1. Can the Broncos go from losing record (7-10) to Super Bowl champion? It has happened four times in the last 23 years after only once from 1947-98, according to research by frequent contributor Dan Daly. The full list: 1981 San Francisco (6-10 in ’80), the 1999 Rams (4-12 in ’98), 2001 New England (5-11 in ’00), 2017 Philadelphia (7-9 in ’16) and 2020 Tampa Bay (7-9 in ’19).

2. The common theme among those clubs? Quarterback, of course. Joe Montana started seven games in ’80 and all 16 in ’81. … Kurt Warner replaced an injured Trent Green in the Rams’ preseason and won NFL MVP. … Tom Brady replaced an injured Drew Bledsoe and kept the job with the Patriots. … Carson Wentz was playing at an MVP level for the Eagles (11-2 record) in his second season, but was injured and Nick Foles found football lightning in a bottle. … And Brady was in his first year with the Buccaneers. The Broncos have turned to Russell Wilson at quarterback.

3. In their history, the Broncos have gone from losing season to the playoffs four times — 1983 (2-7 to 9-7, lost in wild card round), 1991 (5-11 to 12-4, lost in AFC title game), 2000 (6-10 to 11-5, lost in wild card round) and 2011 (4-12 to 8-8, lost in divisional round),

4. Former receiver Emmanuel Sanders’ retirement allowed for a look back at the Broncos’ decision to trade Demaryius Thomas to Houston on Oct. 30, 2018, and flip Sanders to San Francisco on Oct. 22, 2019. Thomas was flipped along with a 2019 seventh-round pick for fourth- and seventh-round selections. Sanders and a 2020 fifth-round pick went to the 49ers for third- and fourth-round selections.

5. The Broncos used the Texans’ pick at No. 125 in a package with Cincinnati to move up 10 spots in the second round to draft quarterback Drew Lock and traded No. 237 to Carolina to move up to take receiver Juwann Winfree. A year later, with the two 49ers picks, the Broncos selected McTelvin Agim at No. 95 and traded No. 137 to Jacksonville for cornerback A.J. Bouye. Talk about a wash.

6. General manager George Paton’s two drafts total 19 picks. From 2021, six remain with the team (all on the 53-man roster) and three are starters (cornerback Pat Surtain II, running back Javonte Williams and right guard Quinn Meinerz). From this year, eight of the nine picks are on the active roster and one (cornerback Faion Hicks) is on the practice squad. None are expected to start at Seattle.

7. A win Monday night would be the Broncos’ 200th regular season road win; they are 199-271-3 on the road, including 13-14 at Seattle. The Broncos opened as a 6 1/2-point road favorite, which would be their biggest road favorite spread since November 2014 at St. Louis (minus-8 and lost 22-7). If the line holds, it will be the Seahawks’ biggest home underdog status since October 2018 (plus 7 1/2, lost 33-31), which was the only time in Wilson’s home career he was an underdog of at least 5 1/2 points.

8. Entering Week 1, the Broncos were tied with Philadelphia and Kansas City for the most opening-week wins over the last 10 years (8-2 record). The Broncos have a point differential of plus-58. Seattle is tied for seventh with six wins. The Broncos’ eight Week 1 wins since 2013: Pittsburgh, Baltimore, Indianapolis, Baltimore, Carolina, the Los Angeles Chargers and Seattle at home from ’13-18 and at the New York Giants last year.

9. New assistant coaches produce new stories. Outside linebackers coach Bert Watts’ brother, Tom, played collegiately at Calif.-Davis with Broncos coach Nathaniel Hackett and defensive coordinator Ejiro Evero. “I was at Cal at the time and we would always go visit them in Davis,” Bert said. “As we got into coaching, you start developing that relationship as you go through the process and you’re scrambling to make a dime and get a job.”

10. Of receiving the call from Evero this winter to return to the NFL for the first time in 10 years, Watts said: “I didn’t except anything from him or Nathaniel. I know how this business goes and you can’t hire everybody you want. When it eventually happened, the whole family got excited immediately.

11. Tight ends coach Jake Moreland’s stops include two at Air Force (2012-14 and ’16) and his first NFL job was last year with the New York Jets (assistant offensive line). “It����ap an unbelievable opportunity,” he said. “It����ap something I’ve dreamed about for a long time. I was in college coaching for 18 years and to be at the highest level and learn from everybody’s experiences is unbelievable.”

12. Three years ago, Marcus Dixon was the defensive ends coach at Hampton (Va.) University. Last year, he won a Super Bowl ring as the Rams’ assistant defensive line coach and now he’s running his own room with the Broncos. “Every day, I pinch myself; it����ap a dream come true,” he said.

13. Inside linebackers coach Peter Hansen joined the Broncos after two years as the defensive coordinator at UNLV. His first NFL stop was 2011-13 with San Francisco (quality control) on the same staff as Evero. Hansen played college basketball at Arizona for Lute Olson. Asked if any of Olson’s approach translates to football, Hansen said: “The thing I fall back on the most is when we won, he was the hardest on us and we won a lot so he was pretty hard on us. And when we lost, he was like, ‘OK, we just have a few corrections and we’ll be fine.’ He didn’t pile on when you lost because everybody felt bad. I fall back on that every single year.”

