After a 10-point victory in their final preseason game against the Minnesota Vikings, the Denver Broncos now have significant decisions to make by whittling the roster from 80 players down to 53. Here are six aspects of the game that the Denver decision-makers will look at to aid their conclusions.
Stock up: Broncos rushing game
After dismal performances against the Dallas Cowboys and Buffalo Bills, the Broncos’ rushing game finally came alive. The entire group came totaled over 100 yards of rushing, most of them coming from running back Mike Boone, who finished with 44 yards. Mind you, 44 yards from one player was more than the Broncos as a team had against the Cowboys. Way to go!
Stock down: Donnie Lewis Jr.
Lewis was picked on heavily by Vikings quarterbacks in the second half of the game. There were several times where the ball was thrown his way and he didn’t even turn his head around. If you are wanting to make a 53-man roster in the NFL as a cornerback, you have to get your head around to look for the ball.
Stock up: Montrell Washington
Montrell Washington continued to impress Broncos fans and coaches. The rookie from Samford electrified the crowd at Empower Field at Mile High with an 11-yard rushing touchdown. He could be an integral part of the roster as a Swiss Army knife.
Stock down: 2-minute offense
At the end of the first half, the Broncos had 1:49 and three timeouts to go 90 yards. Instead, quarterback Brett Rypien led Denver only 23 yards. The drive ended with a Corliss Waitman punt, taking only 53 seconds off the clock. If it had not been for the amazing defensive score to cap the half, it would have been a frustrating way to end the first 30 minutes.
At the end of the game, the Broncos only had 12 yards to go for a touchdown to close out Minnesota, which would have really boosted the stock of quarterback Josh Johnson. Instead, Denver only came away with three, in large part to costly penalties and playcalling. Hopefully the two-minute drill under Russell Wilson can produce more points in those types of situations.
Stock up: Turnovers!
After no turnovers against the Buffalo Bills, the Broncos came away with a massive fumble-touchdown that turned the momentum of the game. At the time, it was 10-7 Broncos, far from a sure bet. McTelvin Agim stripped the ball from Vikings quarterback Sean Mannion, which was recovered by Baron Browning, who took it in for a touchdown and a commanding lead before halftime.
Stock up: KJ Hamler
After a devastating ACL tear left wide receiver KJ Hamler sidelined for the 2021 campaign, he finally made his 2022 debut. Hamler caught three passes for 18 yards. Hamler looks to make a big impact as a speedy receiver for quarterback Russell Wilson. In the wake of a big injury, it was great to see Hamler starring out on the field again.
