The Denver Broncos defense will have their hands full on Sunday when they face the Seattle Seahawks. Despite changes in Seattle’s coaching structure, most of their personnel on the offensive side of the ball are back, specifically at the skill player position. What challenges will the Seahawks receiving core pose against Denver’s defense?

Denver Broncos defense has hands full vs. Seahawks wide receiver

DK Metcalf is a challenge in today’s NFL. Not only does he possess elite-level size, athleticism, and good speed, he’s ultra-competitive and isn’t afraid to get chippy. For most NFL teams, Metcalf is a mismatch for many of their cover guys, but most of those teams don’t have a Patrick Surtain II.

Coming off of a well-deserved contract extension, Surtain will face off against Metcalf for the second time in two years. In his first bout with the physically talented Seahawks receiver, Surtain held him to seven catches for 36 yards. Hopefully Sunday’s matchup sees the same lack of overall production from Metcalf.

“He is big, he is fast and his ball skills have grown since the time he’s been in the league,” Broncos defensive coordinator Vance Joseph said. “Obviously being in Arizona, I faced him twice a year for a long time. To watch him go from just a big, fast guy playing physical to a guy who can run routes now, who can drop his weight, who has great ball skills and who you have to have a plan to stop [because] if not, you won’t stop him. So he’s definitely grown in those areas. Speaking of him, there are two others also. That’s the challenge this week: they have three really good receivers. They have a good back. They have [Seattle TE] Noah Fant at tight end, who’s a really good pass catcher and in-line blocker. That’s the challenge to balance between stopping the run and helping guys in coverage.”

While Metcalf is one challenge, Seattle also has Jaxon Smith-Njigba and Tyler Lockett who also pose a threat to Denver’s secondary. This is where nickel corner Ja’Quan McMillian and Riley Moss, who will start opposite of Surtain on Sunday will come into play.

McMillian will likely draw coverage assignments on Smith-Njigba and Lockett whenever they align in the slot. Lockett and JSN possess speed that puts defenses into a bind when they’re on the field.

Safety play on the backend will be important as well, with Brandon Jones set to make his official Broncos debut at safety after missing all of training camp and the preseason with a hamstring injury.

“His history is that he’s a player with great range,” Joseph said. “He’s a good blitzer. He has great range to keep the big plays to a minimum. He’s super smart. He hasn’t played much [this preseason], so obviously it won’t be perfect because he hasn’t played actual football, and tackled and all of those things, but his experience and his skill set should show.”

Denver’s hope is that Jones settles into his role relatively quickly against a talented group of receivers and former Broncos tight end Noah Fant.