AFC

Titans

Punter Brett Kern (Broncos 2008-09); center Daniel Munyer (CU 2011-14); nose tackle Kyle Peko��(Broncos 2016-17, 2019); special teams coordinator Craig Aukerman��(Broncos defensive assistant, 2010); tight end��Austin Fort��(Broncos 2019-20) on practice squad; quarterback Kevin Hogan (Broncos 2018-19) on practice squad.

Chiefs

Offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy (CU 1987-90, ex-varsity assistant at Thomas Jefferson, former CU running backs coach and offensive coordinator); offensive quality control coach Connor Embree (Superior native and ex-receivers coach at Fairview).

Bills

Wideout Emmanuel Sanders (Broncos 2014-19); receiver Isaiah McKenzie (Broncos 2017-18); assistant receivers coach Marc Lubick (Fort Collins, son of longtime CSU coach Sonny, CSU assistant 2000-09, Broncos assistant receivers coach 2015-16); wideout Tanner Gentry��(Grandview) on practice squad.

Bengals

Cornerback Chidobe Awuzie (CU 2013-16); defensive tackle Josh Tupou (CU 2012-16); quarterback Brandon Allen (Broncos 2019); offensive coordinator Brian Callahan (Broncos coaching assistant 2010, assistant coach 2011-15).

Raiders

Kicker Daniel Carlson (The Classical Academy); long snapper Trent Sieg (Eaton and CSU, 2014-17); offensive line coach Tom Cable (CU offensive line coach 1998, offensive coordinator 1999).

Patriots

Offensive coordinator/quarterbacks coach Josh McDaniels (Broncos head coach 2009-10); tackle Will Sherman (CU 2017-19) on practice squad; tight end Matt LaCosse (Broncos 2017-18) on practice squad; tight end Dalton Keene (Chatfield) on injured reserve.

Steelers

Running back��Kalen Ballage��(Falcon); outside linebacker Derrek Tuszka��(Broncos 2020-21); cornerback Ahkello Witherspoon��(CU 2014-16).

NFC

Packers

Left tackle David Bakhtiari (CU 2010-12); kicker Mason Crosby��(CU 2003-06); wideout Juwann Winfree��(CU 2016-18, Broncos 2019-20); defensive coordinator Joe Barry (Fairview); cornerback Isaac Yiadom (Broncos 2018-19); cornerback Kabion Ento��(CU 2016-18) on practice squad; wideout��David Moore��(Broncos 2021) on practice squad.

Buccaneers

Outside linebacker��Shaquil Barrett��(CSU 2010-13 and Broncos 2014-18); center��Ryan Jensen��(Fort Morgan and CSU-Pueblo, 2009-11).

Cowboys

Wideout Michael Gallup (CSU 2016-17).

Rams

Outside linebacker Von Miller (Broncos 2011-21); outside linebacker Justin Hollins (Broncos 2019); wideout Warren Jackson��(CSU 2017-19, Broncos 2021) on practice squad; special teams coordinator Joe DeCamillis (Arvada, Broncos special teams coordinator 2015-16); assistant quarterbacks coach Zac Robinson (Chatfield).

Cardinals

������������Matt Prater��(Broncos 2007-13); defensive coordinator��Vance Joseph��(CU 1990-94, Broncos head coach 2017-18); offensive line coach Sean Kugler (Broncos offensive line coach 2018); defensive backs coach Marcus Robertson (Broncos defensive backs coach 2017-18); cornerbacks coach Greg Williams��(Broncos defensive backs coach 2018).

49ers

General manager��John Lynch��(Broncos 2004-07); head coach��Kyle Shanahan��(son of former Broncos head coach Mike Shanahan, Cherry Creek); offensive coordinator Mike McDaniel��(Smoky Hill, Broncos intern 2005); tight ends/assistant head coach Jon Embree (Cherry Creek, CU 1983-86, CU assistant coach 1993-2002, CU head coach 2011-12); running backs coach Bobby Turner (Broncos running backs coach 1995-2009); wideout coach��Wes Welker (Broncos 2013-14); quarterbacks coach��Rich Scangarello��(Broncos offensive coordinator 2019);��wideout��Austin Mack��(Broncos practice squad 2021) and inside linebacker Curtis Robinson (Broncos 2021) on practice squad.

Eagles

Tight end Jack Stoll (Regis Jesuit); cornerback Kary Vincent Jr. (Broncos 2021); special teams coordinator Joe Pannunzio (Pueblo County and Southern Colorado, Southern Colorado wideout coach 1981, Mesa College quarterback/wideout coach 1982-84, offensive coordinator 1987-90); linebacker Christian Elliss (Valor Christian) and cornerback Mac McCain III��(Broncos 2021) on practice squad; outside linebacker Davion Taylor��(CU 2018-19) on injured reserve.

As the NFL playoffs begin with the Wild Card round this weekend, here’s a look at all the players and coaches with Colorado ties who still have their Super Bowl dreams alive. This list includes guys who played high school/college football in the state, as well as ex-Broncos.

