A nose tackle who started 30 games, a safety who had 160 tackles in two years and a running back who scored 10 touchdowns in his first season.

And there have been misses …

A quarterback who didn’t stop the still-in-progress carousel, a right tackle who played 63 snaps in the first two years of his contract and a guard who missed 19 of a possible 48 games.

The Broncos’ unrestricted free agent activity over the past five years is a mixed bag of astute additions and acquisitions who never got out of the blocks. First-year Broncos general manager George Paton wasn’t around for the handiwork of John Elway, but as the start of free agency approaches Wednesday, it is worth reviewing the Broncos’ work since March 2016.

Here is a year-by-year look back:

2016

LT Russell Okung (Seattle): Okung signed what was essentially a one-year, $5 million deal. The team held the club option starting in 2017 (four years, $48 million), which they declined after he started every game, played 1,062 snaps and was called for nine penalties. Okung signed with the Los Angeles Chargers and the Broncos drafted Garett Bolles.

OT Donald Stephenson (Chargers): A three-year, $14 million contract lured Stephenson from the Chargers to play right tackle. He started 12 games (465 snaps and a career-high seven penalties) in ’16 and four in ’17.

DE Jared Crick (Houston): Crick played a career-high 942 snaps in ’16 (53 tackles/three sacks), but sustained a back injury in a mid-August ’17 training camp practice and never played again.

S Brandian Ross (Raiders): Signed to a one-year, $1.542 million contract, Ross was cut in training camp.

LB Dekoda Watson (New England): Watson turned his one-year deal with the Broncos (17 tackles on defense and 396 special teams snaps) into a multi-year deal with San Francisco in 2017.

2017

G Ron Leary (Dallas): The Broncos signed Leary to a four-year, $36 million contract. He played 29 of 48 games, never made it to the finish line healthy in 2017-19 and had 14 total penalties. Leary was let go last March and was not with a team in 2020.

NT Domata Peko (Cincinnati): The Broncos got 30 games (all starts) and 69 tackles from Peko during his two-year, $7.5 million contract. Allowed to walk in March 2018, he has played for Baltimore and Arizona the past two years.

OT Menelik Watson (Raiders): Watson (two years, $12.75 million) started seven games at right tackle in ’17, but was injured in August 2018, placed on injured reserve and ultimately released.

DL Zach Kerr (Indianapolis): Like Peko, Kerr played out a two-year deal (52 tackles in 27 games). Re-signed in ’19, he was cut after the preseason.

OLB Kasim Edebali (New Orleans): A special teams’ addition (163 snaps), Edebali was waived after nine games.

2018

QB Case Keenum (Minnesota): The Broncos were smitten with Keenum after he helped the Vikings to the NFC title game and signed him to a two-year, $36 million contract. He started every game in ’18, but had 18 touchdowns and 15 interceptions. When the Broncos traded for Joe Flacco in March 2019, Keenum was flipped to Washington.

DL Clinton McDonald (Tampa Bay): Signed to a two-year, $7 million contract, McDonald had shoulder surgery in May 2018 and was cut after participating in training camp/preseason.

2019

CB Bryce Callahan (Chicago): When available, he’s been good. The problem has been being available. Callahan (three years, $27 million) followed coach Vic Fangio to the Broncos from Chicago, but sat out all of ’19 (foot injury). Last year, he was one of their best defensive players (42 tackles, two interceptions in 10 games), but was shut down because of another foot issue.

S Kareem Jackson (Houston): Jackson has played and started 29 games in two years and totaled 160 tackles and three interceptions. He is entering the final season of a three-year, $33 million contract.

RT Ja’Wuan James (Miami): Whew, James tops the list of misses. The Broncos prioritized James (four years, $51 million) to bring stability to right tackle. But in ’19, James played only 63 snaps (three games), sustaining a knee injury in each game. He opted out of the ’20 season.

2020

DL Christian Covington (Dallas): Covington wasn’t going to make the initial 53-man roster so he was traded to Cincinnati for linebacker Austin Calitro, who became a core special teams player.

QB Jeff Driskel (Detroit): Stating the obvious, this didn’t work out. Driskel signed a two-year, $5 million contract to serve as Drew Lock’s backup. He finished up for Lock in Week 2 at Pittsburgh, but was benched for the final possession of the Week 3 loss to Tampa Bay and demoted to third-string behind Lock and Brett Rypien.

RG Graham Glasgow (Detroit): The Broncos signed Glasgow (four years, $44 million) to replace Leary. Glasgow played 13 games and had four penalties in 764 snaps. He missed time after testing positive for COVID-19.

RB Melvin Gordon (Chargers): A splurge acquisition by Elway even though Phillip Lindsay was coming off consecutive 1,000-yard seasons, Gordon (two years, $16 million) rushed for 986 yards and nine touchdowns in 15 games as Lindsay battled multiple injuries.

P Sam Martin (Detroit): Signed away from the Lions (three years, $7.05 million), Martin averaged 46.8 yards on 65 punts.

