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All-Pro CB Pat Surtain II, RB Javonte Williams among short list of Broncos not playing in preseason opener

GLENDALE, Ariz. – Gone are the days, officially, of Denver sitting swaths of players for the preseason.

The Broncos dress list Friday night here reflected that new reality under coach Sean Payton.

In fact, the only players out of 90 on the roster who did not dress for the team’s preseason opener against Arizona were those dealing with issues that kept them out or limited in practice. That list: cornerbacks Riley Moss (core muscle) and Art Green, safety Justin Simmons (groin), right tackle Mike McGlinchey (knee), tight end Chris Manhertz, wide receiver Brandon Johnson (ankle) and outside linebackers Frank Clark and Aaron Patrick.

Not everybody that dressed played, however. All-Pro cornerback Pat Surtain II and nickel K’Waun Williams, who had missed practice time this week, did not play with the starting defense.

Running back Javonte Williams went through warmups with the other running backs, but didn’t have a brace on his knee and only watched from the sideline. Samaje Perine got the start at running back.

Payton said last week he may hold Williams out until the second preseason game as he works back from a torn ACL and other knee damage sustained in Week 4 last year, but he also told CBS Sports earlier this week he may consider giving the third-year back out of North Carolina some work in the opener.

Prince at RT. With McGlinchey out for a couple of weeks due to the knee sprain, the Broncos started Isaiah Prince in his place at right tackle. Prince, 26, was signed by Denver late in the 2022 season. Most recently, he played 15 games (four starts) for Cincinnati in 2021.

The Broncos rotated linemen heavily in the early part of training camp, so the configurations in pregame warmups were interesting. Second-year man Luke Wattenberg took snaps as the No. 2 center, while another player with center experience, Kyle Fuller, was the No. 2 left guard.

Whoopsie. Payton talked this week about how the preseason hardly matters for some players and how Friday night would be the biggest game of others’ lives so far.

Rookie running back Jaleel McLaughlin, prolific in college at FCS Youngstown State, would fit into the latter category. Unfortunately he came out for warmups sporting a jersey that had his name spelled wrong: McGlaughlin.

Preseason international broadcast partner. The Broncos on Friday announced they’ve partnered with Fox Sports Mexico to broadcast home preseason games this year and into the future.

Viewers in Mexico will be able to watch Denver’s Aug. 26 preseason home game on Fox Sports Mexico or on the Fox Sports MX app.

Mexico is the Broncos’ international home market partner, meaning Denver is likely to play a home game in the country at some point in the future. Mexico City is not hosting any NFL games this year because of renovation work currently being done on Estadio Azteca.

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