Who are three Denver Broncos players that we’ll have our eyes on this week as the team continues into their third week of OTAs?
Denver Broncos continue with Week 3 of OTAs
The Denver Broncos continue their deep push into the offseason program with their third week of OTAs ahead of next week’s mandatory minicamp.
While everybody is watching and monitoring the ongoing quarterback competition, here are three players to watch for this week that I’ll have my eyes on at practice.
Can Jonah Elliss have back-to-back impressive weeks?
Elliss was a standout last week during the open practice media was able to attend. He blew up a couple of plays in the run-and-passing game.
Despite his high motor, Elliss comes across as very disciplined off the edge. He maintains good leverage and keeps outside contain.
As the Broncos look to have a strong boost from their pass rush department this season, Elliss could find himself heavily involved as a rookie if he can carry over his strong start into training camp and the preseason.
How can Denver Broncos UDFA Blake Watson earn more looks going into camp?
The Broncos running back room has a lot of competition this offseason, with Javonte Williams, Samaje Perine, Jaleel McLaughlin, Audric Estime, Tyler Badie, and undrafted rookie free agent Blake Watson all vying for touches and roles on the 53-man roster.
Watson has been an early fan favorite in terms of hype and conversation. He’s explosive and fits the prototype for Sean Payton’s ‘Joker’ role, but so does McLaughlin, who has already earned his stripes on the team.
One area in which I’ve seen Watson gain an advantage alongside McLaughlin is involvement on special teams. Watson has been eager to get reps on the punt team as a gunner and doesn’t hide from the opportunity.
Last week during the Broncos special teams period, he was the first guy downfield as a gunner on each of the reps the team did. His high energy and level of effort is impressive, and if he can make plays during the preseason as a runner and on special teams, his chances of making the team will increase.
Damarri Mathis hungry for a bounceback year
Last season didn’t go according how Damarri Mathis had planned or hoped for. Early season struggles led to him being benched from starting at cornerback, but this offseason, he’s been putting in work behind the scenes to bounce back.
Development is never a straight line for players, particularly at cornerback. Anybody getting reps at that position is going to be targeted more than Patrick Surtain; that’s just the nature of the beast, considering where the Broncos are at.
Mathis has been getting a lot of reps on the outside and even reps inside the slot during practice, with Jim Leonhard taking over as the team’s defensive backs coach and passing game coordinator.
Leonhard is affording multiple players the opportunity to make a case early on by rotating players into different roles, and this has been something Mathis has attacked early on. On top of that, Mathis has been heavily involved on special teams in the practices we’ve been able to observe.
He’s a player to watch for this week as the Denver Broncos get further entrenched into the offseason program.