TE Nick Vannett (Pittsburgh): Vannett (two years, $5.7 million) was added to join Noah Fant in two-tight end personnel. He had 14 catches for 95 yards and one touchdown in 361 snaps (15 games).

Elway could be similarly active this year.

The Broncos currently have nine picks — one each in rounds 1-2 and 6-7, three third-round selections and two fourth-round picks.

Earlier this month, the industry website Over The Cap projected three compensatory selections for the Broncos: A fifth-rounder (guard signing with Green Bay) and two sevenths (guard and cornerback Tramaine Brock both signed with Arizona).

RELATED: Broncos 2020 NFL mock draft tracker: What the national experts predict Denver will do as of Jan. 23

Chances are, the Broncos won’t select 12 players, but it does give Elway chips to move up after the first round. The smart play for him would be to select as many players in rounds 1-4 as possible who can help end the team’s four-year playoff drought. This is no time to move down … and down … and down, to stockpile late Day 3 picks.

“You never say, “Never,”  to anything,” Elway said at the Senior Bowl. “You never lock into anything. We’re fortunate enough to have a lot of draft capital. Once we get through free agency and see where that is and get into the month of the draft, that����ap when all of that starts.”

Since taking over the Broncos’ draft board in 2011, Elway has not been shy to trade. Some of his notable moves …

2011: Moved down nine spots (No. 36 to No. 45) in the second round with San Francisco, which chose quarterback .

2012: Moved down 11 spots (No. 25 to No. 36) through two trades and used the initial pick on defensive end .

2014: Moved up seven spots (No. 56 to No. 63) to draft receiver .

2015: Traded guard Manny Ramirez and fifth- and sixth-round picks (plus pick No. 28) to move up five spots to select outside linebacker at No. 23.

2016: Moved up five spots (No. 31 to No. 26) to draft quarterback .

2019: Traded down 10 spots with Pittsburgh (No. 10 to No. 20) and drafted Fant and then moved up 10 spots (No. 52 to No. 42) to take Lock.

If Elway can end Day 2 of the draft (rounds 1-3) with multiple rookie starters like last year, it will be a win for the Broncos.

Elway speaks

Other notes from Elway’s media availability here.

• On Lock: “He just has to continue to play. He’ll keep working on different things. The more things he sees, the better he’s going to get.”
• On offensive coordinator Pat Shurmur finding ways to implement fullback : “The good thing is that Pat����ap been around. He’s got so much experience. He’ll do a good job taking advantage of what we have.”
• On the using the fourth-and-15 option instead of an onside kick, which Elway led the charge for at last year’s league meeting: “Not many onside kicks were recovered this year (eight) so we’ve got to try and do something where you have a chance to catch up.”
• On serving on the NFL’s Competition Committee, which Elway said first meets next month in New York: “I look forward to that so I can at least give my opinion on it and then they do what they want.”

Around the league

Dolphins shuffling. Broncos coach wasn’t the only first-year big whistle to turf his offensive coordinator. Miami’s Brian Flores fired Chad O’Shea (whom he brought with him from New England) and lured Chan Gailey out of retirement.

Finding the right fit at coordinator is critical because the Dolphins, with three first-round picks, are expected to draft a quarterback (they need to).

“We’d like to find the right guy to be the quarterback,” general manager Chris Grier told reporters. “You see how important it is around the league.”

An easy mock draft connection is Alabama’s Tua Tagovailoa to the Dolphins.

“We know as much as you do right now,” Grier said of Tagovailoa’s health. “Looking forward to meeting him, just like a lot of players.”

retires. With a 117-117 regular-season record, two titles (MVP in both wins) and seven years of at least 25 touchdown passes, Giants quarterback Eli Manning officially retired Friday.

Giants general manager Ernie Accorsi swung the draft-day trade for Manning, who was drafted first overall by the Chargers.

“He won championships and he was always there giving us a chance to win,” Accorsi said. “I don’t know how you can ask more from a quarterback.”

Why I would make Manning a first-ballot Pro Football Hall of Fame choice: The playoffs. Period. Manning was 8-4 in the postseason (18 touchdowns and nine interceptions). All eight wins came in the two title-winning years of 2007 and ’11. Manning was 5-2 in road playoff games, including NFC title game wins at Green Bay and San Francisco.

Footnotes. Might the Redskins be open to trading down from second overall even if it means not drafting Ohio State defensive end Chase Young? New coach Ron Rivera, who will spear-heard the operation (no general manager in place yet), should consider it. The Redskins don’t have a second-round pick and need help all over the depth chart. … Two big losses on Tennessee’s coaching staff: Defensive coordinator Dean Pees retired and secondary coach Kerry Coombs returned to Ohio State to become a defensive coordinator. Coach Mike Vrabel could stay in-house with Tyrone McKenzie or Shane Bowen or go the veteran route with Romeo Crennel, his former colleague in Houston. … Does Philip Rivers-to-Tampa Bay really make sense? If Buccaneers coach Bruce Arians believes so, he’ll move on from , but he also needs to draft a quarterback in the first three rounds since Rivers is entering his age-39 season.