AFC

Chiefs

DT Mike Pennel (Aurora/Grandview/CSU-Pueblo); OC Eric Bieniemy (played at CU, coached at Thomas Jefferson, coached at CU); Asst. QB Coach Joe Bleymaier (ex-CU offensive quality control coach)… Defensive asst. coach Connor Embree (Superior native).

Bills

WR Isaiah McKenzie (Broncos 2017-18); Asst. WR coach Marc Lubick (ex-Broncos assistant); practice squad WR Tanner Gentry (Aurora/Grandview).

Colts

G Sam Jones (Highlands Ranch/ThunderRidge/Broncos 2018, 2019 preseason), OL coach Chris Strausser (Broncos assistant OL coach 2017-18), practice squad T Jared Veldheer (Broncos 2018).

Steelers

TE coach James Daniel (Broncos coaching fellow 1992).

Browns

FB Andy Janovich (Broncos 2016-19), QB Case Keenum (Broncos 2018), S Tedric Thompson (CU), offensive assistant T.C. McCartney (Broncos QB coach 2019, grandson of ex-CU coach Bill McCartney), WR Rashard Higgins (CSU).

Titans

P Brett Kern (Broncos 2008-09); T Ty Sambrailo (CSU, Broncos 2015-16); WR Kalif Raymond (Broncos 2016); Special Teams Coordinator Craig Aukerman (ex-Broncos special teams assistant); practice squad C Daniel Munyer (CU).

Ravens

DE Calais Campbell (Denver/Denver South), DE Derek Wolfe (Broncos 2012-19), CB Jimmy Smith (CU), injured reserve CB Davontae Harris (Broncos 2019-20).

NFC

Packers

P JK Scott (Mullen); K Mason Crosby (CU); T/G Billy Turner (Broncos 2016-18); injured reserve T David Bakhtiari (CU); injured reserve CB Kabion Ento (CU); practice squad WR Juwann Winfree (CU, Broncos 2019); injured reserve DL Billy Winn (Broncos 2016).

Saints

CB Ken Crawley (CU); WR Emmanuel Sanders (Broncos 2014-19); DC Dennis Allen (Broncos DC 2011).

Bears

LG Arlington Hambright (CU), QB Kyle Sloter (UNC), ILB Danny Trevathan (Broncos 2012-15), DC Chuck Pagano (Boulder native/Fairview).

Seahawks

No Colorado connections, unless you count Russell Wilson (the Rockies’ 4th-round pick in 2010 who played two minor league seasons in the team’s system) and defensive assistant Tom Donatell (son of Broncos DC Ed Donatell).

Rams

DE Morgan Fox (Fountain/Fort Carson/CSU-Pueblo); QB Blake Bortles (Broncos 2020); LB Justin Hollins (Broncos 2019); DC Brandon Staley (Broncos OLB coach 2019).

Washington

QB Steven Montez (CU); DC Jack Del Rio (Broncos DC 2012-14); Asst. DB coach Brent Vieselmeyer (Valor Christian coach 2007-12); Offensive quality control coach Luke Del Rio (Valor Christian); practice squad WR Tony Brown (CU).

Buccaneers

OLB Shaquil Barrett (CSU, Broncos 2015-18); C Ryan Jensen (Fort Morgan/CSU-Pueblo).

— Kyle Newman, The Denver Post

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Quarterback

Drew Lock (3)
6-foot-4, 228 pounds, 23, 2nd season, Missouri

The Broncos’ fourth different Week 1 quarterback in as many seasons, Lock fueled optimism by going 4-1 last year with seven touchdowns and three interceptions. General manager John Elway moved up 10 spots in the 2019 draft to select Lock, hoping he can stop the game of musical chairs at the sport����ap most important position.

Backup

Jeff Driskel (9)
6-foot-4, 235 pounds, 27, 5th season, Louisiana Tech

The Broncos added Driskel instead of re-signing Brandon Allen, elevating Brett Rypien to No. 2 status or adding a more experienced backup. An alum of Florida and Louisiana Tech, Driskel has started eight games the last two years for Cincinnati (2018) and Detroit (2019), totaling 10 touchdowns and six interceptions.

Running back

Melvin Gordon (25)
6-foot-1, 215 pounds, 27, 6th season, Wisconsin

Signed to a two-year, $16 million contract in March to leave the AFC West rival Chargers, Gordon has 47 touchdowns (36 rushing/11 receiving) in 63 regular-season games. A holdout last year derailed Gordon’s season; he set career lows in carries (162) and rushing yards (612).

Backups

Phillip Lindsay (30)
5-foot-8, 190 pounds, 26, 3rd season, Colorado

Rushing for 1,037 and 1,011 yards (16 touchdowns) his first two seasons wasn’t enough for Lindsay to earn a contract extension and may not be enough for him to start the opener. A former undrafted free agent, Lindsay has a 4.9-yard average on 416 carries and has caught 35 passes apiece in both of his pro seasons.

Royce Freeman (28)
6-foot, 238 pounds, 24, 3rd season, Oregon

Freeman was the Broncos’ starter for the first seven games of 2018 before an ankle injury created a chance for Lindsay. Freeman has eight touchdowns and a 3.9-yard average on 262 career carries. He could have a role on third down.

