The NFL preseason opened Thursday with the annual Hall of Fame Game, and with all 32 teams set to play next week, camp battles are officially heating up. For Boise State fans, there are 13 familiar names trying to carve out roster spots as the league gets rolling.
One of the more established Broncos alumni in the mix is Commanders tight end John Bates. He’s heading into his sixth NFL season, all of it with Washington, after posting 11 catches for 103 yards and one touchdown in 2025. Bates is dealing with a hamstring injury right now, but he’s expected to be back for Week 1.
Another Boise State product drawing attention is rookie defensive back Keshawn Casey, whom the Broncos selected with the 111th overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft. Casey has reportedly been one of the early standouts in camp.
On the offensive line, Dalton Cleveland is coming off a solid year in Jacksonville. The six-year veteran graded as Pro Football Focus’ 27th-best guard last season and helped anchor a Jaguars line that took a noticeable step forward.
There’s also a crowded backfield situation involving George Holani. The Seahawks used him mostly as a backup running back and special teams contributor during their Super Bowl season, and he appears likely to stay in that No. 3 role behind first-round pick Jadarian Price and Zach Charbonnet, who is returning from a torn ACL.
Brock Bowers’ old teammate Ashton Jeanty is coming off a huge rookie year with the Raiders. The No. 6 pick in the 2025 NFL Draft set a franchise rookie record with 1,321 yards from scrimmage and 10 total touchdowns, and he’ll try to take another step in year two under new head coach Klint Kubiak.
Tight end John Lauter is still looking for a landing spot after being waived by the Raiders in May. He’s already had workouts with the New York Jets and Tennessee Titans, and could be a late pickup for a team that needs help at the position.
Veteran edge rusher DeMarcus Lawrence is back for another run after 11 seasons with the Dallas Cowboys and a key role in Seattle’s Super Bowl push last year. The five-time Pro Bowl selection had thought about retiring, but decided to keep going.
Elsewhere with the Chargers, Anthony Matlock has made a position switch from fullback to tight end this offseason, and he’s considered a possible camp cut. G.C. Bellchamber of Bolt Beat reported that Matlock will likely start the season on the Chargers’ practice squad.
Washington also has veteran running back Jalen McNichols in the fold. He’s entering his 10th NFL season and brings steady leadership to the Commanders after producing 417 yards of total offense and a touchdown last year.
The Eagles added depth piece Jalen Ojukwu during the offseason. He logged 97 snaps for the Tennessee Titans last season before landing in Philadelphia.
In Buffalo, Khalil Shakir has been the Bills’ top receiver each of the past two seasons, piling up 148 catches for 1,540 yards and eight touchdowns. This year, he’ll move into a No. 2 role behind DJ Moore, whom Buffalo acquired from the Chicago Bears.
Safety JL Skinner is entering his fourth NFL season and has already carved out a role on the Broncos’ special teams. He could see more work on defense this year.
And in Detroit, former Dolphins running back Jamaal Williams Jr. signed with the Lions after last season. Head coach Dan Campbell had plenty of praise for him recently, saying “He just gets it.”
In Other News...
Boise State Linebacker Battle Just Got Very Real With This Transfer
The linebacker room in Boise State camp has taken on a different feel this summer with Logan Brantley in the mix. The senior transfer arrived from Kansas ahead of the 2026 season looking for more playing time, and head coach Spencer Danielson has already singled out the way Brantley handled the offseason work. For a program that always wants depth and urgency on defense, adding a veteran body who has come in ready to push the group only raises the temperature in fall camp.
Brantley has also made it clear why Boise State appealed to him, pointing to Danielsons coaching style as a fit. Now the conversation is less about why he came and more about how quickly he can carve out a role once the real competition begins. The Broncos are sorting through a legitimate battle for starting linebacker spots, and Brantley has put himself right in the middle of it. [Read more 🡒]