NFL teams must reduce their rosters from 90 players to 53 by 4 p.m. Sunday, which means as soon as Friday night’s preseason finale ends, the process of finalizing the first version of an active roster kicks into high gear.

So many of Denver’s starters and key role players return from past years and little doubt exists about their roles.

Still, there are several spots up for grabs and, perhaps more pertinently, there are several levers the Broncos can pull to get as many players back into their building as possible.

The job isn’t to pick the best 53 players, necessarily. Head coach Sean Payton always uses the term “the right 53.”

That means some players who are going to be part of Denver’s equation this season could start on the practice squad, be cut and re-signed to the 53-man roster a day later, start the season on injured reserve or any number of other machinations.

Having a deep roster means added risk of losing players between Sunday afternoon and the 11 a.m. claiming deadline, after which teams can begin assembling their practice squads.

“I think that gets weighed in a lot,” Payton said of who’s most at risk of getting claimed. “I’ll turn to the analytics and a lot of it is what kind of tape the opponents seeing. That gets weighed in a lot. Who do we feel like is more likely to get claimed? Certain positions are more likely to get claimed.

“So that����ap always a challenge.”

A challenge, but one we’re taking on one final time. Here’s a last stab at a 53-man roster.

Changes from last week’s projection are italicized.

OFFENSE (24)

QUARTERBACKS (3)

Bo Nix, Jarrett Stidham, Sam Ehlinger

Final call: Taking three quarterbacks is going to cost Denver a player somewhere else, but in the end, that����ap the call here. Ehlinger didn’t sound earlier this week like a player who planned on packing his bags any time soon, then he authored a terrific preseason finale. Plus, there aren’t any good Payton-experienced quarterbacks out there as practice squad options.

If they take two to start, it����ap most likely because they swung a deal with Ehlinger or found a trade option they liked. Ehlinger is a veteran, so he can sign anywhere if he’s cut. Depending on how much injured reserve activity the Broncos have, they could cut Ehlinger with a promise he’s back on the 53-man roster in a day. Or they could ask him to start the season on the practice squad. The real curveball would be a two-man Nix/Ehlinger room to start.

RUNNING BACK (3)

J.K. Dobbins, RJ Harvey, Jonah Coleman

Final call: The Broncos will press all the buttons to squeeze extra spots out of the roster. In this projection, that means cutting Adam Prentice with the agreement that he’ll be signed to the practice squad, elevated three times and/or added back to the 53 when a spot becomes available. Prentice has had a good camp and will be in the mix one way or another.

If Jaleel McLaughlin and/or Tyler Badie clear waivers and return to the practice squad, all the better. Historic odds on players claimed suggest at least one will. Cody Schrader could be a practice squad option, too.

TIGHT END (4)

Adam Trautman, Evan Engram, Nate Adkins and Justin Joly

Final call: Joly hasn’t had a big training camp, but he finished with a bang on a wide-open 88-yard touchdown Friday night. Caleb Lohner hasn’t practiced at all and seems like a candidate to begin the season on injured reserve. They could wait a day and thus save a return designation for now to ensure that Lohner actually does recover and get fully healthy. Can’t rule out Dallen Bentley or Lucas Krull nabbing a spot, but they feel like the most likely to get through waivers.

WIDE RECEIVER (5)

Courtland Sutton, Jaylen Waddle, Pat Bryant, Marvin Mims Jr., Troy Franklin

Final call: The same five it����ap been all of camp. The sticking point here: Lil’Jordan Humphrey is almost certainly going to be part of the plan. In this case, he either starts on the practice squad or is a one-day cut until the Broncos place someone else on injured reserve. Denver will feel fortunate if all of its undrafted rookie receivers get through to the practice squad. There are a ton of receivers out there around the league, but Cam Ross and/or Kolbe Katsis could factor on special teams at some point in the not-so-distant future and could draw attention from other teams.

OFFENSIVE LINE (9)

Garett Bolles, Ben Powers, Luke Wattenberg, Quinn Meinerz, Mike McGlinchey, Alex Palczewski, Kage Casey, Alex Forsyth, Tyler Miller 

Final call: Let����ap get a little bit wild. In this projection, Frank Crum is placed on injured reserve Sunday with a designation to return. Then, there’s the Tyler Miller conversation. The Broncos have lost a developmental tackle each of the past two years at the cutdown. They know the value of such players. If they can get Calvin Throckmorton and Matt Peart to agree to start the year on the practice squad, this becomes possible. The end goal here: Keep as many of this group as possible for as long as possible.

DEFENSE (26)

DEFENSIVE LINE (7)

Zach Allen, D.J. Jones, Malcolm Roach, Eyioma Uwazurike, Tyler Onyedim, Jordan Jackson, Sai’Vion Jones

Final call: Maybe the Broncos ultimately feel like they have to choose between Jackson and Sai’Vion Jones, but this coaching staff and front office have prided themselves on building depth in both trenches. If there are ways around cutting somebody up front, they’ll find them. Jackson is too reliable and Jones too young to part ways with just yet, though the latter has had a relatively quiet camp.

“Every year is different and you really never know,” said Jackson, whose made the 53 each of the past two years. “Five weeks to put in the work I’ve put in. We’ll see how it all comes out.”

OUTSIDE LINEBACKER (5)

Nik Bonitto, Jonah Elliss, Que Robinson, Dondrea Tillman, Ron Stone, Jr.

Final call: Time is ticking quickly, but in this version, the projection is that the Broncos will have clarity on Jonathon Cooper’s status — a suspension levied by the NFL or (perhaps more likely at the moment) a placement on the commissioner’s exempt list — by the time the roster cutdown arrives. Stone makes it as a depth piece, at least to start. The tough call here is what to do with Drew Sanders. Is it injured reserve? They have to use one of eight return designations to put him there Sunday but if they carry him for one day, they can stash him and decide later whether to bring him back. Still, Sanders has played four games in the past two seasons. It may be time for a fresh start. If there’s no decision on Cooper at 4 p.m. Sunday, he’ll be on the roster.

INSIDE LINEBACKER (5)

Alex Singleton, Justin Strnad, Red Murdock, Jordan Turner, Karene Reid 

Final call: The Broncos had a curveball thrown this week when Taylor Rapp left after just one practice. Reid, Turner and Murdock are all special teams staples and it����ap easy to see any of them getting time on defense if either Singleton or Strnad miss time. Murdock has been calling the defense in practice, the type of investment that makes it easy to think Denver wants to keep him around for a while. The question: Are Reid and Turner worthy of among the last spots on the roster. Their special teams work last year and preseason playing time so far this summer suggest yes.

CORNERBACK (5)

Pat Surtain II, Riley Moss, Ja’Quan McMillian, Jahdae Barron, Kris Abrams-Draine

Final call: One of the toughest calls to leave off the roster is Reese Taylor. The Broncos are just fortunate to have high-quality depth across the cornerback group, which works against Taylor despite his special teams ability and ability to play in the slot on defense. He’s a player who will likely feel like a little bit of a risk trying to get through waivers. He also sustained a concussion Friday night against the Vikings.

SAFETY (4)

Talanoa Hufanga, Brandon Jones, Devon Key, JL Skinner

Final call: Miles Scott is a nice developmental player, but based on his role and playing time so far in camp, perhaps Denver is hoping they can get that redshirt year done on the practice squad. Tycen Anderson was one of the most conspicuous players not to dress Friday night vs. Minnesota. Those guys are either already on the roster or definitely not making it. The guess here is the latter.

SPECIAL TEAMS (3)

Wil Lutz (PK), Jeremy Crawshaw (P), Mitchell Fraboni (LS)

Final call: Easy. They’ve got Luke Basso’s number if they need a long-snapper at any point during the season.

The NFL’s deadline for trimming rosters from 90 players down to 53 is now just a week away.

By the time Sean Payton’s team finishes its preseason finale against Minnesota on Friday, those decisions will be right in front of the coaching staff and front office.