Receiver

Courtland Sutton (14)
6-foot-4, 216 pounds, 24, 3rd year, SMU

Sutton’s 1,816 yards receiving and 10 touchdown catches through two years is the best start in Broncos’ history and he begins 2020 as the no-doubt WR1. He caught 72 passes for 1,112 yards and six touchdowns to earn a Pro Bowl nod last year. A threat after the catch because of his speed and strength, Sutton also knows how to draw penalties.

Backup

Tim Patrick (81)
6-foot-4, 212 pounds, 26, 3rd year, Utah

A broken hand in last year’s opener sidelined him until Week 11 and he finished with 18 catches for 218 yards. Patrick was in camp with Baltimore and San Francisco before signing with the Broncos in November 2017 and developing into a special teams contributor and dependable receiver.

Receiver

Jerry Jeudy (10)
6-foot-1, 193 pounds, 21, rookie, Alabama

Jeudy fell to No. 15 in this year’s first round and the Broncos were thrilled to draft him without having to move up. He caught 159 passes for 2,742 yards (impressive 17.2-yard average) and 36 touchdowns in 42 games for the Crimson Tide. Jeudy won the Biletnikoff Award in 2018 as the nation’s top receiver.

Backup

DaeSean Hamilton (17)
6-foot-1, 206 pounds, 25, 3rd year, Penn State

Hamilton ended last year as the Broncos’ No. 2 receiver, but won’t start this year in that role. In two years, he has 58 catches for 540 yards and three touchdowns; all but 16 of those receptions came in the final month of each season.

Receiver

KJ Hamler (13)
5-foot-9, 178 pounds, 21, rookie, Penn State

Hamler was selected No. 46 overall a night after the Broncos added Jeudy. He played two seasons for the Nittany Lions (26 games), catching 98 passes for 1,658 yards and 13 touchdowns. His availability for Week 1 is uncertain due to a hamstring injury sustained on Aug. 19.

Backups

Tyrie Cleveland (86)
6-foot-2, 209 pounds, 22, rookie, Florida

A seventh-round draft pick (No. 252 overall), Cleveland played 46 games for the Gators, catching 79 passes for 1,271 yards and eight touchdowns. His play in training camp forced the Broncos to keep him as a seventh receiver instead of risking that he would clear waivers.

Diontae Spencer (11)
5-foot-8, 170 pounds, 28, 2nd year, McNeese State

Added via waivers from Pittsburgh last September, Spencer played in every game, returning 26 punts (8.0-yard average) and 15 kickoffs (29.1-yard average) and catching six passes. Played 57 games for Toronto and Ottawa of the CFL before signing with the Steelers.

Tight end

Noah Fant (87)
6-foot-4, 249 pounds, 22, 2nd year, Iowa

The Broncos’ first-round pick in 2019, Fant set franchise rookie tight end records for catches (40) and receiving yards (562). Fant had 115 yards receiving against Cleveland and 113 at Houston. He is a classic “move” tight end who can create matchup problems at all parts of the formation.

Backups

Nick Vannett (88)
6-foot-6, 261 pounds, 27, 5th year, Ohio State

Vannett signed with the Broncos in March to essentially replace Jeff Heuerman as the team’s blocking tight end specialist. A third-round pick by Seattle in 2016, Vannett caught 29 passes in 2018. Last year, he started with the Seahawks and finished with Pittsburgh (16 games/17 catches).

Andrew Beck (83)
6-foot-3, 255 pounds, 24, 2nd year, Texas

Acquired via waivers from New England last September, Beck established himself as a reliable hybrid fullback/tight end who can also play special teams. He caught nine passes for 90 yards in 16 games.

Albert Okwuegbunam (85)
6-foot-5, 258 pounds, 22, rookie, Missouri

A fourth-round draft pick (No. 118), Okwuegbunam is reunited with Lock, his quarterback at Missouri. Okwuegbunam caught 17 touchdowns in two years playing with Lock and finished his college career with 98 catches for 1,187 yards and 23 touchdowns.

Jake Butt (80)
6-foot-6, 250 pounds, 25, 3rd year, Michigan

Butt joined the Broncos in 2017 (fifth-round pick) but has played in only three games because of multiple knee surgeries. Butt was the Mackey Award winner as a Michigan senior (nation’s top tight end), catching 46 passes for 546 yards and four touchdowns.

Left tackle

Garett Bolles (72)
6-foot-5, 300 pounds, 28, 4th year, Utah

The Broncos’ first-round pick in 2017 (No. 20 overall), Bolles enters the final year of his contract after the team declined a 2021 option. Bolles hasn’t missed a start in his career and didn’t give up a sack over the final eight games of last year. The bad news: He has been called for 32 penalties in 48 games (18 enforced).

Backup

Calvin Anderson (76)
6-foot-5, 300 pounds, 24, 2nd year, Texas

Anderson was signed off the New York Jets’ practice squad last October, but did not play in a game. Anderson started 36 games for Rice and 14 games at left tackle for Texas in 2018 as a graduate transfer.

Left guard

Dalton Risner (66)
6-foot-5, 312 pounds, 25, 2nd year, Kansas State

A native of Wiggins, Risner was the Broncos’ initial second-round pick last year, one spot ahead of Drew Lock. Immediately named the starting left guard, Risner was one of 10 rookie offensive linemen to start all 16 games. Risner has the versatility to play tackle or center, but his best spot is guard.

