The Denver Broncos are headed toward their first preseason game against the Atlanta Falcons with a few important question marks hanging over training camp.
Sean Payton was in attendance at Drew Brees’ Hall of Fame enshrinement ceremony, where his former quarterback delivered a heartfelt tribute. Brees said, “You were brilliant; I always wanted to make you right,” and added, “I know you trusted me, and that allowed us both to be great.”
The two spent 15 years together in New Orleans and won a Super Bowl during that run, building one of the NFL’s most productive coach-quarterback pairings of the era. Mike said he’s hoping Broncos quarterback Bo Nix and Payton can eventually reach that kind of success, though he acknowledged how difficult that would be.
Back in Denver, the bigger storyline has been the injury pileup. Running back J.K.
Dobbins grabbed attention after leaving practice with a soft tissue injury, though he did return. Still, Randy pointed out that it’s not ideal for Dobbins to already be dealing with an injury scare before the Broncos even kick off preseason action.
That situation could open the door for rookie running back Jonah Coleman, Denver’s fourth-round pick, to see more work and possibly push his way onto the 53-man roster. Coleman has reportedly been one of the camp standouts and has been giving RJ Harvey a serious challenge. Harvey, now entering his second year, was viewed as the clear favorite for RB2, but that competition has tightened.
The Broncos have also been without wide receiver Jaylen Waddle after a muscle strain in his leg. The good news is that he’s not expected to miss more than a week.
Marvin Mims Jr. also dealt with a setback, leaving Friday’s practice early, though he was back on the side field in pads this week. Mike said Mims was in the middle of the best training camp of his career and appeared to be locking down the WR3 job.
With injuries thinning things out, Denver has brought in a few players to help cover the gaps. Mike, though, doesn’t expect any of those additions to stick on the 53-man roster.
In Other News...
Broncos Just Sparked A Real Troy Franklin Debate In Camp
Training camp brought the first public snapshot of how Denver sees its receiver room heading into 2026, and it already has some bite to it. The Broncos initial unofficial depth chart slots Jaylen Waddle and Courtland Sutton as the starting wideouts, with Marvin Mims Jr. next in line, a setup that underscores just how much the offseason trade for Waddle has changed the conversation around the position.
The part that stands out for Denver is where Troy Franklin landed. After finishing as the teams second-leading receiver in 2025, Franklin is listed behind Mims and others, a reminder that early camp charts are more evaluation than verdict. Still, when a player who produced as much as Franklin did opens behind the expected pecking order, it naturally turns into one of the more interesting competitions on the roster. [Read more 🡒]
Broncos Preseason Opener Suddenly Carries More Pressure Than Expected
Day 11 of Broncos training camp brought a little more clarity to Sean Paytons preseason plan, even if it left some important questions hanging. Russell Wilson will sit out the upcoming opener, while most of the starters are expected to get around 15 snaps, giving Denver its first real look at how the top of the roster wants to look before the games start counting.
The quarterback battle behind Wilson is still open, with Jarrett Stidham slated to handle the first half and Sam Ehlinger to take the second in the preseason game. Denver also got some encouraging practice participation from players coming off injuries, including J.K. Dobbins and Brandon Key, but the day was not without a setback after center Michael Deiter went down with a season-ending quad injury. [Read more 🡒]
Broncos Just Sent A Telling Message About Their Safety Depth
With the preseason opener approaching, the Broncos brought in free-agent safety Taylor Rapp for a workout as part of their ongoing look at the back end of the roster. Denver already has Talanoa Hufanga and Brandon Jones penciled in as the starting safeties, so a veteran visit at this stage suggests the staff is still taking a hard look at how the depth behind them fits together.
The workout also puts a little extra spotlight on the names competing for backup roles, with the Broncos still sorting through options as camp moves into game week. Whether Rapp is more than a one-day stop remains to be seen, but the visit itself is a useful reminder that Denver does not appear ready to simply hand out those reserve safety jobs without another round of evaluation. [Read more 🡒]