Locked On Broncos - Daily Podcast On The Denver Broncos - Denver Broncos BIGGEST 53-Man Roster Dilemmas Entering Final Week of NFL Preseason

Episode Date: August 25, 2026

The Denver Broncos are facing many roster dilemmas as the 53-man roster cutdown deadline approaches after their final preseason game. Cody Roark and Sayre Bedinger debate and discuss the Broncos backu...p QB job and whether or not their QB2 is on this current roster, whether or not the Broncos will carry four or five running backs, six wide receivers, and how injuries on the offensive line at center may force them to carry 10 offensive linemen.   Cody Roark is a credentialed beat reporter for Mile High Sports and provides boots-on-the-ground coverage of the Broncos daily in person. Sayre Bedinger is the site expert for Predominantly Orange. Together, both bring Broncos Country the most in-depth and objective coverage of the Denver Broncos.   📸 - Ron Chenoy — Imagn Images   WANT MORE DAILY DENVER BRONCOS CONTENT? For all of the latest Denver Broncos news today --   Follow & Subscribe on all Podcast platforms 🎧 https://lockedonpodcasts.com/podcasts/locked-on-broncos/   Locked On NFL League-Wide: Every Team, Fantasy, Draft, & More 🎧 https://lockedonpodcasts.com/leagues/nfl/   📲 Cody Roark Twitter / (https://twitter.com/codyroarknfl) 📲 Cody Roark Instagram / (https://instagram.com/codyroarknfl) 📲  Sayre Bedinger Twitter / (https://twitter.com/sayrebedinger)   Everydayer Club   If you never miss an episode, it’s time to make it official. Join the Locked On Everydayer Club and get ad-free audio, access to our members-only Discord, and more — all built for our most loyal fans. one 📲 https://lockedonbroncos.supercast.com/   TEXT LINE: Support the show and interact with us on Denver Broncos rumors, News, Game Previews, Q&A's, and more. 📲 https://joinsubtext.com/c/lockedonbroncos 📲 TEXT: (720) 580-5759   📢 Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! Gusto Try Gusto today at gusto.com/LOCKEDONNFL, and get three months free when you run your first payroll.   FanDuel Today's episode is brought to you by FanDuel. Join all the action at https://FANDUEL.COM to play Daily Dingers and make your free pick on who’s hitting a homer this MLB season.   KALSHI For a limited time,Download the Kalshi app and use code [LOCKEDON] to get $10 when you trade $10.   Square Get up to $200 off Square hardware when you sign up at https://square.com/go/lockedonnfl! #squarepod   Gametime Today's episode is brought to you by Gametime. Download the Gametime app, create an account, and use code LOCKEDON for $20 off your first purchase.   Indeed Listeners of this show get a $75 Sponsored Job Credit to help give your job the premium placement it deserves at http://Indeed.com/podcast.   Odoo Great organizations win because operations matter. And that’s why you should get Odoo. Try for free today at https://Odoo.com/lockedon. FANDUEL DISCLAIMER: 21+ in select states. First online real money wager only. Bonus issued as nonwithdrawable free bets that expires in 14 days. Restrictions apply. See terms at sportsbook.fanduel.com. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER or visit FanDuel.com/RG (CO, IA, MD, MI, NJ, PA, IL, VA, WV), 1-800-NEXT-STEP or text NEXTSTEP to 53342 (AZ), 1-888-789-7777 or visit ccpg.org/chat (CT), 1-800-9-WITH-IT (IN), 1-800-522-4700 (WY, KS) or visit ksgamblinghelp.com (KS), 1-877-770-STOP (LA), 1-877-8-HOPENY or text HOPENY (467369) (NY), TN REDLINE 1-800-889-9789 (TN) Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

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Starting point is 00:00:00 roster cuts take place this week for the Denver Broncos and they have some tough decisions that they're going to ultimately have to make. You are locked on Broncos, your daily Denver Broncos podcast, part of the Locked on Podcast Network, your team every day. Happy Tuesday Broncos country. Cody Roark, Sarah Beninger here for another episode, Locked on Broncos. We got a lot to talk about here today as we go through some of the biggest debates for the 53-man roster in the final week of the NFL preseason. will Broncos carry four inside linebackers or five safeties will play a little bit of game of this or that. We want you to get involved as well. Three running backs or six wide receivers. We're going to kick things off by talking about the biggest question here is Broncos backup quarterback
Starting point is 00:00:48 and whether or not Denver carries nine or ten offensive linemen onto the 53. And the