Backup

Netane Muti (73)
6-foot-3, 315 pounds, 21, rookie, Fresno State

Muti’s college career was derailed by injuries — an Achilles tear in 2018 and a foot fracture in 2019 that limited him to five total games. In 2017, he started 14 games at left tackle, but is projected in the NFL as a guard.

Center

Lloyd Cushenberry (79)
6-foot-3, 312 pounds, 22, rookie, LSU

A two-year starter (28 games) for LSU, Cushenberry declared for the draft a year early and was selected in the third round. Cushenberry led the national champion Tigers with 1,037 offensive snaps last year blocking for Heisman Trophy quarterback/top overall pick Joe Burrow.

Right guard

Graham Glasgow (61)
6-foot-6, 310 pounds, 28, 5th year, Michigan

Glasgow signed a four-year, $44 million contract in March to leave Detroit. A third-round pick by the Lions in 2016, Glasgow has 58 regular-season games, including 14 at right guard last year (only three penalties). A clear upgrade over the departed Ron Leary.

Backup

Austin Schlottmann (71)
6-foot-6, 300 pounds, 24, 2nd year, TCU

Schlottmann spent all of 2018 on the Broncos’ practice squad and all of 2019 on the active roster, starting three games at right guard. As a senior at TCU, Schlottmann started eight games at center and six at right guard.

Right tackle

Elijah Wilkinson (68)
6-foot-6, 329 pounds, 25, 4th year, Massachusetts

Wilkinson was scheduled to compete with Garett Bolles at left tackle, but slid over to right tackle as the starter early in camp when Ja’Wuan James opted out of the season. A former undrafted free agent, Wilkinson spent 2017 on the practice squad, made seven starts at right guard in ’18 and 12 starts at right tackle last year.

Backup

Demar Dotson (78)
6-foot-9, 315 pounds, 34, 12th year, Southern Miss

Signed after starter Ja’Wuan James opted out of the season, Dotson started 106 games for Tampa Bay until the Buccaneers declined to re-sign him. If Garett Bolles is unavailable, Elijah Wilkinson would likely move to left tackle and Dotson would play right tackle.

Kicker

Brandon McManus (8)
6-foot-3, 201 pounds, 29, 7th year, Temple

Entering the final year of his contract, McManus in his seventh season as the Broncos’ kicker. His field goal rate of 82.5 (151-of-183) is second-best in Broncos history behind Matt Prater (82.9). Last year, McManus was 29-of-34 on field goals and 25-of-26 on point-after attempts.

The final spot will go to cornerback Kevin Toliver, who was waived by Chicago, according to a source. Toliver made the Bears as an undrafted free agent in 2018 when Broncos coach Vic Fangio and defensive coordinator Ed Donatell were on Chicago’s staff.

The Broncos did not claim any players off waivers so their initial 53-man roster remains unchanged and only one of the players they waived — outside linebacker Justin Hollins — was claimed by another team. Hollins was picked up by the Los Angeles Rams.

Before training camp, the NFL and NFLPA reached an agreement to expand the practice squad from 10 last year to 16 this year because of the coronavirus pandemic, including a maximum six spots for veteran players. Four players each week can be protected by the Broncos, preventing them from signing with and being put on another team’s active roster.

Cornerback DeVante Bausby is the only Broncos practice squad member who is considered a veteran.

The full practice squad:

Offense (nine): Quarterback Brett Rypien, running back LeVante Bellamy, running back/fullback Jeremy Cox, receivers Trinity Benson and Fred Brown and offensive linemen Patrick Morris (center/guard), Jake Rodgers (tackle), Darrin Paulo (tackle) and Quinn Bailey (tackle/guard).

Defense (seven): Bausby, Toliver, defensive lineman DeShawn Williams, outside linebacker Derrek Tuszka, inside linebacker Josh Watson and safeties Alijah Holder and P.J. Locke.

The most notable player not invited to the practice squad was receiver Juwann Winfree.

General manager John Elway said Saturday he didn’t expect to be active on the wire. He wasn’t … nor were many of his colleagues.

Elway didn’t claim a player on Labor Day Weekend for the seventh time in his 10 years running personnel. Only 17 players switched teams via waivers on Sunday — the Broncos were one of 20 teams who did nothing.

Fangio hoped to sign Hollins to the practice squad, but instead, he will be joining the Rams to play for defensive coordinator Brandon Staley, the Broncos’ outside linebackers coach last year.

Twenty-two players were waived, tight end Troy Fumagalli was waived/injured, cornerback DeVante Bausby was released and tight end Austin Fort (knee) was placed on injured reserve.

“We had a pretty good idea going in of what we had and we saw a lot in practice and we ended up in a good spot,” general manager John Elway said.

A good enough spot that Elway doesn’t expect to be active Sunday morning when teams can claim players off waivers.

“Obviously, we’ll look at everything and all possibilities, but we’re excited about the football team we have,” he said.

Elway and coach Vic Fangio held video conferences after the roster moves were announced and covered several topics:

Butt����ap triumph

What����ap the story: When Jake Butt has been healthy dating back to college, he’s been a weapon in the passing game. The problem has been staying healthy — he has played only four games in three years with the Broncos. But he parlayed a great camp into being one of four true tight ends on the roster.

