Broncos training camp guide: Top storylines, players to watch, prediction (2024)

The Broncos are opening up another training camp this week with the same goal they’ve had since winning the Super Bowl after the 2015 season: find a way back to the postseason. It’s a goal the Broncos have been unable to reach for the past seven seasons, but another significant organizational change — this time in the form of hiring Super Bowl-winning head coach Sean Payton — has brought a fresh round of optimism as the Broncos begin preparations for 2023.

Just how rosy the outlook will be for Denver when it opens the season on Sept. 10 at home against the Raiders hinges on how well the Broncos can adapt to Payton’s way during his first training camp in Denver, which begins in earnest with Friday’s first open-to-the-public practice. Here’s everything we’ll be watching:

Storylines

What does Russell Wilson look like under Sean Payton’s guidance?

This is one of the most intriguing questions league-wide, not just within the team. Wilson is a nine-time Pro Bowler who was acquired by the Broncos at an enormous cost before the 2022 season — five draft picks, three players and a five-year, $245 million contract extension — and proceeded to have the worst year of his career. He is now 34 and facing significant questions about whether he can be the emphatic answer at quarterback the Broncos made such a big bet he would be.

This may be Russell Wilson's most important training camp since he entered the league as a rookie in 2012.

Make no mistake: this is a prove-it year for Wilson. And many of the Broncos' future plans could hinge on how it unfolds, writes @NickKosmider.https://t.co/b8XZXJ8mXk

— The Athletic (@TheAthletic) July 13, 2023

Payton may not have a magic wand he can wave and revert Wilson back to his early 2020 form when he was the frontrunner for the league’s MVP award, but his years of sustained success as a winning head coach and an inventive and adaptive play-caller should provide a healthy springboard for Wilson into this defining season. Still, Wilson is learning yet another new offense from a third offensive staff in as many seasons. He must show he can stay healthy after dealing with numerous injuries last season, at least one of which popped up near the end of last year’s training camp. Everything should be in place for a player who wants to take another step toward a possible future Hall of Fame induction, but it all must start by demonstrating a grasp of his new head coach’s scheme in camp.

When will Javonte Williams return to the field?

The Broncos made their injury list designations Sunday ahead of players reporting to camp and Williams’ name wasn’t one. That means the third-year running back who suffered a major knee injury that ended his season last October is cleared for the start of camp. Though Payton suggested this would be the case for the 23-year-old who made the league’s all-rookie team in 2021, it is still worth noting the progress Williams has made since suffering a torn ACL and other ligament damage only 296 days ago.

Being cleared for participation in camp and being ready to shoulder a heavy offensive load in Week 1 are two different things. The Broncos will bring Williams along cautiously as they begin adding full contact to his ongoing rehab. They believe they have a starting-level running back in free-agent acquisition Samaje Perine, confident he could be a productive lead ball carrier until Williams is fully ready. But Denver’s offense will be better with Williams, who tallied 1,219 total yards as a rookie, featured prominently. Training camp should provide a window into how quickly he can get there.

Can the Broncos build a successful pass rush?

The source of Denver’s dip on defense during the second half of last season was not difficult to identify. The pass-rush production plummeted after the Broncos traded Bradley Chubb at the midway point. Key free-agent acquisition Randy Gregory was sidelined for most of the season, second-year player Baron Browning dealt with injury issues of his own and second-round Nik Bonitto experienced growing pains as he adjusted to the speed and physicality of the NFL.

The Broncos hired Vance Joseph — their head coach during the 2017 and 2018 seasons — as the new defensive coordinator, and he brings an attacking, blitzing style as a playcaller that should manufacture pressure. But they will also need more production with their four-man rush. The addition of veteran Pro Bowl talent Frank Clark should help, even if his snap count during the regular season is modest. Gregory enters training camp healthy after missing most of last year’s camp while rehabbing from shoulder surgery. But the Broncos will need to see other players step up, particularly with Browning beginning camp on the physically unable-to-perform list as he recovers from offseason knee surgery.