Denver is widely regarded as having one of the deepest rosters in football. Even though losing players to waiver claims from other teams is relatively rare — there were 29 total waiver claims at the cut down last year and 27 the year before — the Broncos are the kind of team others around the league will be paying extra close attention to.

A year ago, they saw two players claimed — offensive lineman Xavier Truss and cornerback Damari Mathis — and a repeat performance this year would not be surprising.

So, that����ap the cat-and-mouse game for Payton, general manager George Paton and company. It����ap about putting together a high-quality 53-man roster but also about protecting as many players as possible while getting as many as you can through waivers and to the practice squad.

With that, here’s the Denver Post����ap penultimate roster projection. The last will come following Denver’s preseason finale.

OFFENSE (24)

QUARTERBACKS (3)

Bo Nix, Jarrett Stidham, Sam Ehlinger

Current picture: Nix has been healthy, and Stidham has taken the lion’s share of the No. 2 reps in practice and in games. He wasn’t sharp in 30 snaps Friday night against the Packers. Can Ehlinger make a last-minute run at the job? And the bigger question for roster purposes is if they keep all three from the outset. The argument against is easy: It����ap a deep roster, and Denver has worthy options at other positions. The argument for, though, is compelling: At the game’s most important position, the Broncos have three players who have started and also been in the system for more than a year. Plus, there is no clear alternative at this point — no young practice squad candidate or somebody who’s been here in the Payton era — meaning if they lose Stidham or Ehlinger and at some point need to play the other, then the backup is someone off the street. Why take that risk with a Super Bowl contender?

Bubble player of interest: The rest of the field at roster cutdown time. Maybe there’s a young player out there the Broncos are hoping gets cut.

RUNNING BACK (3)

J.K. Dobbins, RJ Harvey, Jonah Coleman

Current picture: The top three are locked in and have the makings of the best Broncos backfield in a while. In this iteration, the Broncos approach veteran Adam Prentice and ask him to start the season on the practice squad. He then gets added to the 53-man roster after three elevations, if not before based on the team’s injury picture. Prentice, though, has been really good since he arrived at the end of camp last year. It’d be a real surprise if he wasn’t squarely involved from the outset. This is just a creative way of making it happen.

Bubble players of interest: Badie and McLaughlin. If Denver can get one or both through to the practice squad, they’ve got themselves nice depth. If not, there will be a ton of backs out there to sort through on the waiver wire.

TIGHT END (4)

Adam Trautman, Evan Engram, Nate Adkins and Justin Joly

Current picture: Fairly wide open after the top two. You can put together several iterations, squint and see it being the way the 53-man shakes out to start the year. This quartet gives Denver a little bit of everything: The top two that are sure to make the roster, a player in Adkins who can play F and also fullback in a pinch and the fifth-round pick in Joly. It����ap contingent on Adkins getting healthy. He’s been in and out this summer. Dallen Bentley isn’t flashy, but he does the dirty work in-line. It may come down to who’s the player Denver feels best about sneaking through the waiver wire between Adkins, Joly and Bentley. Lucas Krull just keeps hanging around the picture, too.

Bubble player of interest: Caleb Lohner. The second-year man is in a bit of a tricky spot now. Maybe Payton’s spring praise was real enough that he gets back soon and makes the roster from the outset. Otherwise, from a roster perspective, could he be an IR candidate to start the year with a return designation? You only get so many, so they’d have to be counting on him playing at some point.

WIDE RECEIVER (5)

Courtland Sutton, Jaylen Waddle, Pat Bryant, Marvin Mims Jr., Troy Franklin

Current picture: Pretty much set… unless. Outside of a Devaughn Vele-esque trade from depth, this looks like a darn good quintet for the Broncos. We’ve all become accustomed to Lil’Jordan Humphrey starting the year on the practice squad and then playing a lot, but he legitimately deserves a roster spot the way he’s played this summer. Will it be there for him? Regardless, the role will be. As is, there’s a world in which Humphrey’s elevated from the practice squad early in the year and Franklin is a gameday inactive if everyone is healthy. Enviable depth in this room.

Bubble player of interest: Cam Ross. He got to run with the top group in the first preseason game. Then Friday night vs. Green Bay it was fellow undrafted rookie Dane Key. Kolbe Katsis has come on strong, too. Denver’s got options for the practice squad. There are a ton of receivers out there, but the Broncos could lose one of these guys at the roster cutdown.

OFFENSIVE LINE (9)

Garett Bolles, Ben Powers, Luke Wattenberg, Quinn Meinerz, Mike McGlinchey, Alex Palczewski, Frank Crum, Kage Casey, Calvin Throckmorton

Current picture: What has looked like a rock-solid nine for the active roster has its first major question: Is Alex Forsyth going to get enough healthy time to make the roster and, even if he does, has Throckmorton just flat-out outplayed him for the No. 2 center job in camp? For now, we’re leaning yes to the second question regardless of the first. Forsyth has capital built up in the building, though. Payton calls him one of the smartest centers he’s been around. Throckmorton, though, can also play both guard spots, and that flex is valuable. Could be one of the tougher calls on the roster next week.

Bubble player of interest: Tyler Miller. They aren’t exactly household names, but each of the past two years the Broncos have lost a developmental tackle on the waiver wire at the roster cutdown. Last year it was Truss. In 2024, they lost Demontrey Jacobs but had to try to get him to the practice squad because they knew Frank Crum wouldn’t make it through if they waived him. Players are scarce at the position, and Denver knows how to develop them. The bet here is they’ll be quite happy to keep Miller if he makes it through.

DEFENSE (26)

DEFENSIVE LINE (7)

Zach Allen, D.J. Jones, Malcolm Roach, Eyioma Uwazurike, Tyler Onyedim, Jordan Jackson, Sai’Vion Jones

Current picture: Denver looks well-situated to replace John Franklin-Myers and keep on rolling with Eyioma Uwazurike and Malcolm Roach. Those two plus D.J. Jones make for a top-flight run-defending group, and if Uwazurike rushes the passer as he has so far in the preseason, this group is going to be really dangerous. The question is if they take seven again like last year. And who would they leave off? If you’re looking for trade candidates in the next week, Jackson would have the chance to draw something real — like, a Day 3 pick rather than just a pick swap, perhaps — from a team that doesn’t have Denver’s depth. He’s made the roster cleanly the past two years and is having another good camp.

Bubble player of interest: Sai’Vion Jones. If you were going to leave somebody from the above group off the roster, Jackson and Sai’Vion Jones are the only two real options. Jackson’s proven he can handle a rotational role, so he’s got that going for him on a championship-minded team. Jones is bigger and stronger than a year ago. It����ap not yet clear he’s fully ready, but Denver also traded up into the third round to draft him just a year ago. It’d be a surprise to cut bait now, especially when there’s no indication they think he’s a lost cause.

OUTSIDE LINEBACKER (5)

Nik Bonitto, Jonathon Cooper, Jonah Elliss, Que Robinson, Dondrea Tillman

Current picture: Straightforward. This group has top-flight production and depth. There’s really no two ways about it. The major question is if Cooper will actually be on the roster Week 1. We’re keeping him on as a placeholder for now, but the reality is there’s a good chance he’s not. He could be suspended in the next eight days and, if the league is still reviewing at the roster cutdown. then perhaps the commissioner’s exempt list comes into play for the interim. Interestingly, the roster cutdown is Aug. 30, and Cooper is slated to be arraigned on domestic violence-related charges Aug. 31.

Bubble player of interest: Drew Sanders. A healthy training camp for Sanders would have made him a compelling bubble player. Perhaps he’s got one more run at it in him over the next week. But after a sack against the Falcons, he didn’t practice all week or play against Green Bay. On this roster, it����ap just going to be really hard to keep a guy who’s in and out as much as Sanders has been. He’s a scary one to let walk, though. If he ever stays healthy, he’s going to make plays.

