Broncos’ rookies Ojemudia, Bassey look to build on debuts

Big Ben, Steelers’ WRs up next for CBs

ENGLEWOOD — As soon as Denver Broncos cornerback A.J. Bouye was injured Monday night, the Tennessee Titans identified Essang Bassey.

At the snap, Titans quarterback Ryan Tannehill looked one direction — left toward receiver Adam Humphries. Catching Bassey flat-footed, Tannehill threw nine yards to Humphries.

Fast forward to the fourth quarter and a second-and-10 play with 1:55 remaining. The Titans identified Michael Ojemudia.

At the snap, Tannehill again looked one direction — left toward receiver A.J. Brown. Working against Ojemudia, Brown quickly closed the 10-yard cushion and forced Ojemudia to commit a 16-yard pass interference penalty.

Ojemudia and Bassey, after holding up adequately in Week 1, should expect the same kind of attention from Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger on Sunday.

“There’s no question you have to earn your stripes against stud quarterbacks,” Broncos defensive coordinator Ed Donatell said.

Finding a way to contain Roethlisberger and receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster would be a huge stripe on the figurative sleeve for Ojemudia and Bassey, who played 64 and 45 snaps, respectively, against the Titans.

“They didn’t set us back at all,” Donatell said. “That’s pretty tough to do to enter in a pro football game and play and play in rhythm with our team.”

Emphasis on “pretty tough.” No in-person offseason program meant Ojemudia and Bassey weren’t on the field until a month before the opener and they had no preseason games to assimilate to NFL speed.

Ojemudia missed a good chunk of camp with a quad injury, but was healthy enough to earn the No. 3 job, and his interception was negated by an Alexander Johnson personal foul. Ojemudia had two tackles and one pass break-up.

Bassey was a part of the original game plan as sixth defensive back in the Broncos’ dime package — he just played more than expected. He had five tackles.

“For it to be their first NFL game without even preseason games, just all practice and camp, they stepped in and played very well,” safety Kareem Jackson said.

Bouye is on injured reserve for at least three weeks, creating a top-three cornerback group of Bryce Callahan, Ojemudia and Bassey.

AAron Ontiveroz / The Denver Post Broncos cornerback Michael Ojemudia, right, looks on as Titans WR A.J. Brown tries to snare a pass in the end zone Monday night in Denver.