Will enough depth materialize?

The Broncos have not selected a player higher than No. 63 overall in the NFL Draft since taking Pat Surtain II at No. 9 in 2021. Denver only had five picks in April’s draft. That’s what happens when you trade a combined five first- and second-round picks across two drafts to acquire a quarterback and a head coach in trades. Those thin classes have left the Broncos short on proven depth behind their presumed starters. The Broncos’ roster is strong at the top in a number of spots, from wide receiver and inside linebacker to the offensive line and the secondary, but there will quickly become question marks if the Broncos suffer anywhere near as many injuries in training camp as they did last season. It is imperative that the Broncos identify trusted reserve pieces during training camp and the preseason.

Players to watch

Greg Dulcich, TE: Wilson developed quick chemistry with Dulcich when the rookie finally played in Week 6 last season. Dulcich scored a 39-yard touchdown in the first quarter of that game against the Chargers and ultimately tallied the second-most receiving yards (411) among all rookie tight ends — despite missing seven games due to hamstring injuries. Dulcich has benefitted from a healthy offseason and should occupy a key role in Payton’s offense, a “Joker” position that allows him to exploit mismatches against slower — or, in other cases, smaller — defenders.

Lloyd Cushenberry, C: Last season was frustrating for Cushenberry. Though he was healthy enough to return from his hip injury with several weeks left in the season, the previous coaching staff, running out of IR return designations, ultimately decided to leave him sidelined. Cushenberry is in line to be the Week 1 starter for the fourth straight season as he enters the final year of his rookie contract, but he must show improvement, particularly in goal-line situations, in order to help Denver’s reconfigured offensive line reach its full potential.

Tyler Badie and Jaleel McLaughlin, RB: Williams and Perine will sit atop the depth chart, but who will grab the presumed No. 3 spot the Broncos will carry on the roster? The Broncos signed veteran Tony Jones Jr. in free agency, and his experience playing for Payton should be a benefit, but Badie and McLaughlin are young players who should get a decent look in camp, particularly given that Denver only has five backs on its roster at the moment. Badie was an undrafted free agent out of Missouri in 2022 who had only two touches with the Broncos but scored a touchdown on one of those — a 24-yard screen pass from Wilson in the regular-season finale against the Chargers. McLaughlin, meanwhile, ended his college career as the all-time leading rusher in NCAA history and joined the Broncos as a priority free agent after the draft. He had some bright flashes during OTAs and minicamp, but it will be important to see how well the 5-foot-7, 187-pound back holds up to NFL contact once the pads come on.

Tim Patrick, WR: The veteran tore his ACL early in training camp last season and missed the 2022 season. It was an early, significant wrench for an offense that never found its stride. Patrick gives the Broncos a big, physical presence who could play inside and better help the Broncos disguise run and pass formations. Training camp should provide a window into how much of an impact Patrick can make for a receiving corps that could be among the NFL’s most complete if things fall right.

The final countdown to training camp — cue the Europe track — begins with a 53-man roster projection, full of tough choices at wide receiver, offensive line and elsewhere: https://t.co/mDxmEbseI2

— Nick Kosmider (@NickKosmider) July 24, 2023

Rookie report

• The Broncos’ top two picks — wide receiver Marvin Mims and linebacker Drew Sanders — sat out minicamp in June with undisclosed injuries, but Payton suggested both players would be fine for the start of training camp.

“I think they’re both real sharp mentally,” Payton said. “We have real good early glimpses of them, and they’re quickly healing.”

• I’m particularly intrigued to see how the Broncos use Sanders in the defense. He played something of a hybrid role during his lone season at the University of Arkansas in 2022 when he finished with 9 1/2 sacks and 13 1/2 tackles for loss. Payton has said the Broncos will play Sanders at inside linebacker, where he’ll be behind the starting duo of Josey Jewell and Alex Singleton, but they also view him as a “pressure player,” who will be brought to the line of scrimmage at times in an effort to give him chances to rush the passer. He’s a versatile piece Joseph will no doubt enjoy moving around.