Ahead of Saturday’s 2 p.m. deadline to establish an initial 53-man roster, here is a final projection of who stays and who goes:

Quarterback (3)

In: , Kevin Hogan and Drew Lock.

Out: Brett Rypien.

Comment: Lock’s right thumb injury meant keeping Hogan as the No. 2 entering the season. The guess here is Lock is placed on injured reserve on Sunday, meaning he can return later this year.

Running back (6)

In: , , , , (FB) and George Aston (FB).

Out: Devontae Jackson, Khalfani Muhammad and .

Comment: One more tailback and fullback apiece than the Broncos would normally keep. Riddick (shoulder) and Janovich (pectoral) are injured reserve candidates on Sunday.

Tight end (4)

In: , Noah Fant, and .

Out: Orson Charles and Moral Stephens.

Comment: Charles could spend 24 hours off the Broncos roster if they wait until Sunday to place Butt on injured reserve. Charles would then take Butt����ap roster spot.

Receiver (5)

In: , , , and Juwann Winfree.

Out: Trinity Benson, Fred Brown, , Steven Dunbar, Brendan Langley and Kelvin McKnight.

Comment: The extra numbers at tailback and fullback prevent the Broncos from keeping a sixth receiver. But that could change by Monday after the injured reserve is filled out.

Offensive line (7)

In: Garett Bolles (LT), Dalton Risner (LG), ( C), (RG), Ja’Wuan James (RT), (OT/G) and (G/C).

Out: Quinn Bailey (OT), Don Barclay (G), Adam Bisnowaty (OT), Jake Brendel (C/G), Ryan Crozier (C ), Chas Green (OT), Sam Jones (G), Tyler Jones (OT), John Leglue (OT) and Jake Rodgers (OT).

Comment: The Broncos would be smart to look at the waiver wire offensive tackles since Wilkinson will need to continue working at right guard as long as Leary’s knee keeps on barking.

Defensive line (5)

In: (DE), (DE), Shelby Harris (NT), Dre’Mont Jones (DE) and DeShawn Williams (NT).

Out: Mike Purcell (NT), Deyon Sizer (DE) and DeMarcus Walker (DE).

Comment: Zach Kerr’s release on Monday creates a roster spot for Williams as the backup nose tackle. The Broncos give up on Walker, a 2017 second-round pick.

Outside linebacker (4)

In: , , Justin Hollins and Malik Reed.

Out: Ahmad Gooden and Dadi Nicolas.

Comment: Hollins and Reed were going to be on the roster even before veteran Dekoda Watson was released on Monday. Nicolas could be a candidate to be signed on Sunday after the injured reserve moves create room.

Inside linebacker (6)

In: Josey Jewell, , Alexander Johnson, Josh Watson, and Joe Jones.

Out: Jamal Carter and Joe Dineen (IR).

Comment: Davis (calf) hasn’t practiced since July 18 and Jones (triceps) hasn’t practiced since the Aug. 1 game against Atlanta. Watson makes it as an undrafted free agent.

Cornerback (5)

In: , Bryce Callahan, Isaac Yiadom, De’Vante Bausby and Trey Johnson.

Out: Rashard Causey and Linden Stephens.

Comment: Pretty clear cut throughout camp and the fact Callahan (foot) went through practice on Monday-Tuesday is a sign he’ll be ready for Week 1 and a fifth corner doesn’t need to be kept.

Safety (5)

In: , , , Alijah Holder, Shamarko Thomas and Trey Marshall.

Out: Su’a Cravens and Dymonte Thomas (IR).

Comment: We throw a curveball by adding Holder to the roster because he worked some at safety in the San Francisco preseason game and provides a better special teams presence than Cravens.

Specialists (3)

In: (K), Colby Wadman (P) and (LS).

Out: None.

Comment: McManus, Wadman and Kreiter had no competition on the roster once the preseason games started.

Players arrived for practice before Denver’s final preseason game after two veterans, defensive tackle Zach Kerr and outside linebacker Dekoda Watson, were released less than one week before the roster will be cut from 90 to 53 players.

“Excuse my language,” reserve defensive tackle DeShawn Williams said, “but (stuff) just got real.”

Watson and Kerr had combined for 14 NFL seasons, 170 game appearances, 227 tackles, and 13.5 sacks; proven NFL production. But as coach assembles defensive personnel to fit his scheme, surprises were inevitable, and the release of Kerr opens up intriguing options to fill the interior defensive line depth.

Kerr, who re-signed with Denver on a 2-year deal in March, opened the preseason listed as the backup to starting defensive tackle Shelby Harris. Who steps up in place of Kerr? Fangio was asked to identify potential depth chart risers at the position.

“On the D-Line I think (DeShawn) Williams and (Mike) Purcell have done well for themselves,” Fangio said. “So we’ll see how it goes.”