Fangio said: “I’ll tell you what, it����ap been (a heckuva) year for Jake. I haven’t seen him limp once. He’s had a terrific camp, not just playing-wise, but he’s actually 100% healthy and moving around good and you would never know he’d been through the injuries he’s had with his knees. He looks as good as new to me.”

Comment: Butt had done enough to make the roster even before Fumagalli was sidelined with an abdominal procedure last week that kept him out of the final six practices. If the Broncos play a lot of two-tight end personnel, there will be a role for Butt.

Prioritizing versatility

What����ap the story: The most noteworthy surprise was the Broncos releasing Bausby and keeping Duke Dawson and rookie Essang Bassey. Midway through last week, Bassey was getting first-team work, which cemented his status, but Dawson made the team instead of a fourth safety.

Fangio said: “Well, versatility is part of the equation. (Dawson and Bassey) both can play the nickel position, which is important and they’re both good contributors in the special teams area, which is important.”

Comment: The Broncos are on point in making sure they have reinforcements at the nickel spot (covering the slot receiver) because Bryce Callahan has never played a full season.

Keeping seven receivers

What����ap the story: The Broncos elected to keep seven receivers, good news for Diontae Spencer (who will handle returns), but particularly seventh-round rookie Tyrie Cleveland. Obviously underused at Florida, Cleveland made plays from the first day of camp.

Elway said: “Tyrie is a big guy that can really run. His willingness and toughness to put his nose into the run game (showed as a blocker) and he knew to make this football team, he had to show a lot on special teams and he did that. And he also showed he’s a capable wideout.”

Comment: Outside of Bassey, Cleveland was the big winner of camp in terms of emerging from the pack of bubble players to earn a spot.

Inside linebacker additions

What����ap the story: The Broncos signed Mark Barron last week and acquired Austin Calitro in a trade from Cincinnati on Friday, making starting inside linebacker Todd Davis and backup Josh Watson expendable. Against Tennessee, the expectation is that Josey Jewell will start alongside Alexander Johnson, and Barron will play a sub-package role.

Elway said: “We re-organized that room a little bit, but actually feel pretty good about where we are. Mark has a lot of experience and is a guy who can move around and help us and Calitro coming in, he can play the game and is a great special teamer, but he’ll have to get caught up with what we’re doing.”

Comment: How good would Patrick Queen look on the Broncos’ defense right now? Had Jerry Jeudy not been on the board at No. 15, Elway may have moved down in the first round to select Queen, who went to the Baltimore Ravens. Johnson is a dependable player, but the other spot could be a revolving door if Jewell doesn’t start fast.

Broncos Roster

The Broncos set their initial 53-man roster on Saturday:

Offense (26)

Quarterbacks (2): Drew Lock and Jeff Driskel.

Running backs (3): Melvin Gordon, Phillip Lindsay and Royce Freeman.

Tight ends (5): Noah Fant, Nick Vannett, Andrew Beck (FB/TE), Albert Okwuegbunam and Jake Butt.

Receivers (7): Courtland Sutton, Jerry Jeudy, KJ Hamler, DaeSean Hamilton, Tim Patrick and Tyrie Cleveland.

Offensive line (9):

Graham Glasgow (RG), Dalton Risner (LG), Elijah Wilkinson (RT), Lloyd Cushenberry (C), Austin Schlottmann (G/C), Netane Muti (G), Calvin Anderson (T) and Demar Dotson (T).

Defense (24)

Defensive line (6): Jurrell Casey (DE), Shelby Harris (DE), Mike Purcell (NT), Dre’Mont Jones (DE), DeMarcus Walker (DE) and McTelvin Agim (DE/NT).

Inside linebackers (5): Alexander Johnson, Josey Jewell, Mark Barron, Joe Jones and Austin Calitro.

Outside linebackers (4): Bradley Chubb, Von Miller, Malik Reed and Jeremiah Attaochu.

Cornerbacks (6): A.J. Bouye, Bryce Callahan, Michael Ojemudia, Davontae Harris, Essang Bassey and Duke Dawson.

Safeties (3): Kareem Jackson, Justin Simmons and Trey Marshall.

Specialists (3)

Brandon McManus (K), Sam Martin (P) and Jacob Bobenmoyer (LS).

Roster moves

Waived (23): OT Quinn Bailey, RB Le’Vante Bellamy, WR Trinity Benson, WR Fred Brown, OLB Malik Carney, S Douglas Coleman, RB Jeremy Cox, WR Kendall Hinton, S Alijah Holder, OLB Justin Hollins, OL Tyler Jones, S P.J. Locke, G/C Patrick Morris, OT Darrin Paulo, OT Jake Rodgers, QB Brett Rypien, OLB Derrek Tuszka, ILB Josh Watson, OT Hunter Watts, WR Cody White, DL DeShawn Williams and WR Juwann Winfree.

Waived/injured (1): TE Troy�� Fumagalli.

Released (1): CB DeVante Bausby.

Injured reserve (1): TE Austin Fort.

That projection is semi-startling because a 44.4% roster turnover is significant. And it����ap understandable because the second year of a coaching staff often features adding players who fit their systems.

