Most of the Broncos’ starters took to the Empower Field turf Friday night.
They just did so more than three hours before Denver kicked off its preseason finale against Minnesota.
Sean Payton held out not only quarterback Bo Nix but nearly every expected front-line player for the last of three preseason contests. The only ones who played: Those who have either missed extended periods of time due to injury in training camp and also outside linebacker Jonathon Cooper, who may well not be available to Denver early in the season if he is suspended or placed on the commissioner’s exempt list after a pair of June arrests.
Otherwise, Denver’s lineups were full of reserves and players fighting for roster and practice squad spots.
“Itap hard to go into this game and just say, ‘Hey, these 40 aren’t (playing),’” Payton said earlier this week. “The stress level then on everyone else kicks up. So itap a challenge whenever you get into this last game, and we’ll have a good plan.”
Denver’s plan wasn’t to have 40 guys out of uniform, but 30.
Payton had 26 expected contributors, one conspicuous special teamer and three injured players out of uniform for the club’s final tune-up before it opens the regular season on Monday Night Football Sept. 14 at Kansas City.
Among the notables who did and didn’t play:
Cooper got playing time and itap unclear when he’ll be next on the field. He’s slated to be arraigned in Douglas County on Monday morning, the day after Denver’s roster must be set. That means the Broncos will be hoping to get clarity from the league ahead of Sunday’s cutdown deadline. If no ruling comes from the league office, he’ll be on the roster. If he is suspended or placed on the exempt list by Roger Goodell, he will not count against Denver’s 53-man roster.
Center Luke Wattenberg has missed most of camp after a shoulder injury on the first day in full pads nearly four weeks ago. He got in there for one series and saw live action for the first time this preseason.
Wide receiver Marvin Mims has similarly missed multiple weeks with a groin injury. He was out there to start with Denver’s offense, but turned his ankle coming down after a Jarrett Stidham overthrow and saw his night end right there. He at first appeared to be in pain but was able to jog off the field and, reluctantly, to the blue medical tent once he was back to the home sideline.
One not entirely surprising development but a notable one nonetheless: Both Mims and Franklin were in uniform, but second-year man Pat Bryant was not. Bryant has emerged as the de facto third wide receiver for Denver behind Courtland Sutton and Jaylen Waddle. Franklin and Mims, assuming neither is traded in the next couple of days, will factor into the equation. So, too, likely, will Lil’Jordan Humphrey. But they were all out there playing Friday night. Bryant was on the sideline with the players Payton and company decided needed no more snaps before the regular season.
“He’s smart, he’s sudden, he’s big,” Payton said earlier this week about Bryant. “He’s having a heck of a camp. You guys have seen it. And itap been consistent. He’s super intelligent, itap really important to him and I like his size.”
At quarterback, Jarrett Stidham started and played two series before giving way to Sam Ehlinger. Both are candidates to be in Denver’s plans for the season behind Nix, though itap not clear if both will start out on the 53-man roster. Ehlinger’s first drive of the night ended in an ugly interception when he was undercut trying to throw an out-breaking route to undrafted rookie wide receiver Dane Key.
One interesting player who was not in uniform: Special teamer Tycen Anderson. He was Denver’s lone external free agent signing this spring, though it was a one-year deal at the minimum with $450,000 guaranteed. He’s hardly been used defensively in camp and is essentially a special teamer only. Did Denver see enough to keep him out Friday, or does the team perhaps already know he will not make the roster?
By Saturday morning, the Broncos staff will be well into finalizing their 53-man roster. By Sunday afternoon, the initial rendition will be set. Then the practice squad follows Monday.
From there: Two weeks to Kansas City.