INSIDE LINEBACKER (4)

Alex Singleton, Justin Strnad, Red Murdock, Jordan Turner

Current picture: Still up for grabs behind the starters. Murdock is playing his way into a spot, and the Broncos love his smarts. Don’t overthink it and risk losing him. What����ap interesting is Turner has only been back a week or so off of NFI, but he jumped right into camp work with the top two units, and he was next up next to Reid in the game Friday vs. Green Bay. Denver liked his scout team and special teams work as a rookie last year. He’s going to be tough to leave off the roster. But Reid has been available and consistent all summer.

Bubble player of interest: Reid and Taurean York. Even after losing Levelle Bailey to injury, Denver has a bunch of interesting options. Not all of them can make the roster. Whichever two or three the team thinks can make it through waivers are the ones they’ll let go. But this group in general is worth trying to retain and develop through the season.

CORNERBACK (5)

Pat Surtain II, Riley Moss, Ja’Quan McMillian, Jahdae Barron, Kris Abrams-Draine

Current picture: There may not be a better, deeper group out there. As long as they’re healthy. Riley Moss left the game Friday with an injury to his ribs, though Payton said he was doing “good.” If he missed any time, that might change the calculus here. Otherwise, the top trio is top-flight, and Barron pairs with Abrams-Draine to provide capable backup and sub play across the board.

Bubble player of interest: Reese Taylor. He’s not a talked-about player, but Taylor was going to make this 53-man projection until the Broncos signed veteran safety Taylor Rapp on Thursday. He still could, depending on how numbers shake out at other positions. Taylor was on the active roster down the stretch last year, is playing on the top line of several Denver special teams units currently and knows the systems for both Vance Joseph and Darren Rizzi.

SAFETY (5)

Talanoa Hufanga, Brandon Jones, Devon Key, JL Skinner, Taylor Rapp

Current picture: Maybe it����ap as simple as starters, special teamers and Rapp. It����ap hard to imagine Rapp would have signed when he did without some indication Denver planned to carry him on the roster to start the season. He’s played in 93 games in his career but tried to battle through a knee injury early last year, didn’t play great through six games and then was put on injured reserve. Key and Skinner are high-level special teamers, and the staff says it trusts Key to play defense if needed.

Bubble player of interest: Tycen Anderson. In this situation, it comes down to Anderson vs. Skinner for a special teams-dominant role, and Skinner wins out via training camp performance and also the production in years past here.

SPECIAL TEAMS (3)

Wil Lutz (PK), Jeremy Crawshaw (P), Mitchell Fraboni (LS) 

Current picture: Pretty much set in stone outside of injury.

Bubble player of interest: Luke Basso has been in camp as a long-snapper, but STC Darren Rizzi said part of the reason is just to take reps off Fraboni during camp. Perhaps more interesting: Could Ross or another young player challenge for time as a returner?

Feel the game-day feels. Knock the rust off. Play clean football.

It didn’t take Denver’s third-year quarterback long to check all those boxes — and more.

Nix and the Broncos’ starting offense scored points on both drives they played Friday night in a preseason game against Green Bay at Empower Field, including an opening touchdown.

Nix finished his night 6-of-9 passing for 76 yards and a 21-yard touchdown pass to second-year running back RJ Harvey.

“For the first time back where he’s actually going against a different defense, I thought he was efficient,” head coach Sean Payton told the broadcast at halftime. “He’s been moving well at practice and that’s really been the key evaluation. No restrictions. He’ll be ready to go to start the year.”

Nix showed the ability to escape pressure and avoid bad plays.

He attacked down the field.

He took his new top-tier offensive weapon, wide receiver Jaylen Waddle, out for a third-down spin, too.

It all added up to a productive night for Nix, who had offensive coordinator and new Broncos play-caller Davis Webb as his voice in the helmet for the first time in a game.

Webb dialed up a good one on third-and-5 from the Denver 40. Waddle, Courtland Sutton and Pat Bryant all lined up to Nix’s right. At the snap, Sutton took off up the sideline and Bryant worked his way across Waddle, who was in the slot.

That pair of routes from the Broncos’ pair of physically imposing receivers left Waddle with all kinds of room to operate as he started up the field. He made a quick cut vertically and left All-Pro safety — and former college teammate at Alabama — Xavier McKinney in his dust. Nix hit him for a 35-yard catch-and-run to set the Broncos up in scoring territory.

Three plays later, Nix saw Harvey beat another terrific Packers defender, inside linebacker Edgerrin Cooper, on a wheel route and put a good throw between the numbers on his jersey for a touchdown.

The Broncos’ second drive and the starting offense’s night ended in a 53-yard Wil Lutz field goal.

That constituted a fine night of work over 14 plays for the group. They played mostly clean, except for a Garett Bolles false start. They scored on both drives. The playmakers they’re going to count on this year beat premium players on the other side.

Denver didn’t operate entirely at full strength, though nearly every player dressed for Payton’s team in its home preseason debut. Center Luke Wattenberg, running back J.K. Dobbins, and wide receiver Marvin Mims Jr. were dressed but did not play. Calvin Throckmorton started at center for Denver.

With Dobbins watching from the sideline, Harvey got the first drive with the No. 1 offense and rookie Jonah Coleman handled the second.

Neither saw any playing time once the starting offensive line was out of the game.

Nix said Tuesday that he was “super excited” to get back on the field almost seven months to the day after he fractured his right ankle in overtime of Denver’s postseason win over Buffalo.

“It����ap always a blast to play at home,” he said. “It����ap great to get in front of our fans. It’ll be fun to get out there for the first time this year, put the pads on and go out there and play a game.

“For me, all the games feel the same and so it’ll be good to get some work in.”

The night did not go as smoothly for Vance Joseph’s top defense. The group looked like it had forced a turnover on the second play of the night when Pat Surtain II stripped Packers receiver Christian Watson, but the fumble was overturned and quarterback Jordan Love led a 12-play touchdown drive on his only possession of the night.

Eyioma Uwazurike continues to push for a starting role along the Denver defensive line. He got the nod in base defense, while Malcolm Roach played in nickel and when Joseph had his pass-rushing groups in the game.

Roll call: The Broncos that didn’t dress were mostly players that have been out recently with injuries: OLB Drew Sanders, C Alex Forsyth, WR Michael Bandy and TE Caleb Lohner. Veteran safety Taylor Rapp also did not dress because he just signed with Denver on Thursday.

Then Zach Allen and John Franklin-Myers showed him the light.

Uwazurike, a 2022 fourth-round pick out of Iowa State, was starting to work his way into the Broncos’ rotation for the first time in his career and the first time since missing all of 2023 due to a gambling-related suspension.

Uwazurike has confidence in his own game. That����ap easier when you’re 6-foot-6 and 325 pounds. He’s strong, he’s got athleticism. He calls himself a good pass-rusher.

But how do you deploy that?

“It����ap not just knowing how to do moves against people,” Uwazurike told The Post. “It����ap knowing, ‘OK, this guy likes to set this way. This guy likes to shoot his hands this way. This center leaves this little bit of air here when he does this. Then this is where we need to attack at.’

“Every week we’re switching up moves and going based off what certain teams did. It����ap different than doing one-on-ones in practice. Learning from them and watching them do that last year, that was everything.”

Uwazurike saw first-hand what that preparation looked like. He learned what to look for.

“Zach, the notes that Zach takes, he knows the opponent����ap middle name,” Uwazurike said. “He knows everything about them. He dissects everything down on how to pass-rush vs. a certain person, a certain team, how the o-line slides.

“They definitely school you when it comes to studying. It����ap been good to learn.”

This fall, he just might get the chance to put it all to work.

Uwazurike has been one of the breakouts so far in Broncos training camp. He’s been disruptive against the run and the pass. Regardless of who he lines up against.

“The leap he’s taking right now is pretty scary,” defensive tackle D.J. Jones said recently, calling Uwazurike, “unblockable.”

Which raises an interesting situation as the regular season approaches: The Broncos have several high-profile players entering the final year of their contracts this fall. Most of the attention has been on whether players like Riley Moss and Ja’Quan McMillian will receive contract extensions this summer. Same for safety Brandon Jones and wide receiver Marvin Mims, Jr.

