Sean Payton has never seemed like a coach who’s married to the status quo, and Week 7 could give the Broncos another chance to prove that. With Arizona on deck, Denver has several spots where a lineup shake-up makes plenty of sense - and in a few cases, the changes feel overdue.
The running back rotation is one of the biggest pressure points. Rookie Jonah Coleman is working his way back from injured reserve, and the Broncos have already seen enough in a limited look to think he can handle a featured role.
RJ Harvey has also flashed in his limited chances this season. That makes the current state of JK Dobbins look even more troubling.
Over the last two games, Dobbins has logged 40 total touches but only 120 total yards, and even allowing for some offensive-line blame, he hasn’t provided the same kind of production he did a year ago.
There’s also a case to be made for a change at cornerback, where Jahdae Barron could stay in the lineup opposite Pat Surtain II instead of Riley Moss. Moss has missed time this year in both the preseason and regular season because of the rib injury he suffered when he landed on a fumble in the preseason.
He returned in the Seahawks game, but Denver still leaned mostly on Barron and Kris Abrams-Draine, with Moss limited to specific packages. Barron has looked every bit like a first-round pick, and his confidence has grown since stepping in against the 49ers when Moss and Surtain were out.
His work against Jaxon Smith-Njigba stood out, too, with Barron in position even on some completions. Moss is also in the final year of his contract, while Barron is in the second year of his rookie deal and Abrams-Draine has two years left, which only adds to the argument.
On defense, one move already feels locked in: Jonathon Cooper is back. He has been removed from the Commissioner’s Exempt List and will be available against the Cardinals, with the Broncos also carrying a roster exemption for him until Monday after the game.
His return comes at a good time, too, because Jonah Elliss was spotted at the CU-Utah game in a boot and on crutches and is expected to miss some time. Cooper will rejoin a pass-rush group that includes Nik Bonitto, Que Robinson and Dondrea Tillman, and he should be eager to make a statement right away.
Up front, the Broncos have two offensive-line swaps they should strongly consider. At left guard, Alex Palczewski is the cleaner answer over Ben Powers.
Powers has struggled badly this season, missing blocks and failing to consistently find his work. Palczewski started 10 games last year for Denver in place of the injured Powers, and he has 13 starts over the last two seasons combined at left guard and right tackle.
He wasn’t dominant, but he was steady, and he’s under contract next year while Powers is not.
The other move is at center, where Alex Forsyth should get a look over Luke Wattenberg. Wattenberg, despite signing a big-money deal from the team less than a year ago, has been a problem in too many ways.
The snaps have been inconsistent, and the issues go beyond the obvious stuff like getting pushed back on a QB sneak. Forsyth has started six games over the last two seasons as an injury replacement, and when he’s been on the field, the running game has improved.
He’s less athletic than Wattenberg, but he brings more physicality.
In Other News...
Broncos' 4-2 Start Hides A Problem Fans Can't Ignore
A 4-2 start against a demanding schedule has the Broncos positioned well in the standings, but the record has come with a familiar catch for anyone watching closely. The defense has done the heavy lifting in enough games to keep Denver afloat, while the offense has often struggled to generate the kind of consistent production that makes a winning run feel stable.
The concern is not just aesthetic, either. Analysts around the team have pointed out that the current formula is hard to sustain over a full season, especially when so much depends on the defense holding up its end every week. Denver has earned the wins it has, but the next stretch will say a lot about whether the offense can do enough to support the start the Broncos have built. [Read more 🡒]
Former Broncos Pro Bowler Found A New Purpose Fans Will Respect
Julian Thomas carved out a memorable NFL career with the Broncos as a tight end and two-time Pro Bowl selection, but his post-football path has taken him somewhere even more meaningful. Since retiring in 2018, Thomas has shifted into the mental side of athletics, becoming a clinical psychologist and performance coach with a focus on helping athletes handle the pressures that come with competition and life beyond it.
Thomas also turned that interest into something bigger than a private practice, building a brand around athlete well-being through Optimal Performance. The work fits a modern need in sports, where mental health and performance are increasingly linked, and it gives Broncos fans a different reason to appreciate a player who is still making an impact long after his playing days ended. [Read more 🡒]
Broncos Fans Just Got A Familiar Brandon McManus Reminder
A familiar name is back in the kicking carousel, and it carries a little extra meaning for Broncos fans. The Rams have turned to veteran Brandon McManus to steady a position that has been giving them trouble, bringing in a player whose resume stretches across 12 NFL seasons and includes a long run in Denver.
Los Angeles needed another answer after cycling through Harrison Mevis and Blake Grupe, a reminder of how quickly kickers can become a weekly concern in the NFL. McManus is expected to give the Rams some stability this season, while Denver followers are left with the kind of recognition that comes with seeing an old reliable leg pop up in a new uniform. [Read more 🡒]