The Broncos were scheduled to go through their final training camp practice Friday night at Mile High. While the players have the weekend off, the personnel department and coaches will have to not only decide the roster, but the 16-man practice squad, which can be signed Sunday.

After watching the first 16 training camp practices, here are some questions — and attempted answers — for what faces head coach Vic Fangio and general manager John Elway.

Six or seven receivers?

We start with what has developed into the most interesting question. Last week, we figured six receivers would make the roster because Diontae Spencer would serve as the returner/No. 5 receiver in case rookie KJ Hamler’s hamstring injury (last full practice was Aug. 19) keeps him inactive for at least Week 1.

But seventh-round rookie Tyrie Cleveland made plays … and made more plays … and made even more plays during camp. The Broncos may not want to risk losing him on waivers.

The receivers: Hamler, Spencer, Cleveland, Courtland Sutton, Jerry Jeudy and DaeSean Hamilton. To be determined is if Juwann Winfree is even in the team’s practice squad plans after missing nearly all of camp with a groin injury. Fred Brown, because of his special teams ability, should be on the practice squad.

How many offensive linemen?

To keep seven receivers means removing one player from another position group. Enter the offensive line.

The starters should be left tackle Garett Bolles, left guard Dalton Risner, center Lloyd Cushenberry, right guard Graham Glasgow (who has missed a week with an ankle injury) and right tackle Elijah Wilkinson. Austin Schlottmann took most of the first-team reps for Glasgow this week, undoubtedly a signal they will move forward with Cushenberry at center.

It����ap possible the Broncos go light here because of a new NFL rule.

Teams can expand their roster to 55 players as long as one of those extra spots is for an offensive lineman. That will allow teams to promote practice squad players to the roster to fill in for an injured player for a week. That player can then return to the practice squad without having to be placed on waivers. It can only be used once per player, though.

Get all that?

Translation: The Broncos could keep eight linemen on the initial roster (the five starters, Schlottmann, rookie guard Netane Muti and veteran right tackle Demar Dotson) and have center/guard Patrick Morris and tackles Calvin Anderson and/or Jake Rodgers on the practice squad.

Just one undrafted rookie free agent?

The combination of the 80-man roster (instead of 90) and a 10-player draft class meant the signing of fewer undrafted free agents (six are on the roster).��Cornerback Essang Bassey could be the only undrafted rookie on the initial roster after Fangio gave him a shot earlier this week as the first-team sub-package cornerback.

One player we were interested in seeing in preseason games was safety Douglas Coleman, but no games and no live practice sessions robbed him of an opportunity.

Who helped themselves the most in camp?

Hamilton, who saw his playing time threatened by the drafting of Jeudy and Hamler, was consistent throughout camp.

Safety P.J. Locke took advantage of Alijah Holder’s injury and could be the pick as the No. 4 safety. Locke’s nose for the football has stood out.

The arrival of Melvin Gordon to team with Phillip Lindsay won’t equal many carries for Royce Freeman, but he has worked himself into a solid third-down back who can also play special teams. That we thought rookie LeVante Bellamy would overtake Freeman was a big miss.

Knee injuries have limited tight end Jake Butt to four games in three NFL seasons, but he started camp fast. He leveled off, but because he’s healthy, he should make the team as the fourth tight end.

And running back Phillip Lindsay, a Denver native, wants the Broncos to join in on the fun.

“Let����ap be real: You don’t want to be the only Colorado team not in the playoffs,” Lindsay said after practice Wednesday. “That doesn’t feel good, to have basketball doing well and hockey doing well and the Rockies were doing well and have to get back on track — you don’t want to be the odd man out.”

Coach Vic Fangio saluted Nuggets coach Michael Malone for their Game 7 win over Utah on Tuesday.

“I didn’t see the game because it was during our meetings, but I saw the highlights and it was a great win for the Nuggets,” said Fangio, who has attended several games since moving to Denver in January 2019. “They’re in the Elite Eight now, paralleling it to the NCAA tournament. Especially coming back from down 3-1 — your best players have to pull you through those situations and obviously, (Jamal) Murray did it the previous two games and (Nikola) Jokic did it (in Game 7). Very happy for Mike and that group.”

Lindsay said watching Murray’s performance is “inspiring.”

“That team in general, they’re young and like us in a way,” he said. “They all gel. To see them get down and find a way to get over the obstacle and win, they’re going to be a great team for a long time.”

Miller gets day off. Broncos outside linebacker Von Miller missed his second practice of camp — he sat out Aug. 21 (elbow).

“Basically a vet day (off),” Fangio said.

Also not practicing were outside linebacker Bradley Chubb (knee), inside linebacker Todd Davis (calf), right guard Graham Glasgow (ankle) and tight ends Troy Fumagalli (abdominal) and Austin Fort (knee).

Asked about Chubb and Glasgow, Fangio said: “Chubb’s the same. He’s getting better. He’ll be back out there soon. Glasgow is getting better. I think we’ll see him out there next week.”

Cornerback Michael Ojemudia (quad), safety Alijah Holder (soft tissue) and receivers KJ Hamler (hamstring) and Juwann Winfree (groin) did individual drills with their position groups before doing side-field work.