However high Uwazurike is perceived to be externally on the priority list, it����ap probably not high enough.

The 28-year-old says he’s not thinking about whether it����ap a possibility in the coming weeks. Instead, he’s focused on what ultimately makes him valuable.

“All I can do is learn and — I feel like what I’m doing now in camp, learning from the guys in front of me and all that, that����ap what����ap going to help me get to that point,” Uwazurike said. “Money is made here. Money is made in practice and in the film room. That����ap my main focus. If I do all of that right and play as hard as I can, then whatever comes for me is whatever comes for me.

“That����ap all I can do. That has to be the mindset.”

Uwazurike has seen that approach work for his teammates. Franklin-Myers last year played well for the Broncos and parlayed it into a $21 million per year deal with Tennessee.

The since-departed defensive lineman, though, went out of his way to help Uwazurike.

One misconception about Uwazurike is the notion that he’s always been a run defender first. Really, he says, he thinks of himself more as a rusher. He’s learned the art of stopping the run and, in 2025, did so at a high level.

He got those chances, in part, because of Franklin-Myers.

The veteran saw enough from Uwazurike to go to defensive line coach Jamar Cain and tell him that Uwazurike should take some of his early-down work and help keep JFM fresh for pass-rushing situations.

“There’s a difference between people saying ‘I know that you can do it,’ and actually doing it and showing it,” Uwazurike said. “That����ap what it was. The season before that, my first season with JFM, it was constantly ‘I know you can do it,’ this and that.

“Last year, it was, let����ap put it on film. Let����ap put it on film, let����ap stop some runs and actually show that you belong.”

Franklin-Myers went to defensive line coach Jamar Cain, Uwazurike said, and vouched for Uwazurike to play early downs.

“It allowed him to have more pass-rush opportunities,” Uwazurike said. “When you have that chemistry and stuff opens up like that, it allowed us to be how productive we were last year. More bodies in the game, more air for JFM.”

Now with JFM gone, there is playing time up for grabs. Malcolm Roach is undoubtedly going to take some of that. Uwazurike likely will, too. Jordan Jackson and young players like Sai’Vion Jones and Tyler Onyedim could also force their way into the mix.

Uwazurike, though, looks primed to play a major role.

“He’s always been a big man. Now he’s leaned out, he’s moving very well,” defensive coordinator Vance Joseph said recently. “He’s powerful. … It����ap been fun to watch him improve.”

Sean Payton’s fourth Denver team starts out on its 2026 journey with a preseason opener that kicks off at 5 p.m. in Atlanta.

Last time the Broncos were on the field, they came up four points shy of a trip to the Super Bowl with a 10-7 AFC Championship Game loss to New England at Empower Field in late January.

Jarrett Stidham started for injured Bo Nix, Vance Joseph’s defense dominated and a second-half snowstorm turned a slugfest into a stalemate.

Nix won’t be back on the field Friday for Denver’s preseason debut — he’s healthy enough to play, Payton says, and he’s been a full participant in training camp, but he won’t play until next week. So, Stidham and Sam Ehlinger will run the Broncos’ offense while offensive coordinator Davis Webb calls plays.

Payton said he expects most of his healthy starters to play around 15 snaps against the Falcons, but there are several starters who aren’t entirely healthy, especially on offense. It will be a surprise if receivers Jaylen Waddle and Marvin Mims play. Same with center Luke Wattenberg and key offensive line reserves Alex Forsyth and Alex Palczewski. Will J.K. Dobbins, whom Payton said had a soft tissue issue pop up earlier this week, or receiver Courtland Sutton — recipient of several rest days so far in camp — be out there? Stalwarts like corner Pat Surtain II? If so, their appearances will be fairly brief.

Here are six other storylines to watch.

Can Jarrett Stidham or Sam Ehlinger make a move in the QB2 race?

Payton has downplayed the race to be Nix’s primary backup, but it����ap been shaping up to be a good one. Outside of a completely outlier performance (to the good or to the bad), it seems unlikely that one half each for Stidham and Ehlinger on Friday will decide the race. Still, this is an important waypoint. Ehlinger looks more comfortable in his second season with the Broncos. Stidham’s been up and down in camp, but he’s got equity built up with Nix and with the coaching staff and front office.

“They’ve been great,” Webb said recently. ‘Stiddy,’ he’s in Year 4 (in Denver). He’s spot played for us very well. Sam has grown tremendously from last year to this year. We’re really fortunate to have three really good quarterbacks. Not every organization can say that. We can. And we trust all three if they had to play.

“I’m really looking forward to those guys in the preseason.”

The first question: Who’s No. 2? After that, the conversation turns to whether Denver decides to keep all three on the 53-man roster at the end of the month.

How do Jonah Coleman and the rookies look?

For Denver’s rookie draft picks and several undrafted free agents, this will be their first time on a game field in an NFL uniform.

As it happens, several of the Broncos’ rookies play positions that are among the toughest to evaluate in training camp.

Fourth-round running back Jonah Coleman has looked comfortable and flashed decisiveness and vision in practice. Still, the Broncos don’t tackle to the ground in camp. That makes Friday the best look yet at what Denver may have in the former University of Washington back. There is similar intrigue for third-round defensive lineman Tyler Onyedim, fourth-round offensive lineman Kage Casey, Denver’s pair of Day 3 tight end selections and also a pair of undrafted offensive linemen in tackle Tyler Miller and Gavin Ortega. Given the Broncos’ run of injuries at center, expect Ortega in particular to get a ton of work. Among Denver’s rookie receivers, Cam Ross and Kolbe Katsis have produced most consistently in camp.

Will the camp standouts carry their momentum over to games?

There are a handful of players who have been obvious standouts in training camp so far and they’re at various points of their careers and the depth chart. The short list: Receiver Pat Bryant, cornerback Riley Moss and defensive lineman Eyioma Uwazurike.

Moss counts squarely among the starters who, assuming he plays, likely will be in just for a couple of series.

Bryant and Uwazurike could get more run than that. Both played roles as key reserves last year and each look primed to take big steps forward this fall. They don’t need eye-popping stat lines against the Falcons, but watching each will be interesting nonetheless.

How loud of a preseason can Jahdae Barron have?

Expect Barron to see time in different spots during Denver’s three preseason games. The 2025 first-round pick played outside, in the slot and as the starting defense’s dime back so far through training camp. Barring some kind of major injury or change, it appears Barron is tracking toward being a primary reserve to Ja’Quan McMillian and on the perimeter, too. Will his workload be tilted one way or the other in preseason games? And can he build a little momentum heading into the regular season despite not knowing exactly how much he’ll be on the field?

Does Denver have enough depth at inside linebacker and safety?

The Broncos appear to be at least wondering the same question because they worked out veteran safety Taylor Rapp on Wednesday. The seeming front-runner as the next man in at safety behind Brandon Jones and Talanoa Hufanga is Devon Key. The third inside linebacker is wide open, with Levelle Bailey, Red Murdock, Karene Reid, Taurean York and just-back-from-injury Jordan Turner in the mix. Turner could move up fast if he stays healthy from here, but the rookie Murdock has been playing well in camp lately, too.

What… exactly is the plan at tight end?

Nix talked recently about the team using Evan Engram in a little bit more of an all-around manner during camp rather than the more exclusively big slot-type role he held last year. Barring a surprise release, Engram and Adam Trautman are the starting point for the room.

After that, it gets difficult to tell. Nate Adkins was putting together a solid camp but has missed the past couple days. Lucas Krull has been quietly solid and has made more plays recently. Rookies Justin Joly and Dallen Bentley have been quiet so far but will get a bunch of preseason run. Caleb Lohner drew real praise from Payton this spring but has been out all of camp and was seen recently watching practice with a walking boot on his left foot. Time’s running short for him to get back and make himself a real factor early in the season.

Bottom line: There’s a lot to sort out and five players for two spots or three at the max behind Engram and Trautman.

