As starters will seemingly watch, Broncos’ focus in opposition to Dallas turns to backup gamers

Things which have modified for the reason that Broncos final performed a house sport, a Jan. 8 loss to Kansas City:

New possession. The group led by Rob Walton bought the group this week for $4.65 billion.

New coach. An expansive search resulted in Nathaniel Hackett being employed to interchange Vic Fangio.

New coordinators. In are Justin Outten (offense), Ejiro Evero (protection) and Dwayne Stukes (particular groups). Hackett will name the offensive performs.

And new quarterback. Russell Wilson. That is all.

But when the Broncos open the exhibition season in opposition to the Dallas Cowboys on Saturday, the main target gained’t be on Wilson, operating again Javonte Williams, receivers Courtland Sutton and Jerry Jeudy and the complete first-team protection.

The starters obtained their work in throughout Thursday’s joint follow, which implies the back-of-the-roster candidates will see the state of their depth.

Here are 5 gamers to look at, a few of whom are preventing for a spot and others preventing for a job:

Josh Johnson/Brett Rypien

Hackett mentioned the No. 2 quarterback spot is a “great competition right now.” Johnson has typically acquired the second-team snaps and through Thursday’s follow in opposition to Dallas, he took 26 group reps in comparison with 12 for Rypien.

“For us, it’s going to be about consistency,” Hackett mentioned of evaluating Johnson and Rypien. “Getting those completions, making the right decisions, keeping the chains moving and taking the shots when you have (the chance). I think they have both shown they can do that.”

The Broncos signed Johnson in free company even with Rypien within the fold. Simply being useful will permit Johnson to enter the common season as the first backup.

Montrell Washington

The manner the Broncos rotate receivers all through their follow script has allowed Washington to catch passes from all three quarterbacks. He appears to have really feel for coverages in the course of the sphere and may snatch the soccer when it’s thrown above his head.

But Washington’s ticket to the preliminary 53-man roster is within the return sport. He should catch the punts. All of them. He should make good choices on kickoffs. All of them.

The Broncos drafted Washington to ignite a stagnant return sport.

“But he has to win the job,” Stukes mentioned. “We have to see what he does on Saturday when it’s live. We haven’t had a live tackling period (in camp) so we want to see if he can take contact. We want to see his balance, we want to see him burst, explode and make plays.”

Nik Bonitto

The Broncos’ high draft selection (second spherical), Bonitto has been getting principally second-team snaps at exterior linebacker reverse Baron Browning. If Bradley Chubb and Malik Reed don’t play, Bonitto ought to get main taking part in time to evaluate his progress.

“We’re asking him to do some different things than he did in college and we’ve challenged him,” Evero mentioned in the course of the first week of camp.

Bonitto mentioned he’s taking part in the run in a different way in comparison with Oklahoma, the place he was capable of shoot the gaps as an alternative of taking up and shedding blockers.