They Don’t Count, But They Do Matter
By Adam Uribes
· Game Analysis
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· 2 min read
Who should you watch heading into the preseason opener?
A quarterback controversy is always high drama. That ain't happening in Denver. For Once.
The 2025 preseason is going to be light on drama, as many of the spots that will be contested for will be game-day inactive or special teamers. What makes that interesting? Because it's still football and it’s still competition, dammit!
With the team taking the field for joint practices with the San Francisco 49ers before taking the field against them on Saturday, here are some key roster battles to keep an eye on.
**1. The backup linebackers**
With injuries befalling not one, not two, but the first three linebackers in the Broncos' depth chart, the team is getting hit with cold tub timeouts at its thinnest position. While Sean Payton did acknowledge that starters on both sides of the ball will play Saturday, Dre Greenlaw has already been ruled out, and there isn’t much sense to sending Alex Singleton into a meaningless game with a broken thumb.
So who trots out with the backups? Great question. Justin Strnad seems set at one spot, where he did fill in admirably in 2024. The other ‘backer, if we are going by the depth chart, is 2024 UDFA Lavelle Bailey. Bailey has had a solid camp, but this will be a test for him to see if he can provide adequate cover for Singleton and Greenlaw.
**2. Which rookie balls out?**
No, do not be alarmed by yesterday's depth chart showing 1st round and 2nd round pick Jahdae Barron and R.J. Harvey running last in their respective spots. Both will see time versus the Niners, but who else from this year's class has the chance to make a name for themselves?
Pat Bryant was widely considered a sleeper candidate with his selection in the 3rd round of this year's draft. Every training camp has a breakout receiver, and with no clear pecking order after starters Sutton, Mims, and Vele, Bryant has a chance to carve a place for himself on the 53-man roster.
While dealing with a bone bruise at the time of writing, another name to keep on the front of your brain is Que Robinson, the 5th round pick from Alabama. While Robinson is likely set to be a special teams destroyer this year, the word out of ‘Bama was not to sleep on Robinson as a pass-rusher. If Robinson can get a sack or two this preseason, he gives the team a tough choice to make, possibly between him and fellow OLB Dontae Tillman.
**3. Running Back by a (small) Committee**
Harvey and J.K. Dobbins will be the primary ball carriers for the Broncos this season. Who will give them a breather or be a change-of-pace back remains to be seen. What will also be a determining factor is how many backs the team can realistically carry.
Best realistic guess? The team will carry five to six backs, including fullback Michael Burton. Most likely, the group of Jaleel McLaughlin, Audric Estime, Tyler Badie, and Blake Watson will be playing for two spots. McLaughlin can/has been used as a 3rd down back, but hasn’t been deployed there consistently. Estime and his fumbling issues are well documented, so the team drafted the similarly physical Harvey, and now the future of the former 2024 5th rounder is very much in limbo. Watson and Badie can’t be counted out due to their work in the passing game and special teams. The team could go any number of variations with this group; valuable insights will be gained from seeing who is trotted out on Saturday.
Preseason games are such a funny thing. They are important, even if they are long forgotten by the end of the season. (kinda like high school when you put it that way) But a preseason game should have preseason expectations as well. So here's to hoping for no catastrophic injuries to key players and that progress is being made in getting better for 2025. And, because it's still football, dammit!
Tags: Broncos, Broncos Country, NFL, Denver, Football, NFL, Blogs