With one preseason game left before the NFL’s roster cuts, the Broncos still have a few spots that can swing one way or the other. Some players are already safe.
Others are staring at a final chance to make their case. For Denver, that means the finale against the Vikings could matter a lot for a handful of bubble players.
Lil'Jordan Humphrey is one of the more interesting names in that mix. Sean Payton has never seemed to mind a big receiver who can do a little dirty work, and Humphrey fits that mold.
He may not be the kind of player who stacks catches, but he brings blocking value and a size advantage that can bother defensive backs. Denver could keep six wide receivers, and Humphrey could slide into that unofficial sixth spot if he does enough in the preseason finale.
That said, he’s not a lock by any stretch, and he wasn’t even on the Broncos’ initial roster in 2025. Still, outside of Courtland Sutton, there isn’t another receiver in the room with that kind of overwhelming size, and that may be exactly the kind of trait Payton likes to keep around.
JL Skinner is in a different kind of battle. The Broncos brought in veteran safety Taylor Rapp, which suggests the backup picture wasn’t exactly settled.
But Skinner has carved out real value on special teams, and that matters when roster spots get tight. The Broncos’ safety group now looks like Talanoa Hufanga, Brandon Jones, Devon Key, and Rapp, with one more place likely coming down to Skinner, Tycen Anderson, and Miles Scott.
If Skinner keeps making his presence felt on special teams against the Vikings and chips in with a play or two on defense, there’s a clear path for him to land that fifth safety job.
Then there’s Sam Ehlinger, who suddenly has a real opening to force the issue at quarterback. Payton didn’t shut the door on the QB2 competition after the preseason loss to Green Bay, and Jarrett Stidham’s latest outing has made the discussion even more interesting.
Ehlinger brings athleticism and creativity that line up more closely with what Bo Nix does, while Stidham doesn’t offer the same off-schedule ability. If Stidham struggles again and Ehlinger turns in a clean, efficient performance, the Broncos may have their answer.
At this point, Stidham and Ehlinger are basically on even footing, both in preseason games and in practice, so the finale could be the tiebreaker.
In Other News...
Broncos Still Have One Troubling Position Question Before Week 1
With training camp in the books and the preseason finale against the Vikings up next, the Broncos are moving into the part of August where the roster starts to sort itself out. There are still a few spots worth watching, though, and the list is the kind that can shape how a team feels about its depth heading into Week 1. Offensive line injuries have thinned that group, the defensive line has not been steady enough, the tight end room remains light, and even the return game is still unsettled.
One of the more uneasy notes has been the play of cornerback Barron, whose struggles have been hard to ignore. When a player at that spot is having a rough camp, it naturally raises questions about whether the Broncos might need to adjust his role or even look at other options. With one preseason game left, Denver still has some decisions to make before the opening week picture comes fully into focus. [Read more 🡒]
Broncos Need More Than Camp Hype From Que Robinson
Que Robinson has become one of the more interesting names in Broncos camp, and not just because he flashed in January. After earning some attention with his AFC Championship game performance, the rookie linebacker has carried that momentum into training camp, where coaches and teammates have repeatedly pointed to his technique and long-term potential. For a Denver defense trying to keep adding young pieces, he fits the profile of a player worth watching closely.
Robinson, though, knows camp praise only goes so far. The next step is turning that upside into steady production, and he has been candid about needing to sharpen his run defense and bring more consistency snap to snap. Denver sees him as one of the more promising players in its 2025 draft class, but the Broncos need more than encouraging practice tape if he is going to become part of the rotation when the games start to count. [Read more 🡒]
Broncos Safety Move Just Put Pressure On One Roster Battle
The Broncos decision to bring in Taylor Rapp last week gave Sean Payton another veteran option in the safety room, but it also added a little more heat to an already competitive roster picture. Payton said the move was about Rapps availability and talent more than filling an urgent need, which is a reminder that Denver is still sorting through how much experience it wants behind its starters.
Rapp arrives with 74 career starts and only a short runway to show he belongs before the Broncos set their 53-player roster. For the players already fighting for depth spots, that means the next week matters a lot more than it did a few days ago, because every snap now comes with one more name in the mix. [Read more 🡒]