The Broncos went into the preseason opener with their starting linebacker group already settled after re-signing Alex Singleton and Justin Strnad, but the real sorting job is still underway behind them. Denver is trying to fill the No. 3 and No. 4 linebacker spots on the 53-man roster, and Friday’s 27-7 win over the Atlanta Falcons offered the first real snapshot of how that battle is taking shape.
Injuries have already complicated things. Turner opened camp on the Non-Football Injury list and only came off it last week, but he still sat out the game, which leaves him short on chances to make his case for one of those roster spots. He finished last season strongly with his special teams work and flashes on defense, so there is still time for him to show something in the final two preseason games.
The bigger blow came in Atlanta, where Levelle Bailey suffered a broken leg and is expected to miss an extended stretch. Bailey had been on the fringe of the roster picture, but he was pushing hard for either a spot on the 53 or a place on the practice squad. Now he is looking at injured reserve and may have to wait until next year to get back into the fight.
That leaves Karene Reid, Red Murdock, and Taurean York in the thick of it, with Turner still technically in the mix once he gets on the field. But Reid, Murdock, and York have had the benefit of being available throughout camp, and after what Reid and Murdock showed against Atlanta, Turner may have a tough climb to catch up. The practice squad remains a possibility for him.
Reid looks like the clearest answer for the third linebacker job right now. His coverage work continues to stand out, and that matters because he is one of the few linebackers on the roster besides Strnad whose coverage is more of a strength than a weakness. Reid also brings value on special teams, and that has helped him before - as an undrafted rookie, he made the team out of camp last year as the fourth linebacker.
Murdock made his own statement in a big way. He logged 47 snaps against the Falcons and flashed everywhere: against the run, on special teams, and in coverage. All four of the passes thrown his way were completed, but he was in position to make the play each time and came close to forcing a pair of fumbles, which is a part of his game that stands out.
He did not actually come away with those takeaways, but getting that close matters, especially for a defense that had trouble creating turnovers last season.
York still has a shot, and his football IQ gives him a path, but the physical profile is a problem. He is under 220 pounds and just under 5-foot-11, which puts him on the small side for a modern linebacker in a league that keeps asking more of height and length. That size issue showed up against the Falcons, where he had trouble consistently shedding blocks, even when the blockers were running backs, receivers, and tight ends.
One preseason game is hardly the final word, and there is still room for movement. Even so, the Broncos appear close to identifying their third and fourth linebackers, with Reid and Murdock now looking like the leaders in the clubhouse. Turner and York are still alive in the competition, but both seem to be chasing from behind.
In Other News...
Broncos Preseason Opener May Have Settled Three Real Roster Fights
The Broncos preseason opener against Atlanta did more than offer an early look at the roster, it seemed to clarify a few of the most practical decisions looming on the back end of camp. Denver walked away with some movement in the quarterback room, where the backup spot behind the starter had been one of the cleaner competition points, and there was also a noticeable boost for a player trying to win a niche but valuable role on offense.
On the other side of the ledger, the tight end group still looks crowded enough that every snap matters, especially with roster limits forcing tough calls. Health and a few late developments could still shift the picture, but the opener left one players path looking less secure while giving the Broncos a clearer sense of which depth pieces are starting to separate themselves. [Read more 🡒]
Jarrett Stidham Just Reignited The Broncos Backup QB Debate
Jarrett Stidham gave the Broncos a useful reminder in the preseason win over the Falcons, and he did it in the kind of controlled showing Sean Payton likes from a quarterback. He went 9 of 15 for 131 yards and a touchdown, and Payton came away talking about Stidhams resiliency, the way he handled the game, and how quickly he operated. For a Denver team trying to settle its depth chart, it was the sort of outing that keeps a backup quarterback conversation alive a little longer.
Stidham also carried a little more context into the night, still dealing with the disappointment of that AFC Championship game and the way it ended for him. Even so, he said the focus remains on working hard and moving forward, which is the only way a quarterback in his spot can really approach this stretch. The performance helped his case, but it also made the competition behind the starter feel more interesting than it did a week ago. [Read more 🡒]
Broncos Defense Already Looks Like This Teams Biggest Strength
The Broncos first preseason look offered a familiar reminder of where this team may be strongest. Denvers defense wasted little time setting the tone against Atlanta, forcing turnovers and turning one of them into a 97-yard interception return for a touchdown by Jahdae Barron. Even in a limited sample, the starters 15-play run showed the kind of early disruption and energy the Broncos want to carry into the fall.
Zach Allen pointed to the groups positive attitude, while Sean Payton has stressed pressure and connection across all phases as the standard for the roster. That showed up in the way Denver limited Atlanta early and kept the offense from settling in, which is exactly the sort of foundation the Broncos need if the defense is going to be the unit that drives the team forward. The bigger question now is whether that fast start was just a preseason snapshot or the beginning of something more dependable. [Read more 🡒]