This could be a very important weekend for Riley Moss and Damarri Mathis.
The cornerbacks are locked in one of the most intriguing position battles of Broncos training camp, competing to start opposite one of the league’s best, Pat Surtain II. Moss, Mathis and the rest of the defense will face a stern test when the Green Bay Packers are here in Denver for a joint practice Friday and the second preseason game Sunday.
“We don’t play Green Bay in the fall, so it’s a nice time to test out your scheme and also test your players,” Broncos defensive coordinator Vance Joseph said. “This offense has a great quarterback, four or five great young receivers, good tight ends, two good runners. And it’s a really good scheme. For us, it’s going to be a nice challenge to kind of test where we are.”
Surtain did not play in the exhibition opener against the Indianapolis Colts, but Broncos coach Sean Payton said the two-time Pro Bowl corner will be available this weekend. Either way, there should be plenty of reps to test Moss and Mathis.
While Surtain is locked in on one side of the field and Ja’Quan McMillian at the nickel back, the competition between Moss and Mathis is tight. Moss had two tackles against the Colts, while Mathis had one and also was credited with a pass defended.
“I thought both guys played with composure,” Joseph said. “They covered their guy. They tackled well. We had no mental issues with those guys. It’s an ongoing battle. That being said, we need both guys anyway. I’m cheering for both guys. Our team needs them.”
Moss is in his second NFL season and was a third-round pick from Iowa in 2023. He appeared in 14 games in 2023, finishing with six tackles as a special teams contributor.
He was injured during his first training camp but did find a way to make an impact as a rookie.
“I’d say the one thing that he does exceptionally well is he phases with receivers well,” Payton said. “So it’s hard — you don’t see him out of position. He’s longer than you think and so the ball is contested if it’s caught. You’ve earned it.
“At Iowa, they played a lot of quarters and his eyes were inside a lot … but you saw his hips and you saw his movement skills. To see him now in some of the other defenses that maybe you didn’t have film on from college, I’d say his technique is good. He’s long and I’d say he has really good instincts.”
While Moss is looking for his first opportunity to start at this level, Mathis is seeking a second and some redemption. Mathis began his second pro season in 2023 as the starter opposite Surtain, but it did not go well. He was removed from the starting lineup after the first six games and played a total of 27 snaps the rest of the year.
“He’s been fine,” Joseph said. “Last year, he had a slow start, but he came back and played well for us. He’s confident. He’s engaged every single day. He’s a special athlete. His improvement has been fun to watch.”
Both should be tested often by the Packers. Quarterback Jordan Love was a breakout star in the second half of the 2023 season, his first after taking over for the departed Aaron Rodgers.
Green Bay’s offensive renaissance was also in part because Love was throwing to Jayden Reed, Romeo Doubs, Christian Watson and Dontayvion Hicks — a quartet of exciting wideouts with two years of NFL experience or less.
For now, Joseph wasn’t tipping his hand on the battle between Moss and Mathis.
“That’s weekly. That’s game planning,” Joseph said when asked if he wanted to find a clear starter between the two. “Right now it’s just training camp and getting better and chasing improvement every day. … We’re just coaching these guys to improve every single day.”
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Originally Published: August 15, 2024 at 2:45 p.m.
