The Broncos are 2-1 heading into October, and with the way their schedule looked when it first came out, that’s a pretty strong place to be. Denver has already rallied to win its last two games, but not every part of the roster has held up its end of the bargain.
That leaves the Broncos with a clear October assignment: get some underperforming pieces moving in the right direction, starting with a Week 4 matchup against the 49ers.
One of the most concerning names early on has been Alex Singleton. Denver chose to pass on every other route to improving the inside linebacker spot in order to keep him, and so far he has not rewarded that decision.
Singleton leads the team in missed tackles, has been a problem in coverage, and has not made the kind of impact plays this defense needs. He’s known as the voice getting everyone lined up, but that hasn’t translated into much production.
Through three games, he has no tackles for loss, hasn’t been affecting the quarterback as a blitzer, and has also picked up multiple major in-game penalties that have cost him a lot of money and put him close to a possible suspension if the same issues keep piling up.
Jonah Elliss is another player the Broncos need far more from. With Jonathon Cooper out, Denver hoped Elliss and Que Robinson would be ready to step into bigger roles on the edge.
That hasn’t happened with Elliss, the 2024 third-round pick. He has seven total tackles, one QB hit, no sacks, and no tackles for loss through three games.
His outing against the Rams was especially rough, with Rams tight ends giving him fits on Sunday night. The Broncos even considered moving him inside at one point this offseason, but decided against it because they believed he was too valuable off the edge.
Now they need him to prove that was the right call, or hope Cooper can get back from the Commissioner's Exempt List quickly.
JK Dobbins has also fallen short of expectations. Denver brought him back on a two-year, $16 million deal and passed on the chance to pursue other veteran backs such as Kenneth Walker and Travis Etienne.
Dobbins has appeared in all three games, though he left the Jaguars game early because of cramping, and he has said he intends to play all 17 games. But the burst that made him such a difference-maker in 2025 has not shown up yet.
He’s averaging 3.5 yards per carry, has no broken tackles, and ranks 26th in the NFL with 67 yards after contact. At this rate, the Broncos may end up leaning on rookie Jonah Coleman before the year is over.
Ben Powers has been another disappointment, and his play has raised fresh questions about Denver’s offensive line. The Broncos have spent the past two years hearing from national observers that they have one of the league’s best fronts, but plenty of fans have watched those claims with skepticism.
Powers, the left guard, is part of the reason why. Denver asked him to take a pay cut this season, and his performance so far helps explain why.
Pro Football Focus has him at 48.1 in run blocking and 48.0 in pass blocking, marks that rank 63rd and 57th among 73 qualifying guards.
Jahdae Barron rounds out the list, though there is at least a little reason for optimism after his final game in September. He saw his most extensive action and played his best game then, so the Broncos may already be seeing a turnaround.
Still, his first two games were rough. Barron logged just six defensive snaps total across those outings, which sparked talk that Denver might have chosen differently if it could redo the 20th overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft.
For a first-round pick at a non-quarterback position to barely be on the field in his second season is a major warning sign. The Broncos passed on other areas of need to draft him, and even with the cornerback room crowded, they need to find a way to get him on the field.
Against the Rams, they finally did, and he answered with some good plays. The long-term picture, though, still looks uneasy.
In Other News...
Broncos Could Get A Dangerous Weapon Back Just In Time
Marvin Mims Jr. was back on the practice field in full Wednesday, a welcome sign for a Broncos offense that has been waiting to get one of its more explosive pieces back in the mix. The second-year wide receiver missed the last two games because of a foot injury, and his return to full participation suggests Denver may be getting close to restoring a dangerous vertical threat just in time for a matchup with the 49ers.
The Broncos will still have to wait for the rest of the week before anything is official, but Mims availability is suddenly a storyline worth watching. If he can keep trending in the right direction, Denver could have a timely boost in a game where every bit of speed and spacing matters. [Read more 🡒]
Broncos Get Early Injury Relief Before A Huge 49ers Test
The Broncos got a little encouraging injury news early in the week as they began preparing for a tough test against the 49ers. Wide receiver Jaylen Waddle was back on the practice field after previously being seen in a walking boot, and Marvin Mims Jr. also logged a full session after being limited and then inactive for a game. Running back J.K. Dobbins was another welcome sight, practicing in full despite the hip issue that had been hanging over him.
There were still a few spots to monitor, though. Edge rusher Dondrea Tillman sat out with a hamstring issue, even if he was around the team, and defensive lineman Zach Allen was limited as the Broncos managed his workload for rest. With San Francisco looming, Denvers early-week health picture is trending in the right direction, but the availability of a few key pieces will still matter as the week unfolds. [Read more 🡒]
Broncos Defense Is Flipping A Costly Trend From Last Season
Through three games in the Sean Payton era, the Broncos have found something that was hard to come by at times last season: takeaways. Denvers defense has already forced four interceptions, the most in the league so far, and has produced at least one turnover in every game, giving the unit a steadier edge than it showed a year ago.
The payoff has shown up in the numbers, too, with opposing quarterbacks managing only a 74.3 passer rating against Denver. For a team that spent much of last season chasing consistency on defense, the early return is encouraging, even if the real test will be whether this turnover streak can hold once the schedule starts to sharpen. [Read more 🡒]