The Denver Broncos will host the Green Bay Packers this morning for joint training camp practices, and while both teams will get a competitive look at each other before Sunday’s preseason game, Friday’s practice will allow Denver’s offense and defense to line up against a different scheme.
Denver Broncos gearing up for joint practice against the Green Bay Packers this morning
All throughout training camp, the Denver Broncos offense and defense have competed and pushed against each other as they gear up for the regular season. Sometimes seeing the same looks by the offense for the defense can get tiresome and vice versa, but Friday’s practice against the Packers will be a great test.
The Packers offense features an arsenal of talented players like Jordan Love, AJ Dillon, Josh Jacobs, Romeo Doubs, Christian Watson, Dontayvion Wicks, Luke Musgrave — the list goes on and on. With Packers head coach Matt LaFleur announcing last week that his starters won’t play in the second preseason game, Friday’s practice will be a great test for Denver’s defense against that unit.
“We don’t play Green Bay in the fall, so it’s a nice time to test out your scheme and also test your players,” Broncos defensive coordinator Vance Joseph said. “This offense has a great quarterback obviously, and about four [or] five good young receivers with the speed, height and quickness. Good tight ends, two good runners and it’s a really good scheme. So for us it’s going to be a nice challenge to kind of test where we are. It’s tough in this league to kind of go through camp and not know what others are doing. Your measurement is sometimes false. So having those guys come in on Friday and again Sunday, it’s going to be a good test for our defense especially.”
On the flip side, Bo Nix, who will start Sunday’s game against Green Bay and the first-team offense, will line up this morning against the Packers tough front seven that includes Preston Smith, Kenny Clark, Rashan Gary, T.J. Slaton, Isaiah McDuffy, Quay Walker, and Eric Wilson. The combination of size and athleticism from those players project Green Bay to have a top-ranked defense this season, and the backend of the secondary that features Jaire Alexander, Eric Stokes, Xavier McKinney, and Javon Bullard to be right there when they speed up opposing quarterbacks clocks in the pocket.
It will be a great test for Nix, who should get all of the first-team reps today. Will the evaluation in today’s practice be equal to Sunday’s game?
“Maybe not equal because we’re still not tackling,” Broncos offensive coordinator Joe Lombardi said. “So much of this game is guys making a play, whether it’s breaking a tackle. You don’t get to see that in practice. Quarterbacks are scrambling, and the defense always thinks they have a sack, and we always think that we escaped it. In a game, you know for sure. In joint practice, you don’t. Back to my earlier point, I do think it’s a different kind of evaluation because it’s different players and a different scheme you are facing. You see the guys in a different situation. It’s definitely helpful.”
Broncos players to watch for today
For fans planning on attending this morning’s practice, here are three players on offense and three players on defense worth watching in today’s scrimmage.
Bo Nix
Obviously, all eyes are on Nix as he gets the first-team reps against that tough Packers defense today. The Broncos rookie has done a great job of protecting the football in practice while balancing being aggressive and taking what the defense gives him from time to time. His mobility was on display in the preseason opener against the Colts, but Green Bay’s first-team defense features players who will test and account for Nix’s legs. Ultimately, the hope is that Nix can help move the ball when the offense lines up against the Packers defense while avoiding turnovers.
Courtland Sutton
Sutton is primed for a big year this season, and he’ll get the chance to face off against Jaire Alexander this morning. Having to go against Patrick Surtain II every day is something that should have him ready to go against one of the NFL’s other top corners. It will be interesting to see if Payton and LaFleur do a competitive one-on-one period with Broncos receivers against Green Bay DBs and vice versa.
Javonte Williams
Williams has looked great throughout training camp and has a bounce to him that we haven’t seen since 2021. This Packers defensive line will not only be a great test for the Broncos offensive line, but for Williams and Denver’s other tailbacks.
Riley Moss
Moss has garnered a lot of attention and recognition over the course of the last two weeks, which is deserved. He’s been a consistent producer during practice and has seen a lot of opportunities rotating with Damarri Mathis as the two battle for the CB2 job opposite of Surtain. This practice and the reps and tape that come with it will help the coaching staff determine who has the lead in the race.
Baron Browning
Browning has been a force off the edge all throughout training camp, not only beating offensive tackles to get to the quarterback but he’s been consistent in tracking the run from the backside. He’s bigger, faster, and stronger heading into this season and we’ll be watching him against Packers offensive tackle Zach Tom today.
Alex Singleton
Singleton has assumed a larger amount of responsibility as the green dot signal caller for the Broncos defense since the departure of Josey Jewell. He played with his hair on fire in Denver’s preseason win against the Colts on Sunday. As Denver gets ready to face the duo of Josh Jacobs, who has been a boogeyman in recent memory minus last year, and AJ Dillon, he and the Broncos defensive line will look to be stout against the run today.