Williams, 26, signed with the Bengals in 2015 as an undrafted free agent from Clemson and bounced from practice squads in Denver, Miami, and Indianapolis before re-joining the Broncos in May. His only NFL action came in 2016 with two tackles, four quarterback hits and a half-sack over four game appearances.

He was among the Denver hopefuls cut after preseason last year. His Broncos practice squad assignment lasted just over a week before he was released. His return under a new coaching staff provided a fresh start in familiar surroundings. And Williams recorded a tackle for loss in the preseason opener by blowing up a Falcons’ screen pass.

“Going through a long period of time of not hearing no phone calls and you start to question, ‘Are you good enough?’ I think that����ap why I play the way I play because I know every day is not promised,” Williams said. “Look at Zach (Kerr).”

Purcell, 28, is a Highlands Ranch native who starred collegiately at Wyoming. The Broncos are his seventh team in seven seasons, but three previous years with Fangio and the 49ers (2014-’16) inspired confidence he could make it in Denver. On Saturday against the Rams, Purcell knifed through the interior to tackle running back Justin Davis for a 2-yard loss in the fourth quarter. Fangio told reporters Purcell also has the versatility to play defensive end in a pinch.

“It����ap the same defense that I learned,” Purcell said. “Coming in as a rookie, I spent a lot of time in the playbook and a lot of time learning. I feel like I struggled at first, so coming back to this defense has been great. Everything fell into place. It����ap the same calls and I’m really familiar with it.”

The clock is ticking for Broncos on the bubble to prove themselves.

“One thing was that (waiving) both an extra week ahead of the major cut-down to maybe possibly hook on to another team, and we felt good about the other guys at that position,” coach Vic Fangio said.

Kerr, 28, is a sixth-year pro who entered the NFL undrafted from Delaware in 2014. He spent the past two seasons with the Broncos, playing in 27 games with 52 tackles (four for loss), five quarterback hurries and two sacks. Kerr opened the preseason listed second on the depth chart at defensive tackle behind Shelby Harris.

The Broncos re-signed Kerr to a two-year contract in March, but strong training camp performances by defensive tackle Mike Purcell and defensive end DeMarcus Walker likely made Kerr expendable.

Per Over The Cap, Kerr release has $300K dead and $1.75 million savings and Watson release is $1.5 million savings.

Total of $3.25 million, which could come in handy over the next 7-10 days.

— Ryan O'Halloran (@ryanohalloran)

Watson, 31, was acquired via trade from the 49ers in April for a 2019 fifth-round pick to bolster the Broncos’ outside linebacker depth. The Broncos are pleased with rookie fifth-round pick Justin Hollins, who can play outside and inside, and undrafted free agent Malik Reed, who is expected to make the team as the third edge rusher behind and .

The Watson move can only be viewed as a bust for the Broncos since they gave up a pick for a player who didn’t make it to Week 1.

The Broncos created $3.25 million of salary cap space with the roster moves, money they could allocate toward adding linebacker help.

Starting inside linebacker (calf) remains out and reserve inside linebacker/special teams core player Joe Jones (triceps) won’t be ready for the start of the regular season. Both, though, could be on the 53-man roster.

The starters have to get through Saturday’s game against the Los Angeles Rams before shifting their focus toward the Sept. 9 opener at Oakland. But for the back-of-the-roster players, the next two games are critical.

Three games into the preseason, where do the Broncos stand with their roster? Has anybody emerged to possibly snatch a spot? How will the many injured players impact the math?

Here is our second projection of how coach Vic Fangio’s initial 53-man roster will look like:

OFFENSE (26)

Quarterbacks (3): , Kevin Hogan and Drew Lock.

Lock had done enough to be Flacco’s backup, but the right thumb sprain he sustained against San Francisco means he won’t be available for the start of the regular season and Hogan survives (unless outside help is acquired). Brett Rypien will head to the practice squad once he clears waivers.

Tailbacks (4): , , and .

Riddick (shoulder) won’t be ready for the season opener, but he must be on the initial 53-man roster to be eligible for return-from-injured-reserve status. Riddick’s injury keeps Booker on the roster as a third-down back.

Fullbacks (2): and George Aston.

In our first 53-man projection, we had two fullbacks because of how much they’ll be used by play-caller Rich Scangarello. We won’t take a victory lap, though, because Janovich (pectoral) is injured. Like Riddick, Janovich won’t be ready for Week 1 so he is a return-from-IR candidate. Each team is allowed two.

Tight ends (4): , Noah Fant, and .

Butt (knee soreness) hasn’t played in a preseason game and hasn’t been involved in any 11-on-11 practice work. But he’s at least returned to practice. We still feel like he can help the Broncos, so he makes the initial 53. There are injury issues at this position that could force the Broncos’ hand and add a fifth one.

Receivers (5): , , , and Juwann Winfree.

and have had chances the last two weeks to seize the punt return spot — and make it as the sixth receiver — but the results haven’t materialized. At this point, the Broncos’ punt returner may not be on the roster.

