Training camp is off and running.
The Broncos are headlong into a stretch in which they’ll be on the practice fields 10 of 11 days.
After that comes a shorter week of practice before a trip to Atlanta for Denver’s Aug. 14 preseason opener against the Falcons. The roster cutdown isn’t until more than two weeks after that.
Bottom line: The action is just getting started. The vast majority of the Broncos’ work remains ahead. There is no light at the end of the tunnel, as head coach Sean Payton is fond of saying.
As Denver heads into the heaviest workload of the summer, itap as good a time as any to take a look at the roster and what a potential 53-man group could look like. Injuries will change the picture some over the next month. So, too, could trades, free agent signings or just good old-fashioned competition.
There is also always the dance the Broncos and teams do around the deadline to retain as many of their players as possible. This is an inexact science.
We’ll run this exercise again at least a couple of times — after a preseason game is in the books and again ahead of the cutdown — but for now here’s a look at how a group could shake out.
OFFENSE (25)
QBs (3): Bo Nix, Jarrett Stidham and Sam Ehlinger
Quickly: Two questions that go hand-in-hand: Who’s No. 2? And do the Broncos keep three despite a deep roster elsewhere? Early stab at answers: Ehlinger and yes.
RB (4): J.K. Dobbins, RJ Harvey, Jonah Coleman, Adam Prentice (FB)
Quickly: The top three are solid. Does Denver have room for Tyler Badie or Jaleel McLaughlin on the 53? Itap hard to see with three QBs, but maybe one gets to the practice squad. Prentice gets the nod unless Nate Adkins gets a lot of FB time in training camp.
TE (4): Adam Trautman, Evan Engram, Justin Joly, Dallen Bentley.
Quickly: The back of this room feels wide open. Caleb Lohner is promising but has missed the first two days of camp. If he returns and plays well through August, he’ll be tough to leave off. Bentley over Adkins for now based mostly on size and play profile.
WR (5): Courtland Sutton, Jaylen Waddle, Marvin Mims Jr., Troy Franklin, Pat Bryant
Quickly: This group is straightforward unless injury or trade shakes it up in a major way. Lil’Jordan Humphrey will factor in, too, even if he begins the year on the practice squad.
OL (9): Garett Bolles, Ben Powers, Luke Wattenberg, Quinn Meinerz, Mike McGlinchey, Alex Palczewski, Frank Crum, Alex Forsyth, Kage Casey
Quickly: Payton and Co. like Matt Peart, too, but in terms of 53-man spots, the four reserves listed above all have versatility and fairly clearly defined roles. ‘Palcho,’ Crum and Casey all feel like potential future starters in Denver.
DEFENSE (25)
DL (7): Zach Allen, D.J. Jones, Malcolm Roach, Eyioma Uwazurike, Tyler Onyedim, Sai’Vion Jones, Jordan Jackson
Quickly: Seven is heavy, but this group remains a strength of Denver’s roster despite John Franklin-Myers’ departure. He’s replaced on the roster and in number by the rookie, Onyedim. Perhaps in the starting lineup, too.
OLB (5): Nik Bonitto, Jonathon Cooper, Jonah Elliss, Dondrea Tillman, Que Robinson
Quickly: Cooper may not actually be on the initial 53 if he’s suspended by the NFL, but the Broncos clearly appear to be moving forward with him as part of their plan after a pair of June arrests on domestic violence-related charges, including felony assault. A healthy Drew Sanders would be a wild card regardless of Cooper’s status.
ILB (3): Alex Singleton, Justin Strnad, Red Murdock
Quickly: Yes, three is light for an initial roster. The Broncos, though, can likely get multiples of Levelle Bailey, Jordan Turner, Karene Reid and Taurean York to the practice squad. And Elliss’ versatility gives them some flex, too, if they were to get caught short on a gameday early in the season.
CB (5): Pat Surtain II, Riley Moss, Ja’Quan McMillian, Jahdae Barron, Kris Abrams-Draine
Quickly: Reese Taylor did nice special teams work for the Broncos last year and was on the roster the second half of the season. Can they get him to the practice squad? Tough to see much more room beyond the five guys Denver trusts in just about any situation.
S (5): Talanoa Hufanga, Brandon Jones, Devon Key, JL Skinner, Tycen Anderson
Quickly: On the field, the major question is who Denver’s third safety is. It could be Key or Skinner. The most interesting option might be Barron. In terms of roster construction, what the reserves in this room lack in proven defensive chops they make up for on special teams. Key is a first-team All-Pro and Skinner and Anderson are both high-end guys, too.
SPECIAL TEAMS (3)
PK Wil Lutz, P Jeremy Crawshaw, LS Mitch Fraboni
Quickly: Pretty straightforward here. The same trio as last year and a group that has a chance to give Denver consistent, high-level play.
