The Broncos open the 2021 preseason Saturday against the Vikings at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis. Here are highlights and observations throughout the game. (This page will be refreshed.)
4:58 p.m. — The Broncos dominate from start to finish, with both Drew Lock and Teddy Bridgewater looking good while Denver cruised to a 33-6 victory against a Minnesota team that didn’t play any offensive or defensive starters.
4:34 p.m. — P.J. Locke went down after getting hit on an illegal crack back block; after a strong day on defense, the safety walked off the field with trainers.
4:15 p.m. — After rushing for four yards on a carry early in the fourth quarter, Levante Bellamy got up gingerly and tried to limp off the field by himself but didn’t make it. Trainers attended to the second-year tailback and it was later announced he suffered a right ankle injury.
4:08 p.m. — Third-string QB Brett Rypien checks into the game late in the third quarter. Bridgewater finished 7-of-8 for 74 yards with a touchdown and a 144.8 rating.
4:04 p.m. — On 4th-and-goal from the two-yard line, Kellen Mond bought extra time and found Whop Philyor along the pack of the end zone, with P.J. Locke in tight coverage. Philyor initially reeled in the catch but then was drilled by rookie Caden Sterns, who is quickly making an impression with the team since being drafted in the fifth round. The ball popped loose from Philyor’s arms and the Vikings were kept touchdown-less.
3:51 p.m. — Trinity Benson, who is having a strong training camp, helped finish the drive with a TD. Benson ran his catch tally to four for 36 yards and two touchdowns. That included a 17-yard catch to set the Broncos up inside the Minnesota 10, then a four-yard touchdown grab in the corner of the end zone off the hand of Bridgewater to put Denver up 33-6.
TB to TB. 🙌 finds for SIX!
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— Denver Broncos (@Broncos)
3:46 p.m. — Levante Bellamy began the second half with a 62-yard kick return, setting the Broncos up at the Minnesota 40. Bellamy’s big return was assisted by solid blocking overall and especially by rookie fullback Adam Prentice, who like Bellamy needs to show versatility to make the 53-man roster.
3:32 p.m. — The Vikings closed the first half with a 25-yard field goal by Greg Joseph as the Broncos’ defense bent, but did not break, in a two-minute drill against QB Kellen Mond and the Vikings. Michael Ojemudia, called for pass interference earlier in the half, had a pass break-up in the end zone on a back-shoulder fade.
3:17 p.m. — Right tackle Cam Fleming is called for illegal use of hands to the face, wiping out an impressive 12-yard scoring run by Bridgewater. That led the Broncos’ drive to stall out, and Denver settled for a 34-yard field goal from Brandon McManus. The Broncos are still cruising, up 26-3 with 2:49 left in the half, and Bridgewater was 4-of-5 for 44 yards on his opening drive.
3:10 p.m. — Teddy Bridgewater came on for his Broncos preseason debut at 9:04 in the second quarter, and connected with tight end Eric Saubert for six yards on his first play. Bridgewater, the Vikings’ former first-round pick out of Louisville in 2014, got an ovation from the Minnesota crowd when he took the field.
2:59 p.m. — Pat Surtain II is having himself an explosive debut. The rookie and No. 9 overall pick this year jumped Jake Browning’s pass to Ihmir Smith-Marsette on an out-route, intercepting it at the Vikings’ 30-yard line and strolling to the end zone for his first (unofficial) NFL touchdown. The pick-six put the Broncos up 23-3 with 11:49 to play in the half.
PS2 with the PICK-6 🎮
Not a bad debut, !
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— Denver Broncos (@Broncos)
2:56 p.m. — Trey Marshall, hurt on the opening kickoff, has been downgraded to out with an ankle injury.
2:53 p.m. — Adding to his already-strong performance, Lock rolled out to his right after a play-action and found Trinity Benson for a 4-yard touchdown pass to cap a 10-play, 85-yard drive. That gave the Broncos a 16-3 lead with 12:59 left in the half, and put Lock’s line at 5-of-7 for 151 yards with two touchdowns and a 153.3 rating.
2:51 p.m. — On 3rd-and-4, Lock patiently stood in the pocket for 3.64 seconds, went through his progression and eventually found Jeudy for a 32-yard catch-and-run. From a read standpoint, it was Lock’s best play of the day thus far. Jeudy, meanwhile, looked electric in the open field, turning a sliver of open space into a footrace with the Vikings’ secondary.
. in space >>>
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— Denver Broncos (@Broncos)
2:41 p.m. — Rookie cornerback Pat Surtain II made the first flashy play of his Broncos career. With Minnesota facing 3rd-&-5 from the Broncos’ 15, Surtain recognized Ihmir Smith-Marsette’s in-route and perfectly timed a pass break-up to force the Vikings to kick a field goal.
PS2 said, "Nah." | 📺:
— Denver Broncos (@Broncos)
2:37 p.m. — Second-year cornerback Michael Ojemudia, who is battling for a backup role in the secondary amid all the new arrivals at cornerback, looked overmatched at times throughout the first couple series and was flagged for a pass interference call while in coverage on tight end Brandon Dillon.
2:28 p.m. — Lock came out on the first play of the Broncos’ second possession and connected with Hamler on an 80-yard touchdown pass. Lock had plenty of time off play-action and hit Hamler in stride on a post route as the second-year wideout had blown past the Minnesota secondary. Hamler caught it at around the Vikings 33-yard line and somersaulted after crossing the goal-line.
You absolutely love to see it. 💣 x
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— Denver Broncos (@Broncos)
2:23 p.m. — The Broncos struck first… with a safety thanks to a holding call on Vikings right guard Dakota Dozier. Shemar Stephen provided the pressure and was in the backfield threatening for a sack, forcing Dozier to hold as the Broncos went up 2-0 with 8:45 left in the opening quarter.
2:19 p.m. — Javonte Williams appeared to have his first exhibition TD in the NFL, bouncing the ball outside for a 4-yard run to pay-dirt, but a holding call on Jerry Jeudy negated the score. On 4th and 2 from the 3-yard-line, the Broncos went for it after Vic Fangio called timeout to regroup. But Lock’s slant pass to Jeudy was easily broken up by Kris Boyd.
2:12 p.m. — Drew Lock, getting the start in the opener over Teddy Bridgewater, connected with KJ Hamler for a 25-yard strike off play-action on his first throw. An ideal start for Lock, who needs to capitalize on every chance he gets to show that he’s moved past the error-prone quarterbacking of last season.
First pass of the season! ➡️
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— Denver Broncos (@Broncos)
2:11 p.m. — On the Broncos’ opening offensive snap, Javonte Williams had a cutback run for a first down. He ran for a first down the next play, too, getting to the edge and showing off his speed turning upfield. The rookie… did not look like a rookie.
2:09 p.m. — DeShawn Williams, who has been getting increased reps with the No. 1 defense during training camp because of Mike Purcell’s ankle injury, had the first impressive defensive play of the day with a pass deflection on the opening series.
2:05 p.m. — Trey Marshall, who is competing for a backup safety/special teams spot, got injured on the opening kickoff. The trainers were examining Marshall’s lower right leg before they helped him hobble off the field.
2:04 p.m. MT — A number of Broncos players didn’t take stretch for the game. That list includes WR/KR Diontae Spencer (knee injury), RB Melvin Gordon, RB Mike Boone (quad), ILB Josey Jewell (groin), CB Mac McCain III (hamstring), OLB Pita Taumoepenu, DE Marquiss Spencer (ankle), LG Dalton Risner, WR Tim Patrick (groin), WR DeVontres Dukes, DT Deyon Sizer (ankle) and DL McTelvin Agim (groin).
