The Broncos didn’t just beat the Falcons in their preseason opener - they showed enough depth to make the rest of this summer a real sorting exercise. Now the Packers come to Mile High on Friday night, and with another live look at the roster on deck, a few veterans are walking into Game 2 with plenty on the line.
At the top of that list is Jarrett Stidham. Sean Payton tried to soften his offseason talk about a No. 2 quarterback battle, but the first preseason game made it pretty clear Stidham had the cleaner showing behind Bo Nix.
Stidham led Denver on explosive scoring drives, while Sam Ehlinger looked more tentative in the pocket while running the third-team offense and handling the entire second half. Ehlinger still put together an efficient passing day, but Stidham created separation in the backup quarterback race.
That doesn’t mean the job is settled, especially with two preseason games left, but the pressure is squarely on Stidham to avoid giving ground. Nix will play against Green Bay, so the exact split of backup reps remains unclear.
Devaughn Vele’s departure from the depth chart picture last summer is a reminder that these August battles can turn fast, and Courtland Sutton’s role isn’t changing. What is changing is the fight behind him.
Troy Franklin has slid from Denver’s No. 2 receiver last season to fifth on the current pecking order, and it’s not just because of Jaylen Waddle’s arrival. Pat Bryant has made a major second-year jump, Marvin Mims Jr. looked more involved before his soft-tissue injury, and Franklin is also dealing with pressure from players who bring more than receiver traits.
That matters because the back half of an NFL receiver room has to help on special teams, and that’s not Franklin’s strength. Lil'Jordan Humphrey has a strong case as a four-core special teamer and perimeter blocker, while undrafted rookies Cameron Ross and Kolbe Katsis bring return ability and Joseph Manjack has stood out as a receiver who’ll do whatever it takes to make the team.
Denver usually keeps five receivers, and Franklin’s case for that fifth spot is not the strongest right now.
Jaleel McLaughlin is in a similar spot, even if the path is different. If the Broncos were planning to keep four pure running backs, he’d be safe.
But the roster is trending toward three backs plus fullback Adam Prentice, which makes the competition tighter. Tyler Badie is in the mix, and Cody Schrader looked like the Broncos’ best depth back after Jonah Coleman last week in Atlanta.
McLaughlin had a solid opener and even caught a short touchdown from Stidham, but he also put the ball on the ground in the second half. That’s notable because he’s been dependable with the football since joining Denver in 2023, with only one career fumble on 285 touches from scrimmage.
The coaches know he isn’t a ball-security problem, but roster decisions aren’t made on reputation alone. One thing working in his favor is that he’s unlikely to clear waivers, so if Denver cuts him, another team could claim him and make it hard for the Broncos to get him back on the practice squad.
There’s been real investment in him since he came in as a college free agent, but he still has to separate himself from the other backs in this race.
On the defensive side, Drew Sanders is fighting a different kind of battle. He missed most of the last two seasons because of injury and has now shifted to outside linebacker.
In the opener, he logged Denver’s only sack, even if it came against Atlanta’s third-string offense. Since then, though, he hasn’t practiced, sitting out Monday and Tuesday.
That could simply be load management given his injury history, or it could mean he’s dealing with something else. Either way, Sanders can’t afford to keep losing time.
He was a 2023 third-round pick, and with Denver’s depth at outside linebacker, he needs to flash in every preseason game to keep the waiver wire out of the picture.
The final veteran in the spotlight is P.J. Skinner.
Denver’s top three safeties are set with Talanoa Hufanga, Brandon Jones, and Devon Key, who was a first-team All-Pro special teams ace last season. That leaves one safety spot open, and Skinner has competition from Tycen Anderson and 2026 seventh-rounder Miles Scott.
Skinner, a 2023 sixth-round pick, hasn’t locked down a defensive role, but he has been useful in the third phase. He showed some good things in the preseason opener, though he also missed too many plays.
None of the depth safeties has really separated yet, which means Game 2 is another chance to create a gap. If Skinner doesn’t stand out against the Packers, Anderson could start pushing harder for that spot too.
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3 Broncos Suddenly Facing Serious Pressure As Final Cuts Near
With final roster cuts looming in the 2026 NFL preseason, the Broncos are getting a clearer picture of which bubble players can afford a strong finish and which ones are running out of runway. Jaleel McLaughlin, Drew Sanders and Tycen Anderson have all found themselves in a difficult spot as Denver sorts through the back end of the roster, with each player dealing with a different problem at a time when every snap matters.
McLaughlins issue has been ball security, Sanders has been held back by injuries and Anderson has not done enough to separate himself in a crowded safety group. That combination has put all three on the outside looking in as the Broncos move toward final decisions, and the next few practices will go a long way toward showing whether any of them can force their way back into the conversation. [Read more 🡒]
Bo Nix And Jaylen Waddle Just Gave Broncos Fans A Reason To Watch
A healthy-looking Jaylen Waddle back on the practice field was already a welcome sight at Broncos camp, but Bo Nix made the moment feel even bigger with a sharp deep strike during a recent workout. It was the kind of connection Denver has been trying to cultivate as camp progresses, one that hints at more pop in an offense that wants to stress defenses vertically instead of settling for routine completions.
Waddle had been limited after dealing with muscle tightness, so simply getting him back into team periods mattered. The Broncos have been looking for signs that their passing game can stretch the field and create explosive plays, and this rep gave coaches and observers another reason to think the pieces might be coming together at the right time. [Read more 🡒]