“Kind of the natural progression,” Fangio said. “(We’ll) see how they did (Wednesday) and evaluate them for Thursday and Friday.”

Bassey’s opportunity. Cornerback Essang Bassey probably has the best chance among the undrafted free agents to make the initial 53-man roster and that was evident when Fangio gave him a shot as the first-team nickel back in practice.

“I decided (Tuesday) night and told him when we started team work to take the reps with the first (defense),” Fangio said. “It was more of a test for him�� — it wasn’t a (permanent) move or anything — just to see how he reacted and how he would do. … I thought he did pretty (darn) good.”

Back to stadium. Fangio said the Broncos will practice Friday at Mile High (7:30 p.m.) to semi-simulate the conditions of their opener against Tennessee (8:20 p.m.).

“(It will) be a similar format to what we did last (Saturday at the stadium),” he said. “It will give our guys a chance to get down there and see the lights, especially for some of the receivers and the guys who haven’t done that there.”

“We may have a short-yardage/goal-line live period, but other than that, probably not,” he said after practice Tuesday.

Early in training camp, Fangio floated the idea of going live to give management and the coaching staff a chance to evaluate the young players. But through 13 practices, the Broncos have had only one live period (goal-line).

“It����ap not an easy decision to make,” Fangio said. “Part of the thought going into it was we always had the preseason games for (evaluating tackling skills) so we didn’t have to worry about it (in practice). Now, if you do 12-24 live plays between now and game-time, how much is that simulating it? Everybody may get one or two shots.

“We made the decision as an organization to not do it outside of some isolated (drills).”

What likely pushed the Broncos away from going live is roster attrition. The Broncos have 79 players — not counting injured players and specialists, 67 players were available.

Asked about entering the season without any contact, Fangio said: “Am I concerned about it? Yeah, I am, but that����ap the choice and decision we made.”

Injury report. Nine players did not participate in the two-hour practice Tuesday: Inside linebacker Todd Davis (calf), right guard Graham Glasgow (ankle), outside linebacker Bradley Chubb (knee), safety Alijah Holder (soft tissue), cornerback Michael Ojemudia (quad), tight ends Troy Fumagalli (abdomen) and Austin Fort (knee), and receivers KJ Hamler (hamstring) and Juwann Winfree (groin).

Fangio said Fumagalli underwent a “procedure” on Monday.

“He’s going to be fine — (it will) probably be a week or so before he’s back, but when he’s back, he (will be) 100% and (have) no lingering effects,” Fangio said.

Fumagalli’s injury could create a tough roster decision on Saturday: Stash him on the 53-man roster if he’s only going to miss one game, or, after he’s on the initial roster, place him on injured reserve (out a minimum of three weeks).

Hamler, Davis, Ojemudia, Holder and Winfree were in full pads and took the team stretch before working on a side field.

“I wanted them doing their rehab work in pads — get them used to doing their work in helmets and shoulder pads,” Fangio said.

Testing results. The NFL and NFLPA released COVID-19 test results Tuesday for Aug. 21-29 and there were four positive tests among players and six positive tests among personnel.��A total of 58,621 tests were administered to 8,739 players/team personnel — $23,279 in tests to 2,747 players and $35,342 in tests to 5,992 personnel.

Since testing began in late July, fullback/tight end Andrew Beck has been the only Broncos player placed on the COVID-19 list and he missed only two practices.

Footnote. ��New inside linebacker Mark Barron’s one-year contract is worth $2.5 million with $1 million guaranteed, according to a league source. That’s a significant pay cut from what he earned with the Rams in 2018 ($11 million cap number) and with Pittsburgh last year ($3.875 million cap number). … The Broncos listed inside linebacker Justin Strnad on injured reserve so he is officially out for the season. Strnad underwent wrist surgery August 23.

Chubb missed his second full practice of camp — he was given the day off Aug. 19 — after being pulled from Saturday’s workout.

“We’re going to be conservative with him this week and get him some days of rest,” Fangio said.

Fangio added: “I think he’s where we kind of thought he’d be. We never said (he’s) 100% yet — at least I never did. I think what he’s going through is a natural progression in recovering from his (ACL) injury and I’m still optimistic he’ll be out there the first week and playing good — probably not playing like he was pre-injury, but pretty (darn) close. It����ap going to be a work in progress.”

Reading between the Fangio’s words, one possibility in Week 1 (and maybe the first month) is Chubb having his playing time managed. As a rookie, Chubb played 78.4% of the defensive snaps.

The Broncos practiced Monday in shells and not participating were Chubb, inside linebackers Todd Davis (calf) and Justin Strnad (wrist), right guard Graham Glasgow (ankle), safety Alijah Holder (soft tissue), cornerback Michael Ojemudia (quad), receivers KJ Hamler (hamstring) and Juwann Winfree (groin) and tight ends Troy Fumagalli (abdomen) and Austin Fort (knee).

Glasgow sprained his ankle during Saturday’s practice.

“He’s going to be out the next few days at least and then we’ll see after that,” Fangio said. “We don’t think it����ap a long(-term) injury at all.”

Fangio said Fumagalli, who missed his second consecutive practice, was getting evaluated, but said: “I don’t think it����ap too serious.”