The Broncos came into 2026 with the kind of offensive line profile that usually makes coaches breathe easier. Instead, six games in, Sean Payton is still waiting for that group to look anything like the unit that drew so much preseason praise.
Denver was the unanimous No. 1 pick in Sharp Football Analysis’ preseason offensive-line rankings, but that lofty label has not shown up on a consistent basis. The Broncos are 4-2, yet the offense has looked shaky in back-to-back wins, scraping together only 224 total yards in a 23-17 victory over the Los Angeles Chargers and then mustering just 168 in Thursday’s 17-14 overtime win against Seattle.
The problems have shown up in the places you’d expect. Denver has had trouble opening running lanes, and the protection around Bo Nix has not been steady enough. For a line that was supposed to be a strength, that’s a clear step back.
The investment only sharpens the concern. The Denver Gazette reported the Broncos put approximately $65.4 million into the offensive line this season, with Garett Bolles, Mike McGlinchey and Quinn Meinerz among the established starters anchoring the group.
There have been moments that sum up the struggles. On one early play, McGlinchey failed to hold his block on a screen pass, and the result was a five-yard loss. Later, a missed interior block helped blow up another possession when Denver needed to answer a Chargers touchdown.
Payton put the focus squarely on the line’s role in the offense on Monday.
"The improved play from our offensive line, the more efficient we are relative to balance, running the football. That's our jobs as coaches here," Payton said Monday, according to Reuters.
For now, Denver has leaned on its defense to keep the season on track. But if the Broncos want the offense to move beyond survival mode, the offensive line has to start matching the reputation it brought into the year.
That next test comes Sunday on the road against the Arizona Cardinals.
In Other News...
Broncos Defense Gets A Timely Boost Before Arizona Test
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Jonathon Cooper is also back in the mix after being reinstated from the Commissioner Exempt list, giving the pass rush another option for the first time this season. On the other side of the roster, rookie running back Jonah Coleman remains on the path back and is eligible to return from injury within the next 21 days, adding another piece to watch as Denver keeps managing its roster through the season. [Read more 🡒]
Bo Nix Debate Gets More Complicated For A Broncos Team Still Winning
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For Klatt, the answer is still no. He suggested the Broncos best path is not a quick switch, but a better version of Nix himself, which is what makes this stretch so tricky for a team that is trying to balance patience with urgency. If the offense keeps sputtering, the question only gets harder, but for now the argument around Denvers quarterback spot remains as much about the long view as the next snap. [Read more 🡒]
Broncos Backfield Suddenly Has Pressure On One Struggling Problem
The Broncos backfield picture got a little clearer this week, and a little more crowded. Rookie running back Jonah Coleman has been designated to return from short-term injured reserve after missing time with an ankle injury suffered after Week 2, and he has been practicing fully as Denver works through a rushing attack that has lagged behind expectations. The team now has a 21-day window to get him back onto the 53-man roster, giving Sean Payton another option to consider as the offense searches for more consistency on the ground.
Colemans return would matter because Denver has been looking for any lift it can get from the running game, and Payton has already sounded optimistic about what the rookie can add. The timing is especially notable with the Cardinals up next, since the Broncos may soon have to decide whether to ease Coleman back in or put him right back into the mix after the layoff. [Read more 🡒]