The Broncos put out their first unofficial depth chart of the preseason — a requirement because they play a game this week — which always makes for interesting reading.

Payton, though, does not like depth chart day.

For one, not everything on the depth chart is how it will actually play out come Sept. 14 when the Broncos kick off their season against Kansas City. He intentionally puts rookies at the back of the line in the preseason depth chart, even if they might contribute.

Keeler: Has Broncos coach Sean Payton gone soft in his old age?

A couple of interesting notes: Marvin Mims, Jr. gets the first nod on the starting line at wide receiver along with Courtland Sutton and Jaylen Waddle. The second line features camp standout Pat Bryant and Troy Franklin.

On the defensive line, veteran Malcolm Roach is listed as the starter next to Zach Allen and D.J. Jones, while Eyioma Uwazurike is listed with the No. 2s. And at outside linebacker, Jonah Elliss and Dondrea Tillman are the No. 2s with Que Robinson listed behind them.

Jarrett Stidham is listed as the No. 2 quarterback ahead of Sam Ehlinger, though that looks like a good battle brewing as Denver's preseason opener at Atlanta at 5 p.m. Friday draws closer.

Again, all of this is unofficial, meant to not give much real information and isn’t really reflective of what the lineups and rotations will look like in full a month from now.

That won’t stop this train.

Offense

QB: Bo Nix, Jarrett Stidham, Sam Ehlinger

RB: J.K. Dobbins, RJ Harvey, Tyler Badie, Jaleel McLaughlin, Cody Schrader, Jonah Coleman

FB: Adam Prentice

WR: Marvin Mims, Jr., Troy Franklin, Michael Bandy

WR: Jaylen Waddle, Lil’Jordan Humphrey

WR: Courtland Sutton, Pat Bryant, Hakeem Butler, Dane Key

TE: Evan Engram, Adam Trautman, Nate Adkins, Lucas Krull, Caleb Lohner

LT: Garett Bolles, Matt Peart, Frank Crum

LG: Ben Powers, Calvin Throckmorton

C: Luke Wattenberg, Alex Forsyth, Michael Deiter

RG: Quinn Meinerz, Kage Casey Gavin Ortega

RT: Mike McGlinchey, Alex Palczewski, Reid Holskey

Defense

DE: Zach Allen, Jordan Jackson, Sai’Vion Jones

DT: D.J. Jones, Jordan Miller, Kristian Williams

DE: Malcolm Roach, Eyioma Uwazurike, Tyler Onyedim

WLB: Nik Bonitto, Jonah Elliss, Que Robinson

SLB: Jonathon Cooper, Dondrea Tillman, Drew Sanders

ILB: Alex Singleton, Karene Reid, Jordan Turner

ILB: Justin Strnad, Levelle Bailey, Red Murdock, Taurean York

CB: Pat Surtain II, Kris Abrams Draine, Sean Fresch Jr.

CB: Riley Moss, Jahdae Barron, Brent Austin

Nickel: Ja’Quan McMillian, Jahdae Barron, Reese Taylor

S: Talanoa Hufanga, JL Skinner, Tycen Anderson

S: Brandon Jones, Devon Key, Miles Scott

Special teams

P: Jeremy Crawshaw

PK: Wil Lutz

LS: Mitch Fraboni, Luke Basso

KR: Marvin Mims, Tyler Badie, RJ Harvey

PR: Marvin Mims, Michael Bandy, Cam Ross

Sean Payton’s team took the field six straight days — the last without him and several others as they traveled to Ohio for Drew Brees’ induction into the Pro Football Hall of Fame — and came out the other side with a lot of work banked.

A week from now, Denver will have already played a preseason game at Atlanta.

The roster cutdown is three weeks away.

The Broncos open their season on Monday Night Football at Kansas City in 36 days.

OK, that����ap still a ways out, but the countdown is now on.

Jobs aren’t won and lost in the first week-plus of camp, but we’ve seen a lot of the Broncos and learned a lot, too.

Here are nine quick thoughts after 10 days on the field.

The Broncos offense is going to feel… different.

It����ap not yet clear how, but it����ap become increasingly clear that Denver’s offense is going to look and feel different with Davis Webb at the controls. Players talk about slightly different formations, slightly adjusted routes, more motion and changed assignments. Webb, Payton and company must decide what they want to hang their hat on in the run game, and that answer hasn’t availed itself to onlookers yet. Webb himself talked about offensive identity taking the early part of the season to form. But the notion that this is just going to be Webb calling plays off Payton’s sheet feels off. There might be plenty of Payton stuff to go along with some fresh ideas, but it will be with Webb’s spin, tempo and sequencing.

“I feel like Davis is doing a really good job of communicating with me and not over-communicating, but just give me a few things here and there,” quarterback Bo Nix said recently. “Reminders, little things about a play, like, ‘Hey, don’t forget this. Hey, remember you have this.’ So I think that����ap going to be great as we go with that communication in my ear.

“He’s been waiting for this moment for a long time. He’s been preparing for this, and he’s really put us in a good spot.”

“He’s got a bunch of wide-open concepts in practice because of shifts and motions,” Joseph said Saturday. “He’s worked very hard from the spring to now to put together and it looks really good. … The shifts and motions and the window dressing pre-snap has been good for all of us to see.”

The Broncos defense is going to look mostly the same

Vance Joseph’s defense, on the other hand, doesn’t have much need for change. Joseph has most of the same players back, and they know what they’re doing. It����ap been PhD ball for a veteran, cohesive group early in camp. If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it. Joseph will tweak and adjust because you have to in the NFL, but this recipe hits just fine.

“You’re not coming into camp kind of stressed about learning,” veteran linebacker Alex Singleton said. “That’s the hardest thing when you go to a new team or have new guys where you’re teaching guys, ‘Hey, this is our check in this situation.’ No, instead it’s, all 11 guys know.

“So, we’re one step ahead of where we would’ve been last year or the year before that at this time of the year.”

Ehlinger has a real shot at the No. 2 QB job

Sam Ehlinger’s had two days running the No. 2s so far in camp, which may not seem like a lot, but it����ap two more than he got in all of last year’s camp. After the first, Payton said, basically, nothing to see here. It looks like something to see, though. In fact, it feels like Ehlinger’s making a real run at the gig. The Broncos like both Ehlinger and Jarrett Stidham and could keep all three on the 53-man roster despite a deep group and a good argument for keeping an extra guy somewhere else. But if Ehlinger plays well in the preseason — remember, he was pretty darn sharp last year — the Broncos will have a decision to make. Plus, if you’re toying with the idea of change after one guy has had the job for three seasons, you might just be looking for a reason to change.

Uwazurike might be a real problem for opposing offenses

The biggest loss on Denver’s defense was supposed to be John Franklin-Myers. It may still be, but the Broncos’ defensive line has been rolling so far in camp. Nobody in that group looks primed for a bigger leap than Eyioma Uwazurike, whom veteran D.J. Jones recently called “unblockable” and “scary.” Uwazurike is a force against the run and has budding pass-rush potential.

“I’m proud of him because, you guys know this, in our sport, any sport really, to just be out for a year can be difficult,” Payton said of Uwazurike, who was suspended for the entire 2023 season for violating the league’s gambling policy. “He’s really come back, developed. He’s strong, he’s big, and he’s having a real good start to camp. So I think you have to look at it as one less year than what����ap listed because of the year out.

“He’s doing really well.”

Malcolm Roach has seen an uptick in pass-rush reps, too. Can they generate consistent pressure in real games? Time will tell on that, but those two plus rookie Tyler Onyedim and second-year man Sai’Vion Jones — he’s stronger this summer but might have already fallen behind the rookie — look poised to fill the substantial gap JFM left.

There are two major questions on defense, even if they don’t seem pressing

Funny enough, while the d-line looks capable of covering up for JFM, the two biggest question marks on Joseph’s defense now are who replaces Dre Greenlaw at ILB and P.J. Locke at safety. You might say, what����ap the big deal? A No. 3 inside ’backer and a No. 3 safety can’t be that hard to figure out. Greenlaw played 324 snaps, though, and Locke played 173 after Brandon Jones was hurt. Of the Broncos’ four starters at linebacker and safety, only Justin Strnad has not dealt with a serious injury in the past two seasons.

