NEW ORLEANS — Bo Nix and the Denver Broncos’ first-teamers will play to open the preseason game here Saturday at the Superdome — approximately eight to 10 plays, as Broncos coach Sean Payton noted earlier this week and last week prior to the second preseason game against the Arizona Cardinals.
But while getting Nix and the Broncos’ first-teamers some repetitions to get them ready for the regular season matters, what lurks beyond in the game matters more — at least for the players at hand. For them, livelihoods are on the line as the roster must be whittled to 53 players by 2 p.m. on Tuesday, and decisions aren’t yet made.
WHO WILL BE THE RB3?
The player with the best draft pedigree, 2024 fifth-round pick Audric Estimé, might be in the toughest spot heading into the preseason finale. Among the four backs competing to work behind putative 1-2 backs J.K. Dobbins and RJ Harvey, Estimé is the only one averaging under 4.0 yards per carry; he’s at 2.4 so far this preseason.
Watson heads into the game with 103 yards from scrimmage, leading the quartet. McLaughlin’s average of 8.3 yards per touch is the most among the group. Badie has earned plaudits for his blocking. Watson leads in receptions and receiving yardage. In other words, everyone but Estimé has something in the preseason as an item to which they can point.
YouTube video
WILL THE BRONCOS KEEP SIX WIDE RECEIVERS — AND IF THEY DO, WHO IS WR6
The trade of Devaughn Vele creates a place for Pat Bryant and Troy Franklin to fit in the wide-receiver rotation. But Payton has mentioned the notion of keeping six receivers, which opens the door for one of Joaquin Davis, Courtney Jackson, Jerjuan Newton or Kyrese Rowan to land on the 53-player roster.
Jackson’s return prowess and Davis’ hands and measurables — a sub-4.4 40-yard dash time, a 42-inch vertical and a 6-foot-5 frame — are check marks in their favor.
That being said, wide receiver is the third-least likely position to be claimed off waivers in the day after the cut to 53 since 2016.
The breakdown of percentage of players claimed off waivers in the day after the roster deadline in that span:
Kicker: 9.3 percent
Cornerback: 8.36 percent
Fullback: 8.3 percent
Long snapper: 8 percent
Guard: 7.15 percent
Defensive end: 6.97 percent
Punter: 6.45 percent
Quarterback: 5.99 percent
Safety: 5.82 percent
Center: 5.81 percent
Outside linebacker: 5.12 percent
Running back: 4.93 percent
Inside linebacker: 4.56 percent
Offensive tackle: 4.45 percent
Wide receiver: 3.97 percent
Tight end: 3.55 percent
Defensive tackle: 3.33 percent
WHO ENDS UP BEING THE BACKUPS ON THE D-LINE, SAFETY AND ILB?
This is where some of the hotter competition on the roster percolate.
Up front, the addition of third-round pick Sai’Vion Jones put a crunch on returning rotational defensive linemen Jordan Jackson and Enyi Uwazurike. The latter has improved after playing sparingly last year, but Jackson shone during the Broncos-49ers joint practice and has shown a knack for disruptive interior rushes after solid work as the No. 5 defensive lineman last year.
Both look worthy of roster spots, but 3-4 teams typically keep six defensive linemen.
Second-year veteran Levelle Bailey flashed early in first-team work while Alex Singleton and Dre Greenlaw recovered from injuries. Undrafted rookie Jordan Turner has made a recent impression since coming aboard as a mid-May signee.
“Obiously coming in like that, coming in a little later, I think he’s picked things up pretty well, and that’s a plus,” Broncos coach Sean Payton said. The exposures you get in the kicking game and those other snaps are important, but he has picked things up pretty quickly. It’s been a pretty smart group, the guys that weren’t drafted.”
Safety will come down to special teams, in all likelihood. P.J. Locke, JL Skinner, Sam Franklin and Keidron Smith are fighting for spots behind starters Talanoa Hufanga and Brandon Jones. Locke has the most starting experience, but also the biggest contract and recent spinal-fusion surgery.