The Denver Broncos rested most all their key starters this evening. That gave the Broncos’ coaches plenty of tape to evaluate the backup players vying for a spot on the final 53-man roster. When the game clock struck zero, the Broncos came away with a dominating 34-6 victory in their preseason finale versus the Minnesota Vikings. Here are some instant reactions from tonight’s game.
Broncos’ offense bounces back versus Vikings; Cody Schrader has an incredible performance.
Last week in their 20-point defeat to the Green Bay Packers, the Broncos struggled in the offensive trenches and couldn’t tote the rock on the ground. In turn, their offense fluttered and they only put 13 points up on the board. Earlier in the week, Offensive Coordinator Davis Webb stated he wanted to see more consistency from the group. Tonight, they didn’t disappoint and executed tremendously.
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Denver’s starting offensive line was Matt Peart, Kage Casey, Luke Wattenberg, Calvin Throckmorton, and Alex Palczewski. Those five were able to manhandle the competition in the trenches. Wattenberg was eventually replaced by Throckmorton at center, with Palczewski going to right guard, and UDFA rookie Tyler Miller manning down reps at right tackle.
With them paving the way, the Broncos’ running game did much better. Tyler Badie had a few good runs. Meanwhile, Cody Schrader impressed in the first half and averaged nearly eight yards per carry. Schrader continued to perform well in his reps in the second half.
Quite honestly, he was the player of the game for Denver. He finished with 132 all-purpose yards. Will that be enough for him to make the final 53-man roster? I don’t think so. Denver likely keeps just three running backs. Nevertheless, his performance tonight assured him a spot on the 16-man practice squad. He showed a lot of burst and wiggle in the open field.
The only back who struggled in his limited carries early on was Jaleel McLaughlin. However, McLaughlin made up for it with a 20-yard touchdown reception late in the first half. Even so, I’m not sure that will be enough for him to earn a spot when the roster is finalized in less than 48 hours. He saw a lot of playing time even in the second half which usually isn’t a good sign in a preseason finale.
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The Broncos finished the game with 400 yards of total offense and 34 points scored. As Head Coach John Fox once said, “Not too shabby.”
Welcome to the NFL, Justin Joly!
Justin Joly has had a relatively quiet training camp and preseason. He hadn’t been targeted much in the first two games and only had a couple of receptions. During his collegiate years, he was one of college football’s most productive players. At North Carolina State, he was a vertical threat and bigtime playmaker.
With that in mind, he was one of the players I hoped would shine tonight versus the Vikings. It took a while for it to happen, but he hauled in an 88-yard touchdown reception from Sam Ehlinger late in the fourth quarter. Sure, the Vikings had busted coverage, but Joly came down with the ball and took it to the house.
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Head Coach Sean Payton talks all the time about how a single play or moment can give a player confidence. Maybe this moment will serve as a motivator and momentum builder as he continues to carve out his role with the team and path in the National Football League. Congrats on the big play, Joly!
Two players I felt that stood out for Denver on defense.
One of the big variables before the final roster cutdowns is what will shake out with EDGE rusher Jonathon Cooper. The Broncos haven’t been informed of a decision yet, but he very well could be suspended for at least six games due to his off-the-field issues earlier this summer. Even if that doesn’t happen, 9News insider Mike Klis mentioned Cooper could be placed on the NFL commissioner’s exempt list as the legal process continues to play out.
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That means guys like Jonah Elliss, Dondrea Tillman, and Que Robinson will have to step up. I expect Elliss to be the first in line to start. However, I thought Robinson looked quite good in extended playing time. Against the Vikings, he put a lot of pressure on Max Brosmer in the first half. A fourth-round pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, Robinson has tantalizing traits and upside as a starter. Defensive Coordinator Vance Joseph has spoken highly of him this offseason and he should see quite a bit of playing time early on this season if Cooper is not on the roster to begin the season.
Another player I thought impressed again was inside linebacker Karene Reid. In every preseason game to date, Reid has shown a knack for making plays on the ball. Truth be told, he was someone I thought would be a cut. Now? He appears to probably be the best bet for the third backer in the Broncos’ rotation. I still feel Denver may opt to carry five inside linebackers, but will Red Murdock and Jordan Turner be the other two? We’ll know by Monday evening.
Miscellaneous thoughts and observations:
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I don’t envision Kolbe Katsis making the final roster, but he solidified his spot on the 16-man practice squad. Katsis had terrific 48-yard return in the first half. He was a tremendous returner in college and could eventually be a future asset for the franchise down the road for his special team’s ability. However, Marvin Mims Jr. did suffer a foot injury early in the game. The severity is unknown, but if it’s significant enough, Katsis may sneak onto the final roster if Mims has to go on short-term IR.
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Tight end Nate Adkins looked good tonight as well. He lined up in a variety of positions and threw some key blocks and had a nice 26-yard catch and run early in the game. I think he will end up making the final roster this year as well. Adam Prentice also got a few looks in the run game including another touchdown score. I think both players will have a big role in propelling Denver’s rushing attack in 2026 and be important in short yardage and goal line situations.
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In the third quarter of the broadcast, Klis noted that he didn’t expect the Broncos to make any outside additions via the waiver wire during the roster cutdown process. From what he has heard, Denver’s coaching staff feels good about the players who are developing in the system. That would be a mild surprise to me, but we will just have to see what shakes out over the next couple of days.
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Kudos to Sam Ehlinger for bouncing back after an interception to start the game. I don’t feel the Broncos will carry three quarterbacks on the final roster, but he really stepped up and was dialing up great throws down the field in the second half. Ehlinger finished the game going 15-of-20 for 233 yards, 3 touchdowns, and 1 interception.
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