Offensive linemen (8): Ja’Wuan James (RT), Dalton Risner (LG), (C), Garett Bolles (LT), (RG), Don Barclay (G), (OT) and (G/C).

Four of the five starters are set in James, Risner, McGovern and Bolles. But the Broncos should be worried about Leary. He is coming back from an Achilles’ injury and has not played in the preseason. Fangio said Leary’s knee was “bugging” him, which is why he didn’t play Monday. Even if Leary is ready for Week 1, reinforcements (Barclay or Schlottmann) better be ready.

DEFENSE (24)

Defensive linemen (5): , , Shelby Harris, Dre’Mont Jones and Zach Kerr.

Walker, a second-round pick two years ago, doesn’t make the cut. Our top five entering camp has remained the same.

Outside linebackers (5): , , Dekoda Watson, Justin Hollins and Malik Reed.

Jeff Holland squandered his chance to be a backup and was waived after only two preseason games. Reed emerged until he missed the last week with an oblique issue. He’s done enough, though, to make the team. Watson sticks as a core special teamer and Hollins as a semi-developmental player.

Inside linebackers (4): , Josey Jewell, Joe Jones and Alexander Johnson.

Davis (calf) hasn’t practiced since Day 1 of camp and the Broncos have tried several players in his spot, including Johnson, who started Monday. Watch out for the waiver wire because special teams reinforcements are often found at linebacker.

Cornerbacks (4): , Bryce Callahan, Isaac Yiadom and De’Vante Bausby.

’s ability to play corner allows the Broncos to go with four on the initial roster. Callahan (foot) hasn’t played in the preseason, meaning Yiadom and Bausby have gotten plenty of snaps. Horace Richardson flashed in the first preseason game, but played sparingly at Seattle and was scratched against San Francisco (back) to compromise his chances.

Safeties (6): , Kareem Jackson, , Su’a Cravens, Dymonte Thomas and Trey Marshall.

After the top three safeties, things get muddled and suggest Fangio may be on the look-out for safety help on the waiver wire. Marshall started for Jackson against San Francisco because Parks (hamstring) and Cravens (illness) weren’t available. Special teams ability will be the key for the final three safety spots.

Specialists (3): , Colby Wadman and .

The Broncos had a second kicker and second punter on hand during the early part of camp before cutting both. McManus has been solid in the preseason and Wadman punted better against San Francisco than against Seattle.

You can . Follow Ryan for more daily updates on .

I’m a huge fan in Baltimore who believes the Ravens never did anything to put the pieces around him to succeed. From 2012-18, there were five — yeah, that’s right — five offensive coordinators in which he had to learn new playbooks and new coaching terminology. Five different coaches in his ear during the game. Why doesn’t sports media give the guy a break? I never hear anyone in sports media believe that Flacco may be an upgrade for the Broncos.

— Patti Angel Craig, Baltimore, Md.

Well, in my defense, I haven’t been critical of Flacco’s play with the Broncos yet because he hasn’t appeared in a regular season game. But let����ap start with the coordinator turnover. 2012 — Cam Cameron and then Jim Caldwell; 2013 — Caldwell; 2014 — ; 2015 — Marc Trestman; 2016 — Trestman and then Marty Mornhinweg; 2017 — Mornhinweg; and 2018 — Mornhinweg. The first in-season change (2012) ended with a title. But Caldwell left after 2013 to become Detroit����ap coach and Kubiak left after 2014 to become the Broncos’ coach. The Ravens can’t be blamed for those. I’ll look at it the other way: Flacco has had to learn so many different schemes, he should be able to pick the Broncos’ playbook rather seamlessly and that is believed to be the case. Finally, I have written that Flacco is a quarterback upgrade for the Broncos this year and many of his teammates agree.

Did we give up on too soon? It was like he found his rhythm watching him carve up the Broncos’ defense on Thursday.

— Mark R., Arvada

No, they did not. Period. Working against the Broncos’ backups last Thursday, Lynch was 11-of-15 passing for 109 yards and one touchdown and also rushed four times for 38 yards, including a 9-yard touchdown. He may have looked the part of a backup quarterback. Good for him. But the Broncos waved the white flag at the right time last preseason when he couldn’t beat out for the No. 2 job and they had no interest in keeping three quarterbacks. If Lynch continues to play well this month, he’ll be ’s backup and could start the journey of making millions of dollars as a backup quarterback

Hey Ryan, what do you think about how long the preseason is? I feel like every passing year, preseason games seem like they have less meaning. Do you think the league should shorten it and increase the number of regular season games?

— Thomas, San Diego

Broncos coach likes the four preseason games/16 regular season games format. He probably doesn’t have a ton of company from fans, media and players and maybe his head-coaching colleagues. The preseason is too long in terms of two weeks of practice followed by four preseason games. On the surface, the preseason games are meaningless, but they are important for teams to find out who can’t play in the NFL and those who may have slipped between the cracks and show they can have a role. I’ve always been a supporter of two preseason games (one home/one away) and 17 regular season games (eight apiece at home/away and one neutral site game). That probably won’t happen, but I still like it. With the extra game will be an expanded roster to 55 players and maybe cutting the inactives to five instead of the current seven. That would make the game-day roster 50 instead of 46.

