A day away is the Denver Broncos preseason opening. Today, I’ll take a look at a few players that aren’t getting much attention but have the potential to be big players. Every year, there are one or two preseason standouts that go from being anonymous to being added to the roster and contributing to the squad. Undrafted rookie running back Jaleel McLaughlin and undrafted rookie quarterback Ja’Quan McMillian both came off the roster bubble the previous year and went on to play important roles for the team.
A fresh group of undrafted players and unsung heroes are now trying to achieve the same thing. I’ll thus give you a list of seven guys to keep an eye on in the Broncos’ preseason game against the Colts.
Rusher Thomas Incoom on the edge
Thomas Incoom was an undrafted free agent when he signed with the Broncos last season, and as a rookie, he made the 53-man roster. Although he didn’t play in many weeks, he did make four appearances. Now that he has a season under his belt, Incoom hopes to contribute to the Broncos defense.
Incoom has been referenced a lot during camp as a player who is wreaking havoc on the offensive line for the Broncos’ second and third teams. With at least one sack every practice, he may have established himself as a mainstay in the Broncos pass rush lineup.
Incoom’s first preseason game against the Colts is crucial because he’ll probably see a lot of playing time. Nik Bonitto is probably going to be out with a back ailment, while Baron Browning and Jonathan Cooper will probably only play one or two series. He will therefore get a lot of snaps and a great chance to establish his worth in the Broncos pass rush lineup.
This applies to all of the Broncos’ backup edge rushers, including Dondrea Tillman, rookie Jaylon Allen, rookie Durell Nchami, and rookie Jonah Elliss. In order to hopefully get after the Colts quarterbacks and rack up plenty of pressure and sacks, the Broncos need to improve their pass rush.
2: Alex Palczewski and Matt Peart in overtime
In this one, all eyes will be on Broncos reserve tackles Matt Peart and Alex Palczewski. Quinn Bailey, who was supposed to be the team’s swing tackle and sixth offensive lineman, was lost for the season. Now that he’s out, these two are considered the front-runners for the swing tackle position with the Broncos.
Palczewski was a standout camp performer the previous season as an undrafted free agent. Sadly, he missed the entire season due to an injury, and he has been recovering during the offseason. This year’s camp is different from last, but head coach Sean Payton is confident that he will excel once the pads are on.
He’s one of those guys that enjoys having pads on. I assert that he may not be as skilled in several sports-related areas. However, you check the box and declare, “He does his job,” when the pads come on and you begin these live or semi-live repetitions. He had some excellent work today. He is a very astute player. We discussed the number of games [QB] Bo [Nix] attended Oregan, but in my opinion, “Palco” (T Alex Palczewski) played a greater number. Therefore, it’s not that he lacks experience—it’s just those initial team reps. He seems like someone we can be happy with.
Regarding Peart, he was previously selected by the New York Giants in the third round and has had difficulty in the league. Despite his size, length, and athleticism, he is a swing tackle by trade and difficult to trust due to his career difficulties. Therefore, we should keep an eye on him throughout Sunday’s preseason game to observe how well he guards the blindside of the Broncos quarterback.
The preseason will be crucial for Peart, head coach Sean Payton told reporters earlier this month, and they’re searching for that next tackle up.
“He’s quite lengthy. His frame is good. He demonstrated proficiency in some areas, but there are still areas that need improvement, particularly in terms of run game landmarks. He has a solid build, good size, and length. This preseason holds great significance for him. “Who is that next tackle up?” is what we’re searching for.
These tackles have not had much success guarding the quarterback, according to reports coming out of camp. Throughout camp, the backup and reserve pass rushers have been exerting pressure, but now the quarterbacks are actually absorbing hits. Because your quarterbacks are now absorbing significant hits, it will be considerably more concerning if they struggle.
3: Levelle Bailey, a linebacker
Levelle Bailey, an undrafted rookie linebacker, is one player to watch. After the selection, Sean Payton made a special effort to persuade him to sign with the Broncos; he even gave him two personal calls. With a great preseason showing, the athletic linebacker now has a shot to make the Broncos 53-man roster.
