The Broncos take the field for the first time under head coach Sean Payton on Friday night at Arizona.
It’s just an exhibition, of course, but with a new regime in place, dozens of new players on the roster and several positions featuring wide-open races, there’s plenty of interesting story lines to keep an eye on in the blistering desert heat.
Here are five of them.
How do Russell Wilson and the starters look?
Payton expects starters to play somewhere between 15-18 snaps, so maybe a couple of series for quarterback Russell Wilson and company. In recent days, they’ve looked sharp in practice. Preseason games can get tilted quickly depending on how both sides approach playing time. Touchdowns are great – Wilson and the top offense would gladly take a couple – but maybe more interesting will be if the group operates efficiently in and out of the huddle and looks crisp.
“You want to get in there, and you want to see clean execution and timing,” Payton said. “Most importantly for the quarterback is that you’re moving the ball and giving yourself a chance to score. I think that will be important for everyone, not just him.”
Will the unit without right tackle Mike McGlinchey and perhaps a couple of others look like they’re in an actual game environment for the first time in several months?
Preseason games are ripe for overreaction, but this is at least a chance for a solid first impression.
A budding RB race
Maybe the most compelling position battle the Broncos have going is at running back. Javonte Williams and Samaje Perine are the top pair. After that, is one spot or two up for grabs? Tony Jones, Jr. has played for Payton in the past, but second-year man Tyler Badie and undrafted free agent Jaleel McLaughlin provide the type of big-play threat the Broncos offense needs more of.
“Jaleel seems to break a big run at least once a day,” offensive coordinator Joe Lombardi said Tuesday. “He’s got really good vision and sets up his blocks really well. Same way with Tyler. I’ve been encouraged with both of them in the passing game. They both run pretty good routes and catch the ball well. Hopefully, we can keep developing that. They are two really smart players that work really hard and have been good in the run game and good in the pass game.”
Who makes the first gameday move toward a roster spot?
What’s up at tight end?
Another interesting battle for roster spots pits fourth-year tight end Albert Okwuegbunam and undrafted rookie Nate Adkins.
Payton complimented Okwuegbunam’s skillset earlier in camp, but he’s had a quiet couple of weeks. Adkins is a physical presence and isn’t afraid to hit. Numbers start to get tight between running backs and tight ends – Adam Trautman, Chris Manhertz and Greg Dulcich are near locks – along with fullback Michael Burton.
Burton, for what it’s worth, spoke highly of Adkins this week.
“He’s doing great. He really is,” Burton said. “As a rookie, as a young guy, his technique is great, he’s tough, he moves well, he’s coachable, he does all the right things. Takes care of himself off the field, too. I’ve been very impressed with him. As an older guy, you really like to see these young guy spiking it up now. Yeah, he’s had a great camp.”
Could he swipe a roster spot from Albert O? Or provide a practice squad option that allows Payton and general manager George Paton to go light at tight end and keep an extra running back?
What does the edge depth look like?
Defensive coordinator Vance Joseph called the Broncos’ 1-6 at outside linebacker one of the deepest groups he’s ever coached. That’s without Baron Browning, who remains on the physically unable to perform list after offseason knee surgery.
Veterans Randy Gregory and Frank Clark figure to be Denver’s top pair, though they’ve been limited during training camp and have rotated in with the second group plenty over the past week. Joseph praised the play of Jonathon Cooper this week and Nik Bonitto has flashed. A couple of undrafted free agents – Thomas Incoom and Marcus Haynes – have looked good so far and have big opportunities to make plays in the three preseason games.
All of that is well and good for practice, but as Payton said recently, outside linebacker is a “production position.” This group has to produce for the Broncos to engineer a turnaround in 2023.
Is an undrafted OL making a charge?
Since McGlinchey sprained his knee earlier this week, one of the players getting a long look in his right tackle spot is undrafted rookie Demontrey Jacobs. The former South Florida lineman is a mountain – he’s listed at 6-foot-6 and 315 pounds – and started 25 games there.
He could get a ton of work Friday night and as long as McGlinchey is out.
“Trey’s a rookie, but he’s got a lot of talent,” Lombardi said.
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