With Theo Riddick and hurt, where does that leave the Broncos’ backfield situation?

— Andrew James, Colorado Springs

Riddick (shoulder) and Janovich (pectoral) are out an estimated 6-8 weeks, which could mean at least Games 1-2 against Oakland and Chicago. Let����ap start with Riddick. What his injury means is a lifeline for , who could slide back into his third-down role even though he needs to protect the quarterback better than he did last year. He is also comfortable catching passes out of the backfield. I wouldn’t mind seeing how and do with periodic third-down work. Janovich’s injury is a little more complicated. The only other fullback on the roster is undrafted rookie George Aston, who is now working with the first team.

Malik Reed looks like he’s absolutely a steal for the Broncos. Do you think he’ll have a significant role with the team this season?

— Bob, Denver

I agree Reed is looking like an undrafted steal for the Broncos and I do believe he will make the 53-man roster. But as far as having a significant role, I don’t know about that just yet. and play a large share of the snaps at outside linebacker and Dekoda Watson will be active because of his special teams contributions. The Broncos are trying to get Justin Hollins up to speed at outside (base) and inside (nickel) linebacker spots so that would suggest he will be active. If Reed continues to show a pass-rushing burst and can play a few of the special teams units, he could be in uniform for Week 1.

It seems like the Broncos are just hurting — literally — at tight end. Do you know if they’re planning on bringing in anyone in, like Austin Seferian-Jenkins, to help shore up the position? Or are they just going to keep going forward with the guys they have left?

— Kyle, Fort Collins

The Broncos’ tight end health has improved in recent days. On Sunday, (shoulder) and roster long-shot Bug Howard (ankle) returned to practice and (knee) did individual drills. Butt had a few 7-on-7 snaps on Monday. Coach Vic Fangio said the Broncos discussed signing a tight end over the weekend, but basically intimated they didn’t like what was available (which isn’t much). The guess is they will continue to move forward with Noah Fant, Heuerman, and possibly Butt. The key is Butt making it to the starting gate healthy. If he doesn’t progress, then a decision will need to be made: Put Butt on injured reserve and sign a fourth tight end or go with three.

Carter (6-foot-1, 215 pounds) participated at inside linebacker, equal parts because of injuries to , Josey Jewell and Joe Jones and to see if Carter is physical enough to help.

“Right now, it����ap temporary, but if he looks good in there, it will be permanent,” coach said. “Our numbers have gotten low there, and he’s always wanted to play in there. The timing was good.”

Carter said the coaches told him about the plan over the weekend and his response was “Let����ap go.”

“I’ve been wanting to play this (since) high school and college,” he said. “I like being in the trenches. I’m a physical specimen, so I don’t like being too far away from contact. It����ap going to fit me.”

Carter played all 16 games for the Broncos in 2017 (eight tackles) and missed last year following a preseason hamstring injury.

If Carter shows up well at inside linebacker, he could carve out a niche that wouldn’t exist if he was just a safety.

“It����ap a great opportunity,” he said. “I feel like I’m going to be Mark Barron 2.0.”

A first-round pick by Tampa Bay in 2012, Barron played safety before he was traded to the Rams, who converted him to linebacker. He signed a two-year contract with Pittsburgh this offseason.

Injury list. Here is an updated list of the Broncos’ many injuries:

New injuries: Cornerback Horace Richardson (hamstring), safety (hamstring), fullback (pectoral) and running back (shoulder). Janovich and Riddick are out 6-8 weeks, which stretches into the regular season.

Remain out: Jones (triceps), Davis (calf) and Jewell (oblique).

Of Davis (out since the first practice), Fangio said, “I think we’ll start seeing him out here fairly soon, but it will be a slow process.”

Jewell was in full pads and did side-field conditioning and said he “felt pretty good.”

Returned (limited or full participants): Outside linebacker Aaron Wallace (hamstring), cornerback Bryce Callahan (foot) and tight ends (ACL), (shoulder) and Bug Howard (ankle).

Butt was in pads for the first time since July 20 and said, “It����ap obviously better to be on the field than in the training room.”

Fallen soldier’s family visits. The Broncos hosted the family of Army Sgt. Maj. Ryan Sartor, 40, who was killed last month by enemy fire during a combat operation in Afghanistan.

Sartor, a native of Texas, was last assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 10th Special Forces Group in Fort Carson. He experienced several deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan after joining the Army in 2001.

Sartor’s wife and children along with other relatives attended practice and spent time afterward with Fangio and several players, including most of the offensive line group, defensive end , quarterbacks and Drew Lock and outside linebackers and .

Penalty issues. The Broncos were called for 11 enforced penalties against Seattle.

After watching the video, Fangio was asked if the issues were bad technique, poor play or letter-of-the-rulebook officiating.

