Buffalo Bills coach Sean McDermott expects to play his starters a “healthy amount,” in Saturday’s preseason game against the Broncos.
“And that will be most starters,” he said. “Not all starters.”
In response, the Broncos don’t care about the Bills’ plan.
“It’s about our team,” coach Nathaniel Hackett said. “Our team and our team only.”
Hackett is unlikely to play any starters against the Bills, giving his second-teamers a chance to play against Josh Allen and Co.
Here are five backup players to watch:
Matt Henningsen, DL
In 33 snaps of work last week against Dallas, Henningsen, a rookie sixth-round defensive lineman, had one tackle and one quarterback knockdown. Playing nose tackle for the first time, he has proven to be a quick study and he figures to get major work again at Buffalo.
“He just has to take advantage of some of his opportunities,” Hackett said. “We’ve been giving him a hard time for that because he had some great opportunities in the (Dallas) game to get a couple of sacks. He’s a really smart player and he’s put himself in the right positions. Now, he’s just going to have to be able to finish (those plays) and take it to that next level.”
Calvin Anderson, OT
The right tackle spot became intriguing this week with the activation of Billy Turner from the physically unable to perform list and veteran Cam Fleming getting more practice snaps. Anderson, the first-team right tackle from the start of the offseason program, played 14 snaps last week. A sign the Broncos’ coaches wanted to see more from him and/or weren’t happy with his practice work? Both could be true, but maybe Hackett’s long-ago prediction of a right tackle competition may be coming true.
Michael Ojemudia, CB
Ojemudia has worked with the first team since Aug. 9 because of Ronald Darby’s chest injury. Darby practiced during Wednesday’s jog-through, but isn’t expected to play against Buffalo. The pressure should be on Ojemudia, who had a pass break-up, a penalty and was evaluated (and cleared) for a concussion in 15 snaps of work against Dallas. Ojemudia must play with more consistency or he leaves the door open for rookie Damarri Mathis to seize the No. 3 outside cornerback position behind Pat Surtain II and Darby.
Dellarin Turner-Yell, S
The Broncos waived 2021 sixth-round safety Jamar Johnson on Tuesday, a vote of confidence in Turner-Yell, who was a fifth-round safety in this year’s draft. The top four spots should be locked in with starters Justin Simmons and Kareem Jackson, backup safety/dime back Caden Sterns and backup safety/special teams core player P.J. Locke. The Broncos could keep a fifth safety and the competition is between Turner-Yell and veteran J.R. Reed. Turner-Yell’s special teams play will be important in stating his case.
Alex Singleton, ILB
The Broncos are searching for a base-down inside linebacker to start alongside Josey Jewell in the season opener if Jonas Griffith (elbow) isn’t ready. Veteran Joe Schobert was signed Monday and he has 80 career regular season starts. Third-year player Justin Strnad started games last year. And Singleton, signed in free agency from Philadelphia, saw first-team work this week in practice. Singleton will make the team because of his special teams ability but the next two games could help him create a temporary role defensively.
