentially the team’s fullback.
The call: Adkins
Offensive line (8)
Locks: Garett Bolles, Ben Powers, Quinn Meinerz, Mike McGlinchey, Luke Wattenberg and Alex Forsyth
In the mix: Tackles Matt Peart, Alex Palczewski, Demontrey Jacobs and Frank Crum and interior linemen Nick Gargiulo, Calvin Throckmorton and Sam Mustipher
Key camp development: Quinn Bailey’s season-ending leg injury hurts this group. Gargiulo, the rookie seventh-rounder, has been hurt most of camp. Wattenberg and Forsyth both have three-spot flexibility inside and Palczewski played some guard Sunday in addition to right tackle. That might be enough flexibility to start with eight. Seven teams took that few to start 2023.
The call: Peart and Palczewski
DEFENSE (25)
Defensive line (5)
Locks: Zach Allen, D.J. Jones, John Franklin-Myers, Malcolm Roach
In the mix: Angelo Blackson, Matt Henningsen, Elijah Garcia, Jordan Jackson, Eyioma Uwazurike
Key camp development: The top four in this group might make it the most improved unit on the team. Given the versatility of those four plus the way Denver will play some two-down nickel, the question is whether Denver needs to keep six guys. Lean toward no unless they like Jordan Jackson’s quality camp or Matt Henningsen’s interior development enough that they just feel they can’t risk waivers.
The call: Blackson
Outside linebacker (6)
Locks: Baron Browning, Jonathon Cooper, Nik Bonitto and Jonah Elliss
In the mix: Thomas Incoom, Dondrea Tillman, Durell Nchami, Jaylon Allen
Key camp development: Bonitto’s been limited for multiple weeks with a back issue. All of the other guys have flashed. This is a good battle for one, maybe two spots. The Broncos felt they had to keep Incoom on the roster for a redshirt year rather than expose him to waivers, and he’s continued to play well this camp.
The call: Incoom and Nchami
Inside linebacker (4)
Lock: Alex Singleton
In the mix: Jonas Griffith, Cody Barton, Justin Strnad, Levelle Bailey, Andre Smith
Key camp development: Barton and Griffith have been in a good battle for a starting spot. Strnad is a good special teams player but has been limited by a groin issue recently. Is he a lock because of his core special teams role? If enough young guys show promise there, it could be close. Bailey, an undrafted rookie, has had a nice camp so far and looks like a player worth developing.
The call: Barton, Griffith and Bailey
Cornerback (6)
Locks: Pat Surtain II, Ja’Quan McMillian, Riley Moss, Kris Abrams-Draine
In the mix: Levi Wallace, Damarri Mathis, Art Green, Tremon Smith
Key camp development: Abrams-Draine has played well as a rookie and Wallace has been down the past week-plus with a hamstring injury. Smith’s route to the roster is on special teams, though Denver does have other returner options.
The call: Wallace and Mathis
Safety (4)
Locks: Brandon Jones, P.J. Locke
In the mix: JL Skinner, Devon Key, Keidron Smith, Tanner McCalister, Omar Brown
Key camp development: Jones has missed most of camp with a hamstring injury and the Broncos waived Caden Sterns. Key started with Locke in the preseason game. Payton is insistent he’s comfortable with the depth at safety. If the season started today, that would get tested in a real way.
The call: Skinner and Key
SPECIAL TEAMS (3)
Locks: Wil Lutz (PK) and Mitchell Fraboni (LS)
In the mix: Riley Dixon (P) and Trenton Gill (P)
Key camp development: The battle between Dixon and Gill has been a pretty good one. Dixon got the first reps in Sunday’s preseason opener.
The call: Dixon
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