“I think it was all of the above,” he said. “I’ve seen a few of these other games on reruns. There are flags all over the place. I do think the players need to play better from a technique standpoint, and they are being extra judicious in their officiating.”

During the first full week of preseason games, 15 teams had double-digit enforced penalties, including 18 by San Francisco to lead the NFL.

Holland waived. Broncos outside linebacker Jeff Holland’s tumble down the depth chart was completed Sunday when he was waived.

The Broncos traded for Dekoda Watson, drafted Justin Hollins and signed rookie free agent Malik Reed, and all outperformed Holland in training camp.

Signed to take Holland’s roster spot was cornerback Rashard Causey, a rookie from Central Florida who played for Atlanta against the Broncos in the Aug. 1 Pro Football Hall of Fame Game.

Fangio likes schedule. Count Fangio in the camp of wanting to stick with four preseason and 16 regular-season games.

“If you’re into developing players, preseason games are important,” he said.

As for the regular season remaining the same, Fangio said: “I don’t think the schedule should move anywhere. I don’t think (18 games) will happen, but what do I know? I don’t think it would be a wise move.”

Fangio does consider joint practices a wise move for both teams. San Francisco visits the Broncos for workouts on Friday and Saturday before next Monday’s game.

“It����ap just great to go against somebody else, offensive linemen having to block different pass rushers and run-block different defensive linemen, cornerbacks covering different receivers, receivers going against different corners, (facing) different schemes,” Fangio said. “I would do two of them in camp if I could.”

Footnotes. A rare trick play was run during the second play of 11-on-11. Receiver Emmanuel Sanders received Flacco’s handoff and rolled right before throwing downfield. But safety broke up the pass before it could be caught by receiver . … Callahan and cornerbacks De’Vante Bausby, Linden Stephens and Alijah Holder had interceptions during practice.

If the extra-long week between games at Seattle last Thursday and against San Francisco next Monday can be labeled as the halfway point of the preseason, it����ap time to take a 10,000-foot view of the Broncos.

Here are four story lines moving forward:

Helping/hurting stock

Players who started camp on the roster bubble who have emerged …

1. OLB Malik Reed: An undrafted rookie from Nevada, Reed has eight tackles and two sacks, propelling him into the driver’s seat to be a backup edge rusher to Von Miller and Bradley Chubb.

2. ILB Josh Watson: Another undrafted rookie (Colorado State), he has a team-best 13 tackles and has been trusted to call the defense for the starters because of injuries to Todd Davis (calf) and Josey Jewell (oblique).

3. CB Horace Richardson: If the Broncos keep five cornerbacks, he could get the final spot. He had five tackles (two for lost yardage) against Atlanta.

4. WR Nick Williams: Signed after camp started, he should be the favorite to serve as punt returner/rotational slot receiver. He had a 24-yard catch against Seattle.

Players who need to pick it up …

1. ILB Alexander Johnson: Injuries to Davis/Jewell have allowed Johnson to play 72 snaps. He has nine tackles, but his coverage angles and run-game awareness need work.

2. OLB Jeff Holland: He ended last year as the No. 3 edge rusher but is now No. 5 behind Miller, Chubb, Dekoda Watson and Reed. Holland should hope to do enough to merit a practice squad spot.

3. WR Trinity Benson: A fast start to camp has been followed by a tailoff. He has one catch in 42 snaps and doesn’t appear to be in the punt-return mix.

4. TE Noah Fant: A first-round pick, his roster status is secure, but to be a trusted part of the Week 1 game plan, the coaches should want to see more.

Lock’s progress

Coach Vic Fangio was honest throughout the first two-plus weeks of camp when asked about rookie quarterback Drew Lock. Simply put, he said Lock wasn’t ready yet.

But last Tuesday, Fangio smartly detoured, pointing out how Lock is doing things now — reciting longer play calls, lining up under center and handling protections/checks — he didn’t do in Missouri. It was the kind of public hat tip that Lock needed.

Not that there was a connection, but the week of practice showed itself against Seattle. Sure, Lock’s mechanics are sometimes out of whack, but a Lock-led offense looked better operationally.

Lock has three more preseason games to finetune and win the No. 2 job currently held by Kevin Hogan.

“I think I have a pretty broad horizon of things I want to work on; overall 100 percent, just being a better quarterback,” Lock said.

A key for Lock is managing the storm around him. When he’s in the game, it����ap with backup players who are similarly inexperienced, and things can be clunky.

“He was standing in (the pocket) strong, and he’s getting the passes to where they need to be,” quarterback Joe Flacco said of Lock. “The second half of these (preseason) games are crazy. It����ap 22 guys on the football field fighting for really their (professional) lives.”

”Great week” upcoming

The Broncos practice Sunday Monday, Tuesday and Thursday before San Francisco visits for workouts on Friday and Saturday.

The goal should be simple: Get tons of good work and keep the physicality in line. If 49ers-Broncos are like other joint practices, it will be 1s vs. 1s in team drills, which should spice things up.

