The Broncos are down to one preseason game, but there’s still plenty to sort out before the real thing starts. Friday night against the Minnesota Vikings should give Denver one last look at a roster full of open questions - some immediate, some more about the road ahead.
The biggest concern has been the offensive line depth. Denver has been juggling injuries to its top two centers, and its third center is already out for the season.
That has pushed Calvin Throckmorton into emergency duty, and he has answered the call better than anyone probably expected. Even so, the rest of the backup line has not held up well at guard or tackle, which keeps the pressure on that unit.
There are similar worries on the defensive line once you get past the top five. Rookie Tyler Onyedim has flashed in spots - he played well against the Green Bay Packers - but then looked rough against the Atlanta Falcons, which only reinforces the inconsistency concern.
Sai’vion Jones hasn’t helped settle things. Against run-heavy looks, he has looked like a liability, and he hasn’t made much of an imprint as a pass rusher either, even while facing third- and fourth-string offensive lines.
Tight end remains another sore spot. Evan Engram still hasn’t shown much as a blocker and hasn’t popped in games or padded practices.
Adam Trautman is still... well, Adam Trautman. Caleb Lohner has been hurt and hasn’t practiced all summer.
Justin Joly and Dallen Bentley are rookies, and they look like rookies. Nate Adkins was fine against the Packers before missing the Falcons game with an injury.
Lucas Krull, meanwhile, has been a category-five disaster on offense and special teams.
Denver managed to survive a weak tight end room last season, even if the run game took a hit. Right now, the Broncos appear set on rolling with what they have, which makes this a real concern.
There’s at least a chance they’ll find a cutdown casualty elsewhere around the league this weekend and try to add help. Matching last year’s level of production would be tough enough.
This group could be even worse.
The return game is another area where Denver is still searching for answers behind Marvin Mims Jr and beyond Michael Bandy. The Broncos had trouble finding a steady partner for Mims on kick returns last year, cycling through three or four players, and camp and preseason have featured more of the same. Rookie running back Jonah Coleman has been part of that mix.
In the games, Sean Fresch Jr., Cameron Ross and Kolbe Katsis have all gotten turns as returners with Mims injured. All three have had some success, though none has been electric.
Ross has also looked fine on offense, Fresch has been steady on defense, and Katsis may have been the best of the group as a returner. That raises an interesting roster question: could Denver keep one of them strictly for special teams?
Then there’s Jahdae Barron, whose preseason has been rough outside of three plays against the Falcons. His showing against the Packers was the kind of outing that should make people pay attention, not just because he struggled, but because he seemed to lose some energy and confidence after giving up a touchdown.
Barron’s play has not been especially encouraging as Denver continues to talk him up as a future boundary corner. With that in mind, the Broncos may need to think differently about his path.
One option would be moving him into the slot and letting Ja’Quan McMillian walk. Another would be shifting Barron to safety as a possible answer for Brandon Jones in 2027.
Denver drafted Barron to be a boundary corner, but his future may wind up somewhere else.
Takeaways are worth watching too. Last season, the Broncos barely avoided setting a franchise low in a season, and it took 17 games to do it. This summer, they’ve made it a point to chase more turnovers in practice, especially by having defensive linemen get their hands up to tip passes.
So far, that emphasis has shown up. Against the Falcons, one interception came after a tipped pass by a defensive lineman, and another came when a linebacker got a hand on a ball in coverage.
Against the Packers, the Broncos also showed more urgency in trying to rip the ball loose after completions or runs. Patrick Surtain II came close to forcing a fumble, but the play was overturned because the receiver was ruled down just before the ball came free.
The strip sack still hasn’t arrived, but the early signs are there. If that momentum carries into the regular season, it could help Denver’s turnover differential and make an already strong defense even tougher.
There’s also one smaller roster detail worth watching: the Broncos’ international player exemption. Right now, punter Jeremy Crawshaw holds that designation, which allows Denver to carry 91 players on the offseason roster.
Once he makes the 53-man roster, though, that exemption goes away. During the regular season, it can only be used on a practice squad player, and it allows 17 players there instead of 16.
Last year, Denver used former Utah tight end Thomas Yassmin in that role after having Crawshaw as its offseason exemption. Yassmin is now with the Packers and made some good plays against the Broncos last week. Denver will probably add someone to fill that regular-season exemption, but the question is who.
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Broncos Need More Than Camp Hype From Que Robinson
Que Robinson has become one of the more interesting names in Broncos camp, and not just because he flashed in January. After earning some attention with his AFC Championship game performance, the rookie linebacker has carried that momentum into training camp, where coaches and teammates have repeatedly pointed to his technique and long-term potential. For a Denver defense trying to keep adding young pieces, he fits the profile of a player worth watching closely.
Robinson, though, knows camp praise only goes so far. The next step is turning that upside into steady production, and he has been candid about needing to sharpen his run defense and bring more consistency snap to snap. Denver sees him as one of the more promising players in its 2025 draft class, but the Broncos need more than encouraging practice tape if he is going to become part of the rotation when the games start to count. [Read more 🡒]
Broncos Safety Move Just Put Pressure On One Roster Battle
The Broncos decision to bring in Taylor Rapp last week gave Sean Payton another veteran option in the safety room, but it also added a little more heat to an already competitive roster picture. Payton said the move was about Rapps availability and talent more than filling an urgent need, which is a reminder that Denver is still sorting through how much experience it wants behind its starters.
Rapp arrives with 74 career starts and only a short runway to show he belongs before the Broncos set their 53-player roster. For the players already fighting for depth spots, that means the next week matters a lot more than it did a few days ago, because every snap now comes with one more name in the mix. [Read more 🡒]
Broncos Just Sent A Clear Message About One Camp Battle
The Broncos made a small but telling roster move before their preseason finale, signing outside linebacker Ron Stone Jr. and waiving wide receiver Hakeem Butler. For a team still sorting through the back end of the roster, those kinds of late-August decisions can say plenty about where the staff thinks it needs help and which position groups are closing in on answers.
Stone arrives as an undrafted player with United Football League experience, but no NFL game action yet, while Butlers departure came after he struggled to stand out in preseason and slipped behind other receivers on the depth chart. Even with final roster decisions still ahead, Denver has made it clear where this camp battle stands, and the last chance to change the conversation is running out. [Read more 🡒]