After opening the preseason with a blowout of the Atlanta Falcons, the Denver Broncos are set for a different test in Week 2 when they host the Green Bay Packers. The starters are expected to take the field, and that includes quarterback Bo Nix.
That means this is likely to be a short night for the first group, but the snaps still matter. Denver could also get preseason debuts from wide receiver Jaylen Waddle and running back J.K. Dobbins, giving this offense a chance to show a little more of what it can be.
The most interesting spot to watch may be the backfield. Dobbins, who left practice last week with what Sean Payton called a “soft tissue” issue, is healthy now. If Jonah Coleman and RJ Harvey are also ready to go, Denver could have its running back room at full strength for the matchup with Green Bay.
That matters because this is the position group that has drawn plenty of attention all offseason. Last year, the Broncos’ ground game looked exceptional when Dobbins was healthy, then fell apart after his season-ending foot injury. Harvey wasn’t ready to be pushed into a true RB1 role, and the drop-off showed.
Coleman’s arrival gave Denver another needed piece. In the preseason, he ran for 24 yards on four carries and flashed burst, vision between the tackles, and contact balance. Payton has even compared Coleman to Dobbins in terms of running style, and his first NFL outing backed that up.
Right now, Dobbins and Coleman look like the two backs most likely to lead the room, with Harvey handling more of the receiving work and maybe some cleanup carries on the ground. Getting all three involved every week would be a challenge, but it’s the kind of problem teams want.
If this run game becomes a real strength, it could change the shape of Denver’s season. The source material makes that point plainly: an efficient ground attack might have carried the Broncos to the Super Bowl last year even without Nix.
For a backfield that has been completely reshaped by the front office, this feels like the moment fans have been waiting to see it all come together. The Broncos may not unleash the full package against the Packers, but there’s a real chance this revamped group starts showing its teeth.
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Vance Joseph has talked about Barron in terms of versatility, with the rookie working at multiple spots in the back end rather than locking into one lane. Sean Payton has also pushed back on any notion of shifting him to safety, which keeps the focus on how the Broncos sort out their corners now and later, especially with future contract decisions looming for Moss and McMillian. Chris Harris Jr. has weighed in on Barrons development, but the bigger question remains whether Denver can turn all that flexibility into a clear starting job soon. [Read more 🡒]