The Denver Broncos will kick off their NFL preseason opener this morning against the Indianapolis Colts at 11:00 a.m. While the expectation is that most players will play during the preseason, there are a handful of players who won’t.
Denver Broncos list of inactive players vs. Indianapolis Colts
While Broncos Country will get their first look at Bo Nix in a live NFL game, there will be several players they won’t see as the team kicks off their first preseason game here this morning.
Broncos inactives
- Cornerback Patrick Surtain II
- Safety Brandon Jones
- Cornerback Levi Wallace
- Defensive lineman Eyioma Uwazurike
- Defensive end Zach Allen
- Inside linebacker Justin Strnad
- Outside linebacker Nik Bonitto
- Offensive lineman Nick Gargiulo
Patrick Surtain II is arguably the one player the Denver Broncos don’t need to play in the preseason, considering his status as their star player. On top of that, Surtain is gearing up for a big season with a massive contract extension on the horizon. With Surtain getting the day off, it allows the Broncos to get a closer look at their ongoing position battle between Damarri Mathis and Riley Moss for the team’s CB2 spot.
Wallace would factor into the CB2 battle, but he’s been unable to practice after suffering a hamstring injury last week, and his timeline is considered week-to-week. This means more snaps and reps for Moss, Mathis, and younger players like Kris Abrams-Draine and Art Green.
Jones is still working his way back from a hamstring injury he suffered during the first week of training camp. There is some growing optimism that he will return to practice in some form next week on the heels of joint practices with the Green Bay Packers. During his absence, the Broncos have seen more from younger players like Devon Key and JL Skinner, two players who will receive plenty of reps against the Colts today.
Uwazurike was recently reinstated by the NFL, but head coach Sean Payton wants to be smart with how they work him back in, considering he hasn’t had much time on the field as he ramps things up.
“I think it’s a tick early,” Payton said. “I think our plan is to have him work out, travel. We can do some conditioning prior to the game. Then next week at this time, look at him getting a 15 to… A certain amount of plays. I think for someone who’s been out for a year, I just would regret it if we hurried him back and then he had a pulled muscle or something. So I think it’s a tick early.”
Allen had several days where he didn’t dress for practice, but he was never given any type of injury designation.