• Mims was one of the best punt returners in college football last season and should get a chance to assume that role for the Broncos. He could have competition from second-year player Montrell Washington and veteran cornerback Tremon Smith, among others, but figuring out ways to get their second-round pick the ball in space — be it in the passing game or on special teams — should be a priority for the Broncos.

• As noted above, I think McLaughlin has a decent chance to make the Broncos’ roster given the numbers at running back, but there are a couple of other undrafted rookies who could also crack the Week 1 lineup. Keep an eye on outside linebacker Thomas Incoom out of Central Michigan and defensive lineman PJ Mustipher out of Penn State.

Top position battles to monitor

Defensive end: The Broncos will have two new defensive ends this season after letting Dre’Mont Jones and DeShawn Williams sign elsewhere in free agency. One of those spots will be filled by Zach Allen, who spent his first four NFL seasons playing in Arizona, where Joseph was his defensive coordinator. The Week 1 starter at the other spot is seemingly up for grabs. Eyioma Uwazurike, a fourth-round pick out of Iowa State in 2022, figured to have a good shot at a starting spot, but he was suspended indefinitely by the NFL on Monday for violations of its gambling policy and won’t be eligible to play in 2023. Matt Henningsen figures to be the top candidate for the job after seeing his playing time increase down the stretch last season. You can also expect Joseph to line up some bigger fronts, which means there could be room for D.J. Jones, Mike Purcell and free-agent addition Tyler Lancaster on the roster. You can also expect the Broncos to add another veteran at the position at some point before or during camp.

Cornerback: Damarri Mathis started 11 games opposite Pat Surtain II as a rookie last season, a role that appeared because of an injury to veteran Ronald Darby. That experience should give him an edge in the race for a Week 1 starting role, but the Broncos will also take a long look at rookie Riley Moss. Tremon Smith, one of Denver’s early free-agent signings, has largely been a special teams mainstay during his NFL career, but he does have starting experience on the outside. And don’t count out Ja’Quan McMillian, who impressed during his lone start as a rookie in Week 18 last season and turned heads with his ability to be around the ball during OTAs and minicamp.

Kicker: Since the Broncos released veteran Brandon McManus in May, they have already signed or worked out five different kickers. They head to camp with two — Brett Maher and Elliott Fry — expected to battle for the Week 1 job, though Payton suggested the team will potentially continue exploring other options up until the start of the season. Maher has the resume that should give him an edge if it remains a battle between he and Fry. He played for Payton with the Saints in 2021, making 16 of his 18 field-goal attempts. He was one of the league’s most accurate kickers last season while playing with the Cowboys (29-of-32 field goals; 50-of-53 extra points). His meltdown in the wild-card victory over the Buccaneers (1-of-5 on point-after attempts) has been well-documented, but Maher rebounded to make both of his field-goal attempts against the 49ers in the divisional round. He has made three field goals of at least 62 yards in his career.

Prediction

When the schedule came out in the spring, I predicted an 8-9 finish for the Broncos. I still see this as somewhere between a seven- and 10-win team, but I’ll bump my official prediction heading into training camp to 9-8. Will that be enough to break the team’s playoff drought? Maybe not, but this season will be the biggest step in the right direction since Hall of Fame quarterback Peyton Manning retired in 2016. The Broncos will get a better Russell Wilson. They’ll get more coherent offensive game plans. They’ll get top-10-level play out of a talented defense. That will all be enough to snap the streak of losing records at six seasons.

(Top photo of Sean Payton: Andy Cross / The Denver Post via Getty Images)

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Nick Kosmider is a staff writer for The Athletic covering the Denver Broncos. He previously covered the Denver Nuggets for The Athletic after spending five years at the Denver Post, where he covered the city’s professional sports scene. His other stops include The Arizona Republic and MLB.com. Follow Nick on Twitter @NickKosmider