The Broncos are moving into the part of camp where the competition gets real, and that has put Troy Franklin in an uncomfortable spot.
Denver opens its first full week of training camp on Monday, and with the team pushing toward the 2026 season and a Super Bowl goal, the wide receiver room has already become one of the most intriguing parts of the roster. Jaylen Waddle’s arrival has given the group major talent and depth, but it has also sharpened the fight for snaps.
Right now, Marvin Mims Jr. and Pat Bryant are the two receivers making the loudest early statement.
Head coach Sean Payton has made it clear what he wants from Mims, saying, “I’ve said this before about [WR Marvin] Mims [Jr.]. You’ve kind of seen it every time. I always feel like (they need) more touches.”
That message has been backed up by what’s showing up on the practice field. Mims has been active, explosive, and consistently finding ways to get open.
Marvin Mims keeps getting open and keeps making plays.
- Aric DiLalla (@AricDiLalla) August 1, 2026
Bryant has been just as eye-catching. On August 1, he hauled in a long touchdown from Bo Nix, one of the biggest plays of the practice.
Bo Nix with another highlight early in 11-on-11. Rolling right, off-kilter, in-stride bomb to Pat Bryant for a TD.
Nix turned around and barked in excitement at players/coaches watching on sideline
- Luca Evans (@bylucaevans) August 1, 2026
Payton had already been talking up Bryant back in June, and his comments explained why the rookie has been getting attention:
“He’s a quick study. He gets it real fast.
I think one of his great skill sets is his run after the catch because his feet stay on the ground when he catches it. He has strong hands in traffic.
He’s having a good stretch here. He’s healthy.
Certainly in Year 2, he knows exactly what to do. There’s a confidence about him, a maturity.
You wouldn’t feel like he was a second-year player if you didn’t know it.”
That early surge from Mims and Bryant is what makes Franklin’s situation worth watching. There hasn’t been any negative buzz around him, but he also hasn’t made the same kind of splash. In a receiver group where two players are already forcing the issue, that matters.
Mims brings the obvious big-play threat and speed. Bryant offers a more complete profile, with size at 6-2 and 205 pounds, route-running polish, and dependable hands in traffic. Franklin, by comparison, hasn’t separated himself in the same way.
That doesn’t mean his spot is in danger right now. The Broncos could still roll into the season with Waddle, Courtland Sutton, Bryant, Mims, and Franklin. But nothing is locked in, and Franklin’s path gets a little tighter if the others keep stacking strong practices.
He did make a noticeable jump from 2024 to 2025, so another step forward would be the natural expectation. Still, as camp deepens and the pads come on, the pressure is there. The Broncos need a third receiver to emerge behind Waddle and Sutton, and so far Franklin is the one lagging behind in that unofficial WR3 race.
If all three end up earning snaps, that becomes a nice problem for Denver. For now, though, Franklin is the one feeling the heat.
In Other News...
Broncos Camp Injury Is One Thing But Drew Sanders Looms Larger
Training camp is already thinned out in the Broncos secondary after undrafted rookie cornerback Blake Cotton went down with a hamstring injury and was waived with an injury settlement. Denver quickly filled the roster spot by signing veteran cornerback Sam Webb, a reminder of how fast the bottom of the depth chart can change once injuries start piling up.
The larger concern, though, sits elsewhere on the practice field. Linebacker Drew Sanders has been out of recent practices, and the team still has not offered an official update on his status, leaving one of the more interesting defensive pieces in limbo as camp moves along. For a Broncos defense trying to sort through roles and stay healthy, Sanders absence is the detail worth watching most closely. [Read more 🡒]
Broncos WR3 Battle Is Suddenly Bigger Than Fans Realize
Behind Courtland Sutton and Jaylen Waddle, the Broncos No. 3 wide receiver spot has become one of the quieter but more important competitions on the roster. Troy Franklin, Pat Bryant and Marvin Mims Jr. are all in the mix, and the job is about more than just catching passes. It is shaping up as a role that could be decided by trust, usage and how each player fits into the offense on a week-to-week basis.
Bryant had been building real momentum before the season ended, helped by the way he handled the dirty work and earned more snaps as the year went on. The catch for Denver is that his availability is still part of the equation, and the Broncos have to weigh what he showed late against the health concerns that have followed him into this season. [Read more 🡒]
Broncos Suddenly Have An Offensive Line Concern They Can't Ignore
The Broncos got their first real taste of camp contact and, with it, an early reminder of how fragile offensive-line plans can be. Starting center Luke Wattenberg left the first padded training camp practice early after getting hurt, a setback that immediately put attention on a spot Denver has little interest in having become unsettled. Since taking over as the Broncos starting center in 2024, Wattenberg has been a key part of the front, which makes any interruption there worth monitoring.
Head coach Sean Payton said Wattenberg will be evaluated and is expected to be fine, which offers some immediate relief. Still, the timing matters for a group trying to build cohesion in camp, especially when the center is the player tying the line together. Denver does not need an early scare at a position that matters so much to the offense, and it will be watching closely to see how Wattenberg responds once the team gets back on the field. [Read more 🡒]