Right now, the next man in at each spot looks like Levelle Bailey at ILB and Devon Key at S. Will that be the case come Sept. 14? Key’s in a strong position, but Bailey may have to fend off rookie seventh-rounder Red Murdock, who’s starting to make plays more consistently as camp moves toward its third week.

Bryant is making an early claim as Denver’s third wide receiver

Troy Franklin had 104 targets last year. Marvin Mims Jr. is putting together the best training camp of his career so far. But Pat Bryant, the second-year player out of Illinois, looks like the man. He makes plays day in and day out, and he’s got a complete skill set. He’s tough in the middle of the field. He can run after the catch. He’s Denver’s best blocking receiver, too. That����ap the profile of a guy who is going to play a lot. “It’ll be easy creating his role,” Payton said despite talking repeatedly about how stiff the competition is at receiver.

“It����ap healthy competition is what we like to call it,” Bryant said Friday. “At the end of the day, everybody’s job is on the line, but to come out here and compete, push each other, make sure everybody’s doing their job, helping each other out when it����ap needed. At the end of the day, we all have the same goal: let����ap go out there and win.”

There’s another wrinkle here: Courtland Sutton has no guaranteed money left after 2026. The Broncos will have to pay Jaylen Waddle sometime either next year or not far beyond. Denver’s been holding Sutton back this week in camp as part of a “load-management” protocol. Is a dip from 86% playing time next?

Lohner had a golden chance to make a push, but is missing out

Payton spoke glowingly about the second-year tight end who played just a handful of college snaps earlier this spring, but Caleb Lohner has yet to practice due to injury. He’s watched from off the field in recent days with a boot on his left foot. Perhaps he’ll be back to turning heads soon, but for now it����ap a missed opportunity because the Denver tight end room looks wide open.

Adam Trautman and Evan Engram have big roles, but there are just not a ton of splash plays and the rest of the room is a bit of a jumble. If Lohner gets back to being a rugged blocker with some athleticism in the passing game, he could still be a 2026 surprise.

Denver’s got real depth on the edge – and is clearly standing behind Cooper

The Broncos sent a clear message at the outset of training camp that they’re standing behind Jonathon Cooper — he’s facing a felony assault charge and other lesser charges related to a pair of domestic violence arrests in June — and Payton indicated the club believes there may be a resolution to the proceedings soon. Even if that happens, Cooper will still be subject to a potential NFL suspension. Regardless of his status at the start of the regular season, the Broncos have enviable depth on the edge. Jonah Elliss and Dondrea Tillman are trusted rotation members from a year ago, Que Robinson has played well in camp so far, and Drew Sanders is healthy, as well.

Payton thinks he finally has the Broncos running back room right

Payton and Co. really muddled through the first two years of his tenure here at running back. A 2025 overhaul brought in J.K. Dobbins via free agency and RJ Harvey via the draft, but the group never felt like it quite fit together neatly, and then it fell off a cliff when Dobbins was injured. Now with rookie Jonah Coleman added to Dobbins and Harvey, Payton’s got a trio he loves. “We’re a lot further along in that position group than maybe — well, I know we are (better) than three years ago.”

Coleman’s made quite an impression in the building already as a rookie. Whether he or Harvey ends up the third down and two-minute back remains to be seen, but Denver’s got talent and depth rather than one or the other for the first time in Payton’s tenure.

Physically Unable to Perform list: OL Nick Gargiulo (knee).

Non-football injury list: ILB Jordan Turner.

Did not practice: WR Jaylen Waddle (muscle strain), WR Marvin Mims Jr., C Luke Wattenberg (shoulder), TE Nate Adkins, TE Caleb Lohner (foot/ankle), DL Matt Henningsen (Achilles), OLB Dasan McCullough, CB Sean Fresch, Jr., K Wil Lutz (at Hall of Fame).

Load management: CB Pat Surtain II, DT Zach Allen, RT Mike McGlinchey, TE Evan Engram.

Left practice: DL Eyioma Uwazurike.

Uwazurike’s injury happened right near the end of practice in a two-minute situation. He walked to the team’s facility without issue, though he was shaking out and flexing his hand, while a member of the medical staff followed him. It����ap worth monitoring in particular because Uwazurike has been one of the stories of camp. The 2022 fourth-round pick has been outstanding in both run support and rushing the passer and looks primed for a breakout season after blossoming into a trusted rotation piece last year.

Mims and Adkins watched practice Saturday, one day after each left with injuries. Mims appears to have avoided serious injury when he pulled up on a deep route Friday.

Waddle moved up to some jogging, progress from previous days after he sustained a muscle strain earlier in the week.

Henningsen (Achilles) was placed on injured reserve Saturday, which officially ends his season.

Bryant, in the midst of a monster camp, made the play of the day

The Broncos staged the closest they’ll get to a scrimmage during camp, though it was still parsed into situations and sets of plays, like a normal camp practice. But after stretch and individual periods, nearly everything Denver did on a blistering-hot Saturday morning was 11-on-11.

Perhaps not surprisingly given the way training camp has gone so far, second-year wide receiver Pat Bryant made the play of the day.

Operating in the red zone, Bo Nix faced quick pressure in the pocket after the snap and had no play but to throw the ball up. He lofted it almost blind into the back-right corner of the end zone. Bryant, working toward the corner, went up high over both Ja’Quan McMillan and Jahdae Barron, high-pointed the ball and toe-tapped near the back pylon for a touchdown.

It was a terrific play, maybe the best of camp so far, and a continuation of an impressive training camp for the 2025 third-round pick out of Illinois.

“Man, ‘Patty Ice’ has had some really, really good practices,” offensive coordinator Davis Webb said Saturday. … “Pat is very, very savvy. Smart. When he catches the ball his feet are on the ground. Those are the things we were attracted to when he was coming out of Illinois. It����ap really, really cool to see him take another jump this early into Year 2.”

Davis Webb’s nickname for Pat Bryant: “Patty Ice.”

— Parker Gabriel (@ParkerJGabriel)

Consider defensive coordinator Vance Joseph sold. Entirely sold.

“He made two (plays) today that were unbelievable, but that����ap been all camp,” Joseph said. “That����ap what he can be. He’s the guy in that room, in my opinion — he blocks, he catches the ball in traffic, he can track the ball vertically, he’s great in the red zone. He’s the complete package. He’s got great size, and he loves to play. He’s the same player every day.”

Thumbs up

A bounce-back play. This has not been a glorious training camp for former UFL receiver Hakeem Butler. He’s failed to secure contested catches — not great considering he’s 6-foot-5 and 225 pounds — and in general hasn’t made many plays. He made a terrific one on Saturday, though, jumping high over veteran corner Sam Webb down the sideline to haul in a jump ball from Sam Ehlinger.

Safety valve. The Broncos were rotating through a ton of different players at safety on Saturday with Talanoa Hufanga on a veteran rest day, Brandon Jones not taking a full load of reps and Devon Key working early in practice on the side field. Undrafted rookie Parker Robertson made the most of it in a team period with the No. 3 unit when he closed on a ball thrown behind the receiver over the middle of the field and came down with an interception. Denver quarterbacks haven’t thrown many in team settings during camp so far, but Robertson capitalized.

Thumbs down

Rookie moments. Few positions are more difficult to make an impact at than tight end. Justin Joly is learning about the steep climb. He hasn’t made many splash plays in camp — though coaches say they’re encouraged by the work he’s done overall — and on Saturday the fifth-round pick flat-out dropped a ball on his hands in the middle of the field. It looked as though Joly perhaps lost concentration as outside linebacker Jonah Elliss closed in for what, in a game, would have been a crunching hit.

