SOME BRONCOS GET LAST CHANCE TO MAKE TEAM
22 starters to sit on Thursday; 68 remaining Broncos playing for roster spots
Broncos practice ended about 30 minutes ago and Joe Jones is by himself, crouched in a three-point stance in front of a blue dummy sled and exploding his shoulder pads into its cushion.
The last defensive player to run off the field Tuesday at UCHealth Training Center. The final team workout before Denver wraps up its preseason slate against Arizona. Jones, a second-year inside linebacker, takes the extra reps because he knows exactly what is at stake Thursday night in the desert.
“For me, I feel like I’m on that line,” Jones said, “where I can make it or break it based on what this game does for me.”
He’s certainly not alone. Vance Joseph confirmed that 22 players, all unspecified starters, are expected to sit out against the Cardinals. For a large portion of the 68 Broncos that remain, the preseason finale might represent, “the most important football game they’ll have played in their whole lives,” Joseph said. Not hyperbole, either. The Broncos’ head coach knows from experience as a former NFL youngster working for a 53-man roster spot with the Jets (1995) and Colts (1996).
“As a player, I was always a guy on the bubble,” Joseph said. “This week is special because as a young player, you get one more chance to prove you can play in this league.”
For some on the roster bubble, Thursday is an opportunity to build on positive momentum.
Safety Dymonte Thomas, an undrafted free agent signed to Denver’s active roster in December off the practice squad, was featured prominently at dime safety last week at Washington with Su’a Cravens sidelined (knee). Thomas responded with five tackles, including several key third-down stops, and a pass breakup. He appeared totally forward-focused, though, when asked how it propelled him closer
to a roster spot.
“That happened last week,” Thomas said. “This league is all about performance. If you don’t perform, then you don’t get to stay.”
For others on the roster bubble, Thursday is an opportunity to rise above doubt.
The freeagent addition of veteran Adam Jones puts cornerback Brendan Langley and wide receiver Isaiah McKenzie on notice. Langley, a 2017 thirdround pick, has yet to prove reliable outside of special teams and could get bumped from the cornerback depth chart. The loss of starting punt return duties for McKenzie, a 2017 fifthround pick, could equal a Denver exit considering his previous fumbling issues and playing order among wide receivers. Adam Jones, potentially, could improve both positions.
Several Broncos, while considered talented enough to make an NFL roster, might get left out due to a numbers game within crowded position rooms thanks to an influx of rookie talent — namely at running back and wide receiver.
The emergence of Royce Freeman and Phillip Lindsay in the backfield might make De’Angelo Henderson the oddmanout, considering the The Denver Post first learned Henderson is already generating interest from other teams should he become available Saturday, according to a league source. “I had no idea,” Henderson said Tuesday when asked about the report. “Hopefully things play out well and I’m still playing football this year.”
Should the Broncos’ retain six wide receivers on the active roster, it likely leaves just one practice squad slot available between Tim Patrick, River Cracraft and John Diarse — all young players with standout moments through the course of training camp.
“My main focus is I have a chance to be a starter this week and I haven’t been a starter since college,” Cracraft said. “I’m so hyped for that. I could get a ton of snaps. I’m excited for it. It’s going to be a big week for me.”
The one certainty of cut day is many players will leave team headquarters left only to wonder what’s next. Joe Jones, that second year linebacker who lingered on the practice field Tuesday, understands the feeling well. The Broncos are his fourth NFL team over just 15 months in the league by way of Dallas, Los Angeles (Chargers) and Seattle.
A bit of advice for those who receive bad news Saturday.
“Don’t give up and don’t get down on yourself,” Joe Jones said. “Obviously have your moment of being (upset). I got cut. I was mad for a day or two, then it was, ‘All right, I’ve got to get back to work.’ If you made plays on defense or special teams, someone is watching out there on the other 31 teams.
“You’ll find a spot somewhere.”