The Broncos are heading to Mercedes-Benz Stadium on Friday for their preseason opener against the Falcons, and the first game will offer a real look at how a long training camp is translating onto the field.
After nearly three weeks of camp, Denver has a clearer picture of its roster battles. But preseason games are where those evaluations get sharper, and a handful of players will have plenty riding on this one.
One of the biggest names to watch is Robinson, who has been giving the Broncos’ tackles trouble all camp with his quick first step. The next step is obvious: show that the same run defense and pass rush can hold up when the lights come on.
Barron also enters the game needing a response. He has been one of the more disappointing players in camp, and it now looks like he is no longer in the mix for the No. 2 boundary cornerback job with Riley Moss. Friday gives him a chance to show improvement or at least prove he can be effective in game action even if practice hasn’t gone his way.
Up front, Malcolm Roach appears to hold the lead for the John Franklin-Myers starting role, but Uwazurike is right there with him. He has been difficult to handle in practice, and if that carries over to Atlanta, he could close the gap in the battle to start opposite Zach Allen.
Linebacker is another spot worth watching closely. Sean Payton has talked about needing someone to claim that third linebacker job, and Reid could be the answer. The undrafted rookie surprised people by making the roster last season, and now the question is whether he can make a real jump and plant himself in that role.
Denver’s safety depth has also been shaky during camp, with multiple big passing plays allowed to the offense. The Broncos let P.J.
Locke walk with the idea that Key could step in as the third safety, and this matchup will be an important measuring stick for him. The team’s workout with veteran safety Taylor Rapp on Wednesday only adds to the significance of that spot.
Palczewski is another player with something to prove. He went from backup right tackle to starting at left guard and earned a two-year extension, but his camp has been uneven at both left guard and right tackle. For a player viewed as useful depth, the preseason now has to become the place where he starts backing up that value.
At running back, Coleman has drawn plenty of praise as a ball-carrier. He has looked like anything but a rookie in camp, but games are the real test, even for a back who has already impressed with his style of play.
Harvey is in a different kind of evaluation. The Broncos have liked his growth on passing downs as both a receiver and blocker, and his work in a game could go a long way toward locking him into the RB2 job with a third-down role attached.
Bryant has been the standout of camp, stacking big plays and showing the kind of consistency teams want to see. But practice production only goes so far, and Friday will show whether that momentum carries into game action.
Then there’s Joly, who has generated some fan buzz but hasn’t had the smoothest camp. He has looked raw and struggled in practices, which matters in a tight end room that already looks thin. With the last two tight end spots still up for grabs, he has a chance to start separating himself if he can flash in preseason games.
For Denver, Friday night is less about the scoreboard and more about which players can turn camp momentum into something real.
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