Most of the Broncos’ starters got multiple series of playing time in each of the team’s first two preseason games. Then they got heavy workloads Wednesday and Thursday against the Los Angeles Rams.
That made for a light night Saturday against the Rams.
Virtually none of Denver’s starters dressed for the team’s preseason finale and lone home preseason game.
Among players who could end up starting or could be considered near the top line of the depth chart, only fullback Michael Burton and rookie wide receiver Marvin Mims, Jr. were in uniform.
In all, 32 players on the 90-man roster didn’t dress and most of them are expected to be key contributors.
That list, of course, included quarterback Russell Wilson, his entire starting offensive line, running backs Javonte Williams and Samaje Perine, and most of the rest of Denver’s offensive weaponry.
Defensively, none of the top line played and all of Denver’s top four edge rushers — Randy Gregory, Frank Clark, Nik Bonitto and Jonathon Cooper — were spectators.
That left 57 players in uniform for the game. Outside linebacker Baron Browning remains on the physically unable to perform list as he rehabs from offseason knee surgery.
QBs get a chance. With Wilson out, Jarrett Stidham and Ben DiNucci were the only two Broncos quarterbacks up for the preseason finale.
During the mid-week practices with the Rams, repetitions skewed heavily — particularly on Wednesday — toward the starters and certainly toward the top two units. That put DiNucci in line for plenty of work Saturday in front of the Empower Field crowd.
Whether DiNucci makes the 53-man roster remains to be seen. Denver likely needs as many spots as it can get for special teams players and extra position players with the injury situation it’s currently navigating, but it’d be a surprise, assuming DiNucci were to clear waivers, if he weren’t back on the Broncos’ practice squad.
Wilson’s work. Regardless of playing time, Wilson was out on the field more than two and a half hours before kickoff Saturday, working through his normal pre-game throwing routine. Wilson usually is among the only people on the field that early, along with a couple of staffers who snap the ball to him and catch his passes as he moves up and down the field going through his early work.
Broncos game captains. With most of the starters out, Denver’s game captains Saturday night were Burton, Stidham, kicker Brett Maher, defensive lineman Matt Henningsen and safety Delarrin Turner-Yell.
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