Odds and ends

* One day after Nix led a surgical two-minute drive for a touchdown, the Broncos defense prevailed twice in nearly identical situations. This time around, Nix and the top offense had 1:22 left, trailing by 4 and 62 yards to go. Nix and Co. pushed the ball into the red zone thanks in part to a 24-yard completion to Troy Franklin, but stalled out there. Nix had to spike the ball after that play to stop the clock, then Courtland Sutton may have been held on second-and-goal, but the ball to him in the end zone fell incomplete. Then Sutton couldn’t haul in what looked like a catchable ball along the sideline on third down. Nix tried Franklin again in the back of the end zone on a do-or-die fourth-and-goal, but he was double covered from the start and reserve safety JL Skinner knocked the pass down easily to notch a win for the defense. Sam Ehlinger led the second group and took them briskly down to the 8-yard line before three straight incompletions — third down was a broken play from the start — and a fourth-down sack thanks to Que Robinson and Dondrea Tillman.

* Defensive coordinator Vance Joseph ran practice Saturday along with special teams coordinator Darren Rizzi because Sean Payton was in Canton for Drew Brees’ Pro Football Hall of Fame enshrinement. Joseph, though, laughed off any sense that he had much more responsibility than normal. “Sean left a great plan in place,” Joseph said. “It was more than me. It was the staff, the players. It����ap been scripted for a week and a half. So we all fell in, did our jobs, and now we’re done.”

* No team wants to punt the ball a lot, but when the Broncos do this fall, they appear to be in good care with second-year man Jeremy Crawshaw. He’s been booming the ball more consistently during camp and on Saturday pounded several high spirals with 5-second-plus hang time. Not only that, but he successfully angled several of them toward the sideline, leaving returners with very little or no chance at returning the ball. Last summer, Payton felt the need to rush the punt team on in the middle of offensive periods multiple times to try to give Crawshaw more game-like feeling because he was shanking far too many. A year later, he looks to be on the right track.

* With McGlinchey getting a rest day Saturday, the Broncos split tackle reps between Alex Palczewski and Frank Crum. They’ve both had heavy workloads in camp and, not surprisingly, the Broncos clearly want each to be comfortable playing multiple positions. Crum has played a lot of reps at both left and right tackle, while ‘Palcho’ has seen extensive time at right tackle and left guard. They, in some combination.

* A non-exhaustive list of players who have contributed or been in the picture for the Broncos who appear to be having solid training camps, but haven’t made the kind of eye-popping plays that generate buzz or headlines: TE Lucas Krull, WR Michael Bandy, ILB Levelle Bailey and RB Jaleel McLaughlin.

* The Broncos are always looking for talent at cornerback, and undrafted rookie Brent Austin has done some good things in camp. He’s not likely to make the 53-man roster, but the former Cal corner looks like a player worth trying to stash and develop.

* The roster churn is on for the Broncos. In addition to placing Henningsen on injured reserve, Denver also released cornerback Sam Webb. Those moves followed the waiver Friday of injured corner Jaden Robinson. The three new players: Receivers Kyree Duplessis and Kyrese Rowan — they each practiced Saturday— and cornerback Ricardo Hallman. Hallman worked out for the Broncos the same day as Webb last week, but Denver at that time opted for Webb. Now they’ll get a look at Hallman next week instead.

* A true VIP was on hand at Broncos practice Saturday: Mikaela Shiffrin. The world’s most decorated downhill skier watched the latter stages of practice from the sideline and was presented with a No. 110 Broncos jersey. The number, of course, is a nod to the Vail native’s record number of World Cup victories.

Welcome to , !

— Denver Broncos (@Broncos)

Next: 10 a.m. Monday. Parking opens at 8 a.m. and gates at 9 a.m.

When last season ended on a refrigerated afternoon at Empower Field, neither was expected to be in charge in training camp.

Sean Payton figured to give up his ATM PIN before surrendering his call sheet. Through collaboration, conversation — and perhaps a contract extension —  Payton acquiesced, promoting Webb to offensive coordinator.

The bigger shock was that Joseph did not land a head coaching job. Despite multiple interviews, and some less-than-desirable vacancies, Joseph came up empty.

It is also not surprising when the NFL features only three black head coaches — Houston’s DeMeco Ryans, Tampa Bay’s Todd Bowles and the Jets’ Aaron Glenn.

That Webb was closer to landing a gig in Buffalo and Las Vegas explains the kind of obstacles Joseph faces. He’s not young. And he’s not in charge of the offense.

He can remove all doubt by coaching the league’s No. 1 defense. Everyone wants the next Sean McVay. What about the next Mike MacDonald with a few more gray hairs?

With coach Payton presenting Drew Brees into the Hall of Fame, Joseph was put in charge of Saturday’s scrimmage. He looks the part.

Joseph is back. That means the Broncos should be back atop the AFC West. Leaving other contenders to chase.

While everyone slobbers over the return of Patrick Mahomes, the rebound of Lamar Jackson and the arrival of Joe Brady, the Broncos are in the best position to win.

It doesn’t matter what happens with Kenneth Walker or Trey Hendrickson or D.J. Moore when the Broncos have a defense capable of calling checkmate on anyone.

Joseph has inspired a brotherhood with his defense, creating players who lean on him and each other. They know he believes. They know he will put them in position to win. And they know he will give them all the credit.

Time to give him a parting gift: the No. 1 ranked defense and another shot in the cockpit.

V.J., as his players call him, is back. So is the relentless effort of Zach Allen, the SaranWrap-tight coverage of Pat Surtain II and the playmaking of Ja’Quan McMillian. V.J. is back in an orange-and-blue ball cap, and the Broncos are poised to leave all comers in a black-and-blue wake.

“It is what VJ has molded since he got here. It����ap player-led. He’s going to give you the grasp of the defense. Once you show you can do the job, he has trust in you. And he also has trust that you are showing the younger guys how to be a pro,” cornerback Riley Moss said. “And I think personally, it is a developmental program. You are going to get better no matter what stage you are in. He wants you to get better. It����ap the coolest thing. And it makes it fun.”

Well, unless you are an opposing quarterback. The Broncos set a franchise record with 63 sacks in 2024. Then bested it with 68 last season. With all due respect to Bo Nix and his fourth-quarter pixie dust, the defense was behind the 14-3 record.

“It all starts with V.J.,” said Allen. “It is about playing fast, and playing violent.”

There is another level to this defense. As good as the unit has been, there is a red dot on the cashmere sweater. The Broncos must produce more turnovers.

“That’s true,” Surtain said.

It makes no sense that 68 sacks led to only 14 takeaways. It is like a boxer landing 30 uppercuts and no knockouts.

They forced nine fumbles. They recovered four. Only the Commanders (two) had fewer.

Joseph sets a high standard. He knows the defense was good. But this is one area where the Broncos must improve.

Get the ball on the ground, especially with strip sacks. That happened only twice last season, inconceivable given the speed, power and chop of Nik Bonitto.

The 50-50 ball in the air has to be theirs. Anything less than four picks for Moss will be a disappointment. And it is past time for Talanoa Hufanga to end his 25-game streak without an interception. Conservatively, he should have had four or five last season.

“I really messed up last year when it came to those things,” Hufanga said. “I left a lot of — we call it money — on the field.”

There is no guarantee that the Broncos will win a fourth Super Bowl. But I can guarantee they will not reach one without Joseph. ����apountry wanted him gone in 2018. And then again after the 70-point Miami Mauling in 2023.

All Joseph did was look in the mirror, accept blame, and keep fixing, adjusting and coaching until he found the right balance of controlled aggression.

Under his tutelage, Bonitto has evolved from unplayable to unstoppable. McMillian has gone from undrafted to producing unfathomable plays.

And, wouldn’t you know it, who are the biggest surprises a week-plus into camp? Defensive linemen Malcolm Roach and Eyioma Uwazurike. D.J. Jones predicted Roach would fill the defensive end vacancy left by John Franklin-Myers, and called Uwazurike “unblockable.”

When the 10 NFL head coaching jobs were filled this offseason, there was anger and relief. There is no way Joseph should not be in charge of a team. By staying for another season, he has a chance to make his candidacy undeniable.

