Broncs Show Good Depth Without Key Starting Players
Trevor Phipps
During the offseason every year, it seems like Colorado sports analysts always hype up the Broncos and get fans exciting thinking that, “This is our year!”
But personally, I tend to wait until I see the team play to pass on any judgments or early season predictions.
At this point, the Broncos have played two pre-season matches against the Falcons and the Packers. However, the results for the Packers game were not available, prior to press time.
But after their first practice game, which basically meant nothing, the Broncos proved to me that they have the chance to be something special this year. Most fans liked what they saw as the team stomped the Atlanta Falcons 27-7.
I know, I know it was only pre-season, and the Falcons didn’t have all of their starters playing. But regardless, the Broncos completely dominated the game.
The Broncos didn’t start quarterback Bo Nix because they are still giving him some time for his ankle to heal after his surgeries. Backup quarterback Jarret “Stiddy” Stidham ran the team for the first half of the game with good results.
The offense showed many promising things. For one, the running game seemed to be unstoppable against the lackluster Falcon defense. Most game reports stated that rookie running back Jonah Coleman turned some heads after averaging six yards per carry.
Head Coach Sean Payton likes to have a strong running game to take pressure off his quarterbacks. His preferred running back choices now seem set on J.K. Dobbins, RJ Harvey and now Coleman.
I also liked the play calling from new offensive coordinator Davis Webb. He seemed to call a good mix of plays throughout the game. He received rave reviews from the Colorado sports media.
The team picked up good yardage on the ground but then made big passing plays when it mattered. Thankfully, I didn’t see a plethora of blind screen passes like Sean Payton’s play calling quite often produces.
The passing game looked pretty good without Bo Nix or starting wide receivers Jaylen Waddle or Marvin Mims Jr. Courtland Sutton was targeted three times and snagged all three catches for a total of 60 yards. He pulled in one single-handed grab for 40 yards that set up a touchdown so the Broncos could pick up the first lead in the game.
During the second half when third string QB Sam Ehlinger was behind center, one new wide receiver caught his coaches’ attention. Undrafted rookie wide receiver Joseph Manjack IV hauled in a 20-yard strike in the second half.
All in all, I think coaches and fans should be happy with the play of the backup quarterbacks. And one fact Broncos learned in last year’s playoff run; backup QBs can make or break you. If Nix has to leave due to injury, the Broncos should still have a strong offense. Jarrett Stidham finished 9-of-15 for 131 yards, and Sam Ehlinger went 10-of-14 for 67 yards.
The Broncos defense also shined with a few of their regular starters, and second and third stringers. The defense made some big plays and made the Falcons’ offense look like a struggling high school football team.
Several Key Broncos Incur Injuries
After their first pre-season game, the big news during practice was the fact that several players returned, following injuries. The Broncos suffered some key injuries during practice leading up to their pre-season debut. But now, most are back and ready to return to work.
The Tuesday after the Falcons game, many stars returned including Jaylen Waddle, Jaleel McLaughlin, Nate Adkins, Alex Forsyth, Dasan McCullough, Luke Wattenberg, Alex Palczewski. The only major injuries thus far have been to reserve defensive lineman Matt Henningsen, reserve center Michael Dieter, and reserve linebacker Levelle Bailey. All three are expected to miss most, if not all, of the regular season.
During practice last week, rookie RB Coleman continued to impress the coaches. “Yes, he had good balance, a real good elusive runner for his size,” Head Coach Sean Payton told reporters during a press conference. “I would say good short-area quickness and good balance, and the other night we had a few good examples of that.”
The addition of a new stellar running back is great news for the Broncos. Last year, the team relied heavily on its running backs to pick up first downs and drive them down the field. But at times, their running assault was just inconsistent.
This year, the team has star running back JK Dobbins back from suffering an injury last season. Now with the addition of Coleman, the backs hope to take even more pressure off Nix’s passing game. “We want to be the best running back room in the nation, in all of the NFL,” running back RJ Harvey said in a press conference.
The Broncos continued their training camp this week to prepare for their final pre-season match against the Minnesota Vikings at home this Friday at 7 p.m.
The Broncos take the week off for Labor Day weekend before they are tasked with their first regular season match against the Kansas City Chiefs on September 14 on the road during Monday Night Football.
Ouch! Call it the curse of having a great season in 2025, but the Broncos face a gruesome schedule to start off the year.
