Sean Payton didn’t wait long to make the call.
After Denver stumbled to a 2-2 start, the Broncos head coach took back play-calling duties from Davis Webb ahead of Week 5, shifting the responsibility back to the veteran coach after Webb had been promoted to offensive coordinator following Joe Lombardi’s firing.
Webb, who had drawn head coach and offensive coordinator interest this offseason, was given a real opportunity to steer the offense. Payton even trusted him with the headset, a role Payton has typically handled himself during his run as an NFL head coach. But with the Broncos offense lagging through four games, Payton moved to reclaim control.
Webb addressed the change with reporters and didn’t try to sugarcoat it.
"I think the world of him and how we’ve gone about it. Really the ownership to our players.
It’s not ideal, but in the same breath, it’s exciting because we’re 2-2 in the first four games. Our first four opponents were a combined 13-3 to start the season.
Welcome to the league," Webb said, via Parker Gabriel of The Denver Post.
He added that the situation is disappointing, but also part of the job - something he said he had lived through repeatedly during his time as a backup quarterback.
The move isn’t exactly a shock given how Denver’s offense has looked. The Broncos rank 27th in points per game at 18.5 and 29th in rushing yards, and the production hasn’t matched the optimism around the unit. They scored only 10 points against the Kansas City Chiefs in Week 1 and managed just 14 against the San Francisco 49ers in Week 4.
The early schedule was tough, and Webb may not have had enough time to build momentum. Still, Payton has long been comfortable running the offense himself, so Denver is leaning on the coach who’s done it before.
Now the Broncos head into a matchup with the winless Los Angeles Chargers, and the pressure is obvious. If the offense stalls again in Week 5, it’s fair to wonder what Payton would do next. A second handoff back to Webb seems unlikely, especially with LA struggling the way it has this season.
Even with the change, Webb’s stock around the league remains strong. He’s still viewed as a future head coach, and a path to another HC or OC opportunity could be there as soon as 2027 if he moves on from Denver.
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The situation has an extra layer because the post centered on the drug-test collection process, a subject the league treats seriously even when a player may not have meant any harm. Meinerz is appealing the fine, so this one is not necessarily finished yet, and it adds another small off-field distraction for a Broncos team that is trying to keep its focus on the field after its Week 3 win over the Rams. [Read more 🡒]
Broncos Defense Awaits A Big Week 5 Call On Ladd McConkey
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McConkey is dealing with multiple injuries, and the early read is that he is likely to miss the game, which would force the Chargers to reshuffle targets in a meaningful spot. If he is sidelined, Los Angeles will be asking other pass catchers to pick up the slack, and Denver will be watching to see whether the offense can maintain its rhythm without one of its steadier options. [Read more 🡒]
Broncos Can Exploit A Chargers Weakness That Could Swing This Game
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From Denvers side, the more intriguing opportunity may come when the Broncos have the ball and test where the Chargers are least settled defensively. Injuries have thinned that group enough to make linebacker Justin Phillips a potential coverage target, and that sort of matchup can tilt a game if Denver isolates it well. Whether the Broncos lean on RJ Harvey, Evan Engram or another option, this is the kind of wrinkle that could decide which sideline is left looking for answers late. [Read more 🡒]