On Sunday, the Denver Broncos face the Indianapolis Colts in their first preseason game. Here are 10 things we’ll be watching for in this matchup.
1. The new kickoff format: The NFL switched to an XFL-style kickoff format this offseason. The Broncos believe they will benefit from the change, so it will be exciting to see them in action. Denver coach Sean Payton has said the team will have two returners, and we’ll be tracking who else besides Marvin Mims might be a good candidate to return in 2024.
2. Eyioma Uwazurike’s status: The defensive lineman’s suspension was lifted on Monday, but it’s unclear if he will play in the team’s first preseason game. The Broncos may want to give him more time to get up to speed in practice before entering a live game.
3. The Punter Competition: Denver’s initial rankings for 2024 list Riley Dixon “OR” Trenton Gill as the punter, suggesting the competition for punters is real. May the best leg win.
4. Luke Wattenberg (and others) in the middle: After losing Lloyd Cushenberry during free agency, the Broncos seem to favor Wattenberg in the competition for the center position, at least for now. Alex Forsyth seems to be his biggest competition, and we’ll be watching how they fare in games.
5. The battle for the inside linebackers: Josey Jewell has also left the team as a free agent, and Cody Barton and Jonas Griffith are the main candidates to replace him. Whoever performs better in the preseason will start alongside Alex Singleton in Week 1.
6. The wide receiver rotation: Courtland Sutton, Marvin Mims, Troy Franklin and Josh Reynolds are likely safe receivers and the Broncos only had four WRs on their initial 53-man roster last year. Denver will likely have at least five WRs in 2024, but that still leaves a large group of players, including Tim Patrick, Devaughn Vele, Lil’Jordan Humphrey, Brandon Johnson and Jalen Virgil, competing for a spot. That’s a big gap.
7. The Cornerback Competition: Entering the preseason, Damarri Mathis “OR” Riley Moss is listed in the lineup as the No. 2 cornerback alongside Pat Surtain. Levi Wallace was also among the starters in training camp, but he is unlikely to play Sunday after suffering a hamstring strain last Saturday.
8. The running back rotation: Javonte Williams remains the RB1 (and he looks great this summer), but there’s a lot of uncertainty surrounding him. Jaleel McLaughlin is apparently safe and the team just used a fifth-round pick on Audric Estime, so he’s probably safe too. If the Broncos have four RBs, third-down specialist Samaje Perine, undrafted gem Blake Watson and Tyler Badie would be battling for the final spot.
9. Bo Nix makes his NFL debut: Nothing will The Story of the game for fans in Denver. After being selected 12th in April’s draft, the Broncos will give Nix his first NFL appearance on Sunday. Rock it, Rook.
10. The general quarterback battle: Nix will be the most exciting storyline, but Jarrett Stidham is also battling for the starting job and Zach Wilson is trying to revive his NFL career. Denver’s quarterback competition will ultimately be decided during the preseason.