Win a championship with the league’s No. 1 defense, and owners must give him a second chance.

Did not practice: OLB Nik Bonitto (left leg injury), WR Courtland Sutton, C Luke Wattenberg (undisclosed injury), CB Jaden Robinson, OLB Dasan McCullough, TE Caleb Lohner (lower-body injury)

Limited in practice: OLB Dondrea Tillman (hamstring injury)

Left practice: WR Jaylen Waddle (muscle tightness)

A fascinating development unfolded Wednesday, as star receiver Waddle was seen walking into the locker room with his helmet off but no visible signs of pain. Minutes passed. Team periods passed. And Waddle never re-emerged, a massive warning sign for the most important skill-position weapon on Denver’s roster.

Head coach Sean Payton said after practice he believed Waddle was dealing with some “muscle tightness.”

“We’ll evaluate him,” Payton said. “I think he’s fine.”

Bonitto, meanwhile, wasn’t in pads Wednesday but was seen observing and moving around without any signs of obvious discomfort after suffering an apparent left-leg injury during Tuesday’s practice. Sutton, meanwhile, was mysteriously watching practice in a baseball cap and no pads for the second straight day of practice Wednesday, but Payton said the star receiver will be back practicing Thursday. Denver appears to be taking considerable efforts to load-manage Sutton.

Lohner, meanwhile, has been spotted watching the last two days of practice with a boot on his left foot.

Roach ready to tackle a bigger role

Breaths caught across Dove Valley Wednesday when Broncos defensive tackle Malcolm Roach bumped into the one man who needs no hint of contact in Denver’s camp: quarterback Bo Nix.

The two fell to the grass, briefly. And got up without any real incident. Still, it wasn’t something that exactly delighted head coach Sean Payton.

“He wasn’t trying — he wasn’t going to tackle Bo,” nose tackle D.J. Jones said after practice. “But, I mean, it got quiet. It got quiet real quick. Everybody stopped.”

The fact that absolutely nothing came of it in the moment — no pushing and shoving, no dismay shown from offensive linemen — perhaps spoke to the roster’s respect for the 28-year-old Roach. He bumped into Nix, after, all, because he got to the quarterback, a sight that played out often Wednesday. Roach was responsible for forcing a would-be safety later in that team period, and has shown a clear ability to create interior pressure while working with the first-team defense in camp.

Jones, often Roach’s rotational partner at nose tackle for the last two seasons, offered a point-blank endorsement of Roach as a starter for 2026.

“I believe he’s going to take that JFM job,” Jones said, speaking of the departed John Franklin-Myers. “And he’s going to run with it. Like, he’s doing a great job as we speak.”

Roach came to Denver in 2024 known primarily as a run-stopper, but has developed rapidly on passing downs across the last two seasons. He finished 2025 with a career-best four sacks, and had a standout playoff run: two sacks, five quarterback hits and three tackles for loss in two Denver postseason games.

“We got to work out a little bit before the season started … he was focused on his pass-rush,” Jones said. “And it����ap shown.”

Top play

Denver’s first-team offense has still not quite rounded out of offseason form, as coordinator Vance Joseph’s defense has swallowed up virtually any run looks the Broncos have tried across the first few days of camp. And after a hot start, quarterback Bo Nix has fallen back into inconsistency, with even fewer windows available in Wednesday’s team periods given the absences of his two top receivers in Waddle and Sutton.

That gave third-year cornerback Kris Abrams-Draine a ready-made opportunity to pounce, as Nix dropped back during one rep and stared down receiver Marvin Mims Jr. on an out route. Abrams-Draine, in sticky coverage, read Nix’s eyes the whole way. And on the toss, Abrams-Draine jumped the route, sailing the other direction for the first interception off Nix of training camp.

The Broncos rested star cornerback Pat Surtain II for several team periods Wednesday, on the longest day of training camp thus far. That gave a heap more outside reps for youngsters Jahdae Barron and Abrams-Draine. And the Mizzou product capitalized, just as he’s done across a handful of spot starts in his first two NFL seasons.

“He’s one of those players — the ball kinda finds him, too, with his instincts,” Payton said. “And I would say, he’s got tremendous hands. He’s gotten stronger since his first year.”

Thumbs Up

An old favorite has learned new tricks. If the Broncos are keeping a counter on reception leaders through the first five days of camp, veteran Lil’Jordan Humphrey is likely at the top. The 28-year-old Humphrey took full advantage of increased WR reps Wednesday, snaring at least five passes and cycling through all three sets of offensive units.

In little surprise, Denver re-signed Humphrey on a one-year deal in March, a 6-foot-4 receiver who’s become well-known as one of Payton’s favorites. Long known as a blocking specialist, though, Humphrey appears to have added some tangible juice to his game further into his career. In fact, he’s actually measured faster in top-end speed the past two years — via the team’s Catapult trackers — than he did in Denver in 2023 and 2024, according to Payton.

“He’s extremely smart,” Payton said. “That����ap probably one of his superpowers. Like, he can play all three positions, and he’s a big target.”

Can Humphrey beat out any of Denver’s young corps of Pat Bryant, Troy Franklin and Marvin Mims Jr. for a spot? Almost certainly not. But as long as Payton remains the Broncos’ head coach, Humphrey will have ���dz�����kind of role.

Thumbs Down

Running into several walls. Here’s the flip side of Denver’s early defensive-line dominance. Payton has pointed several times throughout the offseason to the need for a more consistent run game, and has even hinted that Davis Webb’s promotion to play-caller could bring new and productive ideas on the ground. So far in training camp, though, that has yet to materialize.

It’s hard to measure run success in pads beyond first contact, but the Broncos’ offensive line appears to be losing more battles than they’re winning against Denver’s defensive front. J.K. Dobbins and RJ Harvey haven’t had any standout rushes thus far, although rookie Jonah Coleman has flashed some promising tenacity between the tackles. Any offensive progress in this area will be hard to measure until Denver’s first preseason game.

Odds and Ends

*Payton continued to insist that there’s “no official battle” for the Broncos’ QB2 spot, and the team is simply rotating reps. That’s growing harder to believe, as Sam Ehlinger once again worked with Denver’s second team offense Wednesday and Jarrett Stidham slid back to operating the third-string unit.

Maybe it’s not a battle. But Denver wouldn’t be switching reps if they didn’t want to get a better look at Ehlinger’s development.

“The spaghetti sauce is the other stuff that����ap one of his superpowers — he gets in and out of some plays, maybe,” Payton said, noting Ehlinger’s freestyling. “He can move. I like how he’s looked. You don’t get to appreciate a quarterback like him until you’re out there, and everyone’s on the sideline, and then the ball moves.”

*Nose tackle Jones is not one to wax excessively poetic about any of his teammates to reporters. Ears should perk up, then, at his comments on fellow defensive lineman Eyioma Uwazurike, who seems directly poised to take on a greater role in 2026.

“He can’t be blocked,” Jones said. “He’s a man. He’s a grown man. I think it took some time for hi, but now he’s falling into his role of not being blocked. He can play every position. So, he scares you.”

To Jones’ point, Uwazurike single-handedly blew up one run-sweep to Harvey in a 9-on-7 period, arriving in the backfield the near second Harvey even touched the ball.

“The leap he’s taking right now,” Jones said, “it’s pretty scary.”

*Payton reiterated Wednesday that the Broncos’ practice plans this week won’t change, despite his planned Saturday absence for Drew Brees’ Hall of Fame induction ceremony. The head coach told reporters that six other members of the Broncos’ staff will join him in Canton this weekend, as New Orleans ties run deep through his coaches in Denver.

“We have more coaches than we know what to do with out here,” Payton said, “so we’re going to be fine without seven.”

*Receiver Troy Franklin, who has had a first-hand look at the development of CB2 Riley Moss the past three years, said he’s seen a clear leap from Moss entering his fourth season in the NFL.

“Riley’s definitely been playing tighter coverage,” Franklin said Wednesday.