The Denver Broncos wrapped up Friday’s practice before they head to Indianapolis to take on the Colts on Sunday morning for their first preseason game. Heading into the game, there are three key things to watch for.
Denver Broncos vs. Indianapolis Colts preview
We’ll get our first look at the Denver Broncos in a live game setting on Sunday when they take on the Indianapolis Colts. Here are three things that you should be paying attention to as the game occurs.
Broncos QB battle sees first live game reps
Jarrett Stidham and Bo Nix are the two names who are solely vying for the starting job in the regular season. With Sean Payton announcing that Stidham will get the start in Denver’s first preseason game, all eyes will be on every snap.
Stidham getting the start isn’t an indication of the job being won, but the reps will be crucial for Payton and his staff to evaluate. Both QBs have gotten extensive work with the first and second offensive team units throughout training camp and have comfortability with the various players on the offensive line, running back rotation, wide receiver and tight end rotations.
Each quarterback will have an array of wide receivers to throw to, with rookie Devaughn Vele being a player to watch. We’ll see Courtland Sutton, Tim Patrick, Marvin Mims, Josh Reynolds, Lil’Jordan Humphrey, Brandon Johnson, Michael Bandy, Phillip Dorsett, and Jalen Virgil also get reps within the rotation.
First look at Audric Estime and the Denver Broncos hopefully renovated run game
Audric Estime has been a bowling ball during Broncos training camp, and we’ll see our first look at him. It’s no secret that Payton wants the Broncos offense to have a sustainable run game, which is something they didn’t have last year. Estime will certainly be a factor in that conversation, and he’s had himself a tremendous camp. His vision as a carrier is impressive, plus he has some short-range explosiveness that will be beneficial in between the tackles, combined with his bruising ability to embrace physicality.
Estime isn’t the only running back fans will have their eyes on, but Javonte Williams, Samaje Perine, Jaleel McLaughlin, Tyler Badie, and Blake Watson will all see their fair share of snaps in Sunday’s opener. Badie has had an under-the-radar type of camp, while Watson is still getting his feet underneath him after freshly returning from the NFI list. Perine’s been a solid mainstay but will have to compete in the preseason to likely stay on the roster.
How does young Broncos safety room look?
P.J. Locke is the secure starter for the Denver Broncos at safety this season and Brandon Jones will be the other. While Jones (hamstring) won’t play in Sunday’s preseason opener, the Broncos will have the chance to evaluate young players like JL Skinner and Devon Key in a more elevated role. It will be interesting to see who starts next to Locke on Sunday. One thing to watch, though, is when Locke comes out of the game, you’ll likely see a combination of Skinner and Key together defensively before Tanner McCalister, Keidron Smith, and Omar Brown rotate in eventually throughout the day.
Earlier in the week, the Broncos released Caden Sterns, who has the ability to be a playmaker when healthy. With Jones dealing with a hamstring injury that hopefully doesn’t linger, it’s certainly a gamble by Denver to invest as deeply as they have in their young depth, but the preseason should answer whether or not the young depth is ready or not to potentially step up in the regular season.
