The Denver Broncos decimated the Arizona Cardinals in Week 2 of the NFL preseason, winning 27-7 at home, and outgaining Arizona in yards by a whopping 562-to-135 margin. Pro Football Focus (PFF) released its preseason Week 2 player grades, highlighting the Broncos’ best and worst individual performances.
Offense
Best Players
- TE Evan Engram: 93.9
- OL Calvin Throckmorton: 90.3
- WR Michael Bandy: 86.1
- WR Pat Bryant II: 82.0
- QB Jarrett Stidham: 79.8
Worst Players
- OL Clay Webb: 41.7
- OL Will Sherman: 44.4
- OL Nick Gargiulo: 45.8
- TE Lucas Krull: 45.9
- TE Caleb Lohner: 46.2
The Broncos haven’t had a true game-changing tight end since the days of Julius Thomas. That may be changing with Engram, who showcased his big-play ability by turning a short pass into a 58-yard catch and run.
Rookie wideout Bryant turned heads again in Week 2 of the preseason, leading Denver with 70 receiving yards on four catches. With steady hands and a knack for keeping drives alive, he’s proving himself as a rising playmaker and is making a strong push for more snaps.
Unfortunately, offensive line depth proved to be a concern in Week 2, as Webb, Sherman, and Gargiulo – who unfortunately suffered a leg injury that saw him carted off the field on Saturday – all posted low grades by PFF. Each struggled to hold up in pass and run blocking, and their combined miscues led to pressure and breakdowns when Denver’s second and third units were on the field.
Defense
Best Players
- OLB Andrew Farmer: 93.0
- ILB Jordan Turner: 91.3
- ILB JB Brown: 85.2
- OLB Garrett Nelson: 83.6
- CB Quinton Newsome: 81.8
Worst Players
- DL Jordan Miller: 34.2
- OLB Garrett Wallow: 40.1
- S Sam Franklin: 43.7
- CB Damarri Mathis: 49.3
- S Devon Key: 51.8
PFF named Levelle Bailey (69.8) their player of the game for surrendering just nine yards in coverage through 20 snaps and four targets. The publication also spotlighted the efforts of Karene Reid (79.2), Farmer, and Turner, all of whom were undrafted free agents.
On the other hand, Mathis continued what has been a disappointing preseason. PFF docked him heavily for his coverage work (47.0), which dragged down his overall score. With roster cuts looming, Mathis’s struggles in both consistency and confidence in coverage make it increasingly difficult to envision him securing a spot on the final 53-man roster.
Special Teams
- ST Keidron Smith: 72.0
- LS Mitchell Fraboni: 64.3
- R Courtney Jackson: 62.7 (PR) 62.0 (KR)
- P Jeremy Crawshaw: 60.2
- K Wil Lutz: 65.0 (FG) 60.0 (KO)
Undrafted rookie Jackson may not crack Denver’s crowded wide receiver room, but his contributions on special teams have been noticeable.
Crawshaw has struggled in live-game action so far, though he’s earned praise from former Super Bowl champion punter Thomas Morstead.
The Broncos will face the New Orleans Saints in their preseason finale on Saturday; the last chance for some on-the-bubble players before next week’s final roster cuts.