Asked how he will benefit, Flacco said: “It����ap practice. It will change the scenery a little bit. I think it����ap always good to break up camp and go against some new guys. I’ve never had an issue with them in the past. I assume good things will come (from them) this week.”

Said Fangio: “This will be a great week for us. We’ve been looking forward to it. A very important week for us.”

The Broncos’ schedule is probably why Fangio is placing importance on it. They play the 49ers on Aug. 19 and then have only two days of practice before playing the Los Angeles Rams on Aug. 24, the final tuneup for the starters. If Fangio wants to simulate a regular-season game week (practice/meetings), this will be his final chance.

Roster math

Starting fullback Andy Janovich (partially torn pectoral muscle), and reserve inside linebacker/special-teams core player Joe Jones (partially torn triceps tendon) are not expected to be ready for the regular-season opener.

If a player is placed on injured reserve before the initial 53-man cut Sept. 1, he is out for the season; if placed on IR starting Sept. 2, two players per team can be designed to return after they sit out eight weeks.

If the Broncos feel Janovich/Jones will be ready by, say, Week 3, they could stash them on the 53. And that will impact the roster math. Minus Janovich, the theory is the Broncos will keep rookie fullback George Aston. Minus Jones, the theory is little trickier — the Broncos could decide to go with one less inside linebacker.

Are Janovich/Jones important players? Sure. But not putting them on IR leaves the Broncos in a semi-bind depth-wise and forces them to waive a player they would rather keep.

Coach Vic Fangio said Lock will see significant playing time as the Broncos’ third quarterback. Lock was 7-of-11 passing for 34 yards against Atlanta. Situational management (avoiding taking needless timeouts and delay of game penalties) and accuracy (putting the football in a spot for his pass-catchers to gain yards) will be two keys for Lock. “All these quarterbacks are different about how they adapt and become an NFL quarterback,” Fangio said. “He’s not there yet, but that����ap to be expected.”

2. Malik Reed

Reed, an undrafted free agent from Nevada, had four tackles and one sack in 33 snaps against Atlanta, showing a good burst around the edge. The Broncos could keep as many as five outside linebackers and it����ap assumed Dekoda Watson and Justin Hollins are Nos. 3-4 behind and . Reed should be considered the favorite over Jeff Holland. Reed knows how to get to the quarterback — 22 sacks in 50 college games. Of Reed, Chubb said: “Me and Von both knew that he was going to be a ‘dog’ out here. I’m glad to see him doing his thing.”

3.

Is there room for Booker on the Week 1 roster after the signing of ? Have to think it����ap a long shot because the Broncos don’t really need to keep four tailbacks, especially at the expense of a sixth receiver or fourth tight end. If Booker gets significant action (and it would make sense to hold him out), he should treat it as an audition for the other 31 teams, a veteran capable of catching the football out of the backfield, protecting the quarterback and returning kickoffs. “He shows a real knack for running the ball and he shows a real understanding in the pass game of how to run routes,” quarterback said.

4. Kieshawn Bierria

A 16-game player on special teams last year (293 snaps) who played only 18 snaps on defense, Bierria started camp as a third-string player at inside linebacker. But injuries to , Josey Jewell and Joe Jones have provided Bierria with an opportunity to show his ability on defense. He had three tackles in 26 plays last week. “It����ap definitely night and day,” Bierria said of his Year 1 to Year 2 comfort level. “You’ve got to act like you’re a vet with how focused you need to be. It����ap definitely gotten to the point where it����ap just time to go out there and make plays.”

5.

Cracraft finished last year as the Broncos’ punt returner and started camp competing for that spot and the sixth receiver position. But an oblique injury on July 19 cost him nine practices and kept him out of the Atlanta game. Punt returner is Cracraft����ap best and maybe only chance at sticking around for Week 1. “I think (special teams coordinator) Tom (McMahon) does a good job of getting everybody reps in the game and I’m sure everybody will get one or two (against Seattle) just like it was last week,” Cracraft said. “It����ap just how you capitalize on your rep and that will maybe dictate what happens the following week.”

About the Seahawks

Last year: 10-6 (second in NFC West, lost at Dallas in first round of playoffs).

Coach: Pete Carroll (10th year).

Additions: DE Ziggy Ansah, G Mike Iupati, WR DK Metcalf, S Marquise Blair, K Jason Myers and WR Gary Jennings.

Departures: S Earl Thomas, WR Doug Baldwin and DE Frank Clark.

Outlook: The Seahawks will be without Ansah and LB Bobby Wagner for their preseason opener. … WR Tyler Lockett leads the receivers, a group that was overhauled during the draft with the selections of Metcalf (round 2), Jennings (round 4) and John Ursua (round 7). … Former Broncos first-round QB Paxton Lynch, who was out of football in 2018 following his Labor Day Weekend release, is competing with to be ’s back-up. … Twin brothers Shaquem and Shaquill Griffin are expected to start at strong-side linebacker and cornerback, respectively.