Denver’s training camp took a different shape on Wednesday, and the shift told you plenty about where the Broncos are in the preseason process. With the first exhibition game set for Friday against the Atlanta Falcons, Day 11 was built as an opponent-prep session without pads, and it lasted only about 90 minutes.
That lighter setup came with one major quarterback update. After practice, Sean Payton said Bo Nix will not play Friday at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. The plan, according to Payton, is for most starters to get “around 15 snaps” against Atlanta, but Nix won’t be part of that opening preseason test.
“Expecting our starters to play around 15 plays,” Payton said after Wednesday’s practice. “Bo won’t play. He’ll play next week.”
So the Broncos will wait until Game 2 to give their young franchise quarterback his preseason debut. Nix is also slated to play in Game 3.
With Nix out, Jarrett Stidham is lined up to take the first half, while Sam Ehlinger gets the second. Payton has tried to soften his earlier offseason “we see a competition” comments about the No. 2 quarterback job, but the battle is still very much alive.
Stidham has long been viewed as the backup and is paid like one, yet Ehlinger has put together a strong camp. The preseason games now loom as the biggest factor in deciding whether Denver sticks with the familiar option or makes a change behind Nix.
The other encouraging note from Wednesday involved J.K. Dobbins.
The running back was back on the field for a second straight day after getting dinged up in Monday’s session. Denver needs him available if the rebuilt rushing attack is going to hit its ceiling, which is why he’s not expected to see action in Atlanta.
There was also a long list of players working off to the side, according to The Denver Post’s Parker Gabriel: Jaylen Waddle, Marvin Mims Jr., Luke Wattenberg, Alex Forsyth, Alex Palczewski, Jordan Turner, and Dasan McCullough. Palczewski’s appearance on the side field stands out because he had practiced in full on Day 10.
Adkins got hurt last Friday, came back after missing a couple of days, and may have aggravated the issue again. Turner, meanwhile, had just been activated off the Non-Football Injury list on Day 9, so any lost reps are a setback for his roster case.
Three players weren’t seen at practice at all: Caleb Lohner, Michael Bandy, and center Michael Deiter. After practice, Payton said Deiter suffered a serious quad injury on Tuesday that will end his season.
That injury leaves Denver in a rough spot at center. With all three of the Broncos’ top centers hurt, Calvin Throckmorton has been taking first-team reps even though he’s listed as the No. 2 left guard on the first unofficial depth chart.
The Broncos also worked out veteran safety Rapp on Wednesday, another move that raises eyebrows around a position group still trying to sort itself out. Beyond Talanoa Hufanga, Brandon Jones, and Devon Key, Denver has been looking for strong competition at safety.
If the Broncos carry four safeties, there’s only one real opening. Key looks like a virtual lock because of his special teams value - he was first-team All-Pro last year - and he’s also getting the first chance to fill P.J.
Locke’s old role as the No. 3 safety. Bringing in Rapp would suggest the Broncos aren’t satisfied with the depth they’ve seen so far, though there’s still time for someone in the room to change that before the preseason ends.
As for Wednesday’s winners and losers, Dobbins lands in the positive column simply for stacking two straight practices. Key does too after returning from a soft-tissue injury that kept him out for a stretch. Deiter goes on the downside list because his season is already over, and he becomes the second camp injury to reach that point.
Palczewski and Adkins also make the losers list for not practicing in full. It’ll be worth watching whether they travel to Atlanta, since Payton said the Broncos intend to leave injured players behind.
Skinner, Anderson, Scott, and Robertson end up in the conversation as well because of the Rapp workout. That’s not a perfect way to judge individuals, but it does send a clear message: if Denver adds a safety, the team probably isn’t thrilled with what it has seen from the depth options.
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