Starters
QB Jay Cutler
Weakened last year by effects of undiagnosed Type 1 diabetes, Cutler has regained his stamina and strength, and it showed through his superb preseason. In his 21 games since he became the starter in Week 13 of 2006, only four quarterbacks have surpassed his passer rating of 88.2 — Tom Brady, Peyton Manning, Tony Romo and Drew Brees.
Did you know? Never missed a game because of injury in four years and 45 starts at Vanderbilt.
RB Selvin Young
Just another undrafted running back find by the Broncos. Even though he had three carries or fewer in six games last season, he still finished with 729 yards rushing on 5.2 yards per carry. Also a strong receiving threat.
Did you know? During his junior year at Texas, Young suffered a broken ankle, then flunked out of school. Got his grades up at a local junior college, was readmitted at Texas, and helped the Longhorns win the national title in 2005.
FB Peyton Hillis
A strong blocker with soft hands, Hillis beat out veteran Cecil Sapp, even though he missed much of the offseason with a strained hamstring. Hillis blocked for first-round tailbacks Darren McFadden and Felix Jones at Arkansas.
Did you know? Hillis had nine TD runs of at least 55 yards in his senior year at Conway (Ark.) High School.
WR Eddie Royal
The surprise of the preseason, he went from return specialist to starting receiver opposite Brandon Marshall. Has the speed to go deep and hands to catch ball in traffic.
Did you know? Royal is more of a prototype slot receiver whose skills were suppressed at Virginia Tech by a strong running game and ineffective quarterback play.
WR Brandon Marshall
A physical receiver with good hands. Tough to bring down after the catch, but sometimes runs a little East-West rather than North-South. Suspended for the season opener for violating personal conduct policy.
Did you know? Won the Class 3A Florida triple jump championship.
TE Daniel Graham
Besides 25 to 30 receptions, Graham will be counted on to aid inexperienced tackles Ryan Clady and Ryan Harris in blocking assignments.
Did you know? Graham grew up in Denver. His father, Tom, played three seasons for the Broncos (1972-74). Graham’s brothers, Phillip and twin Josh, played in college.
C Casey Wiegmann
A nine-year starter for the Bears (1998, 2000) and Chiefs (2001-07), Wiegmann could be a steal at $1.13 million if he starts ahead of the injured Tom Nalen.
Did you know? Wiegmann hails from a small high school in Parkersburg, Iowa, that also produced NFL players Aaron Kampman, Brad Meester and Jared DeVries.
LG Ben Hamilton
Started all 80 games in five seasons (2002-06) before suffering a season- ending concussion early in training camp last year.
Did you know? Hamilton’s father, Wes, played 10 seasons (1976-85) as an offensive lineman with the Minnesota Vikings.
RG Chris Kuper
A right tackle his first three years of college, Kuper played left tackle as a senior. He started camp last year at right guard, but started the final 11 regular-season games at left guard. Played right tackle in mini-camps but is now the starter at right guard.
Did you know? Kuper was born and raised in Anchorage, Alaska.
RT Ryan Harris
Had back surgery just before his senior season at Notre Dame, yet started all 13 games at left tackle. Had another back surgery early in rookie training camp and missed the first five weeks of season. Played a few snaps at right tackle and one at left tackle last year. .
Did you know? Quarterbacks Harris has blocked for were Minnesota Twins catcher Joe Mauer in high school and Brady Quinn in college.
LT Ryan Clady
The 12th player, and second left tackle, taken in the 2008 draft. Extremely agile for his size. Must develop greater strength.
Did you know? Clady is the largest and youngest player on the Broncos’ roster.
Specialists
K Matt Prater
An extremely strong leg. He won’t be as accurate as Jason Elam, the best kicker in Broncos history, but Prater will make longer field goals and frequently cause opposing offenses to travel 80 yards for a touchdown.
Did you know? Prater grew up playing soccer in South Florida with Santiago Gramatica, the younger brother of Martin and Bill Gramatica.
LS Mike Leach
One of the game’s best long snappers, Leach is the only Broncos player to have played in every game, regular and postseason, the past five years.
Did you know? Leach’s wife, the former Julie Sommer, was a basketball star at William & Mary.
Reserves
QB Patrick Ramsey
Considered one of the league’s top backups. A former first-round draft pick who started 23 games in his first three seasons with the Washington Redskins, Ramsey has just one start in his past three seasons.
RB Andre Hall
Cut twice as a rookie in 2006 — by Tampa Bay just before training camp and by the Bears late in camp. Signed to the Broncos’ practice squad two months later and had huge game (98 yards rushing, 69 yards receiving) against the Bears in Chicago last November.
RB Ryan Torain
Will miss the first seven games with an elbow injury, but the Broncos will keep a roster spot for him with the idea he can provide fresh legs in the season’s second half.
RB Michael Pittman
A larger-sized back than the duo of Selvin Young and Andre Hall, Pittman may be used in short-yardage situations, as a receiver out of the backfield and even at fullback.
WR Keary Colbert
Initially signed to a three-year, $7.2 million contract to replace Javon Walker as the receiver opposite Brandon Marshall. Colbert will now play as the No. 4 or 5 receiver, although he could start in the first game while Marshall is serving a suspension.
WR Brandon Stokley
When healthy, Stokley is arguably the NFL’s second-best slot receiver after Wes Welker. Had 40 catches for 15.9-yard average and five TDs in a little more than 12 games last year.
WR Darrell Jackson
The top candidate to start in Brandon Marshall’s place for the first game. Already has 50 TD catches. Is 13 catches shy of 500 in his career and 58 yards shy of 7,000 receiving yards.
TE Tony Scheffler
Was productive catching the ball in final four games of 2006 (11 catches, four TDs) and final 12 games of 2007 (49 catches, five TDs). What can he do with a full season?
TE Nate Jackson
Although he has only 16 career catches, coaches love Jackson. A terrific special-teams player, and he has receiver skills if he can stay healthy.
C Tom Nalen
The best center in franchise history and a legitimate Hall of Fame candidate. Nalen, however, may have trouble getting through this season. He missed the final 11 games last season with a torn biceps and hasn’t been able to play in the preseason because of a bum knee.
C Kory Lichtensteiger
Expected to spend his first season learning the center and guard positions from the likes of Tom Nalen, Casey Wiegmann and Ben Hamilton.
G Dylan Gandy
First backup to guards Ben Hamilton and Chris Kuper. Started 11 games in 2006 for Super Bowl champion Indianapolis Colts.
T Erik Pears
The only one of four offensive tackles who has played a full NFL game at tackle. He started all 16 games at right tackle in 2007 and started the final 10 games at left tackle in 2006. His 26-game start streak is expected to end in the season opener.
T Tyler Polumbus
It doesn’t get much better than an undrafted rookie from Cherry Creek High School and CU making the season-opening roster. The Broncos initially planned on Polumbus spending his first year on the practice squad.
