After Friday’s joint practice, the Green Bay Packers and Denver Broncos will face off in a preseason game at EmPower Field at Mile High on Sunday night.
With live reps banked during a competitive practice, coach Matt LaFleur is expecting to sit most starters and veterans against the Broncos, although it’s unclear if that plan has changed after a mostly underwhelming performance on Friday.
Even if Jordan Love and other starters sit, plenty can be learned about Brian Gutekunst’s roster in Denver. The obvious position to watch will be quarterback, where Sean Clifford and Michael Pratt will handle all the snaps if Love sits. Both Clifford and Pratt are coming off solid preseason debuts, and the Packers need one to separate in the competition to be Love’s backup. It’s possible both quarterbacks will get a half of work on Sunday night.
Here are five other things to watch in the Packers’ mile-high preseason clash:
Kicking battle
A disappointing week in the Packers’ kicking competition will end with a preseason game in Denver’s high altitude, providing an excellent setting for Anders Carlson and Greg Joseph — two big-legged kickers. But distance hasn’t been an issue. Consistency has been elusive, especially this week, and now both kickers are hovering below 85 percent for training camp. One of these kickers needs to get hot — starting Sunday night — or the Packers might have to consider the possibility that the Week 1 kicker isn’t currently on the roster.
Right guard battle
It’s unclear if rookie first-round pick Jordan Morgan will make his NFL debut, but the right guard position is one to watch regardless. Morgan and Sean Rhyan are competing to be the starter — they are listed as co-starters on the unofficial depth chart — and now rookie Jacob Monk has entered the discussion. An uneventful preseason debut for Morgan and plenty of reps for both Rhyan and Monk would represent a best-case scenario for Sunday night. This is one of the only unsettled starting spots on the roster.
Rookie debuts
Morgan might not be the only rookie making their NFL debut in Denver. Linebacker Ty’Ron Hopper returned to 11-on-11 work on Friday, so he should be good to go for Sunday night. Hopper, a third-round pick, has had flashes of highly disruptive play both as a blitzer and against the run during training camp. With Edgerrin Cooper still out, Hopper should get plenty of snaps in Denver. At safety, the Packers are expecting to return fifth-round pick Kitan Oladapo. He’s a big, physical defensive back who excelled against the run at Oregon State, but Oladapo is well behind fellow rookies Javon Bullard and Evan Williams on the depth chart after missing all of the offseason with a toe injury. Undrafted rookie Donovan Jennings should also get his first NFL snaps. He entered camp with a decent chance to make the roster as a backup guard, but injuries have kept him out of action.
Grant DuBose’s encore
DuBose was the star of the preseason opener after catching five passes — including a clutch reception on fourth down and a toe-dragging 23-yarder along the sideline — and making several key blocks. The second-year receiver is now well on his way to making the 53-man roster. In fact, he caught a pass from Jordan Love with the No. 1 offense during Friday’s joint practice. What does DuBose have in store for an encore Sunday? Expect him to be a top target in the first half. It’ll also be worth watching Bo Melton, who must rebound after a disappointing preseason opener, and Malik Heath, who is battling DuBose for a roster spot.
King’s quest
The Packers are deep in veterans at cornerback, and the top four — Jaire Alexander, Eric Stokes, Keisean Nixon and Carrington Valentine — looks locked in place. It’s possible only one or two roster spots are up for grabs at corner, and rookie Kalen King is one of the top competitors entering Sunday. Matt LaFleur was complimentary of King’s work earlier this week. The seventh-round pick should get plenty of opportunities to make more plays against the Broncos. He’s proven to be resilient and physical and always around the football, and the Packers like his potential in the slot, but King is battling the likes of Corey Ballentine and Robert Rochell and needs to stand out again on Sunday night.
