Football is officially back tonight as the Denver Broncos take the field for their first preseason game against the San Francisco 49ers. With kickoff set for 6:30 p.m. MT, who are the key players on the Broncos’ 90-man roster that fans need to pay attention to?
Denver Broncos players to watch vs. 49ers
With 90 players on the roster and a handful of exciting young players, picking just three players for fans to watch tonight would have been too tough a task, so we’re highlighting several names.
The preseason matters. Don’t let anybody tell you different. We already know who the starters will be for the Broncos on offense and defense, but the preseason is where you figure out what type of depth the team has, and ultimately, where you might identify somebody who could have an impact down the line.
RJ Harvey, Jahdae Barron, and Pat Bryant’s first look as Denver Broncos
All eyes will be on the Broncos first three picks in the 2025 NFL Draft. RJ Harvey will get his first in-game action tonight, and we’re hopeful that means getting some carries with Bo Nix and the starters, and eventually some extra looks with Jarrett Stidham.
Harvey’s had a good training camp, where it’s been clear as day that he and J.K. Dobbins are the top two guys for Sean Payton. We’ll get to see Harvey’s quick-cut explosiveness tonight, and a handful of reps where he’ll be asked to contribute in pass protection and hopefully catch some passes out of the backfield.
Bold prediction: Harvey has at least four carries for 20 or more yards tonight.
Jahdae Barron will likely play quite a few snaps tonight for the Broncos, though it’s unclear if he’ll be in Payton’s Phase 1 or Phase 2 rotation, or both. Barron has gotten most of his reps working inside the nickel and dime, and will likely see most of his snaps come there, though it wouldn’t come as a shock to see him get some reps on the outside.
Playing in the nickel, we want to see how Barron attacks his run fits as a force player, and how he reacts to the different splits of the 49ers’ offensive scheme and the route combinations that can formulate from them. We’ve seen Barron look effective as a blitzer in practice, and we’ll see if Vance Joseph dials up some looks for him.
Bold prediction: Barron gets one sack on a nickel blitz.
Pat Bryant is up next. He’s caught passes in practice from Bo Nix, Jarrett Stidham, and Sam Ehlinger, and there’s a strong chance we see him get reps with at least two QBs tonight. Bryant’s reliable hands and route running have been two key traits that have stood out from him, and he’s been consistent throughout camp.
Look for the Broncos to get him involved across the middle of the field.
Bold prediction: Bryant has two catches for 10+ yards tonight.
Broncos linebackers to keep an eye on
With Dre Greenlaw and Alex Singleton out of tonight’s game, we’ll see an extended look of Levelle Bailey and Justin Strnad as the two likely starters.
Bailey has had a strong training camp and has received a larger amount of reps while Singleton and Greenlaw have been out of practice, and he and Strnad both have a strong chance to solidify themselves as the key depth options for Payton at that position. Both players also excel at special teams, which amplifies their 53-man roster ambitions.
One linebacker Broncos fans should be paying attention to tonight is undrafted rookie Karene Reid. Reid has quietly had one of the most impressive camps among the crop of undrafted players. He’s instinctual and reads his keys quickly, allowing him to play fast. He’ll likely play a lot in the second half of tonight’s game, and could be receiving the playcalls from Joseph as the game goes on.
Undrafted wide receivers to watch for, RB battle rages on
As the game goes into the second half, keep an eye on undrafted wide receivers Courtney Jackson (#89), Jerjuan Newton (#81), Joaquin Davis (#80), and Kyrese Rowan (#39), who will likely catch passes from Stidham and Ehlinger. Ehlinger, in particular, has seemingly built chemistry with all of these names, finding Jackson, Newton, and Rowan downfield for explosive plays.
These names are all fighting to make claims for spots on the practice squad for 2025, with Denver’s WR room looking solidified as is.
The ongoing running back competition will also be under the microscope, with Tyler Badie, Blake Watson, and Audric Estime all seemingly vying for a potential final spot behind RJ Harvey, Jaleel McLaughlin, and J.K. Dobbins.
Estime has had a strong camp, stacking consistent days of good production, while Watson has been right there as well, showcasing his explosiveness often. Badie has flown under the radar and was a preseason standout last year.
How these backs do with their touches will factor into the whole body of work that Payton is looking for when the coaching staff looks into formulating the 53-man roster in just a few weeks’ time.