Payton stated that Bailey’s contribution to the team’s kicking game will be crucial. He will have to demonstrate his ability to play on special teams alongside players like Andre Smith and Justin Strnad as an end-of-the-roster member. He continued by saying that since they were impressed by his college tape, he is excited to see how he performs as a tackler.
Like the other students in this rookie class, he is picking things up. His ability to assist us in the kicking game will be crucial. He appeals to me. I admire his physique. We enjoyed him on his college film, so I’m forward to see how he does when we go to tackling. He is putting in a lot of effort at work. Though I’m sure it’s nothing in comparison to what he had to do in college, he’s persevering.
At 6-2 and 225 pounds, Payton is a smaller linebacker, and he talks about how that affects him as a tackler. His projection is more for coverage linebacker than downhill run defender, but if he is used on special teams, he will have to prove that he can play that position. Bailey must also demonstrate that he has the necessary athleticism and block-shedding ability to make plays in coverage against players of NFL caliber.
The Broncos linebacker room is not the best on paper, but if Bailey plays well in the preseason and has a strong camp with the coach’s support, he has a shot to earn a spot on this defense and special teams. For this reason, I think he’s a player to keep an eye on but who goes unnoticed.
4: The corner of the slot Taylor Reese
Cornerback Reese Taylor is one name that has been cited frequently throughout camp during one-on-one exercises, in strong coverage during team drills, and just generally in a positive manner. Before signing to the Broncos practice squad in the latter part of the previous season, he was with the Chiefs and went undrafted the previous year. He is now vying for a position on the squad this summer while enjoying a great training camp.
While it’s not exactly the breakout summer that Ja’Quan McMillian is experiencing, he’s still having a great one, and he plans to keep it up in the preseason. He is now McMillian’s backup slot cornerback, thus he should see a lot of playing time both in the preseason and against the Colts.
The Broncos secondary has a lot of unfilled roles aside from Pat Surtain II and McMillian. Due to a hamstring injury, veteran Levi Wallace is out, while rookies Kris Abrams-Draine, Riley Moss, and Damarri Mathis are vying for a starting position. If Taylor does well in the preseason and demonstrates his ability to contribute on special teams, I wouldn’t rule out him pushing for a spot on the roster.
5. Safety’s Devon Key and JL Skinner
The Broncos’ safety depth is currently limited because Caden Sterns was waived, Brandon Jones is out due to a hamstring injury, and Delarrin Turner-Yell is still on the PUP. This implies that throughout the preseason, the roster’s healthy depth players will play a big role. JL Skinner and Devon Key, two second-year players, might see the most. Both players are enjoying excellent camps and are compelling candidates for a berth on the squad.
Payton mentioned earlier this week that players like Skinner and Key, among others, were having a great camp and that this helped to explain Caden Sterns’ unexpected dismissal.
“Well, have a look. He is among these men who has intelligence; he is not the only one. In the latter half of the previous season, he truly took off. He entered the kicking game and immediately became an offensive weapon for the scout team. Hence, he exudes confidence while playing and is among the younger players who will exert pressure. All he needs to do is keep going forward.
The sight of JL Skinner most excites me. With strong athleticism and coverage abilities, he is a large safety. Due to an injury that kept him out of the lineup for the majority of the offseason and made him look unimpressive, he had a somewhat lost season last year. Despite being added to the 53-man roster, he did not play for the majority of the season. He has now had a whole offseason, and it has shown in his improvement and advancement during camp. He needs to keep improving, as stated by Payton, and these preseason reps will be beneficial to his growth.
Regarding Key, I’m excited to watch what he can accomplish in the preseason. P.J. Locke has progressed from a member of the practice squad to a depth player, and he is now a starter and a weekly contributor for this team. Could Key take this same course? Similar to Skinner, he should see a lot of playing time and, should he perform well, might assist secure a spot on the roster.
Additional Information From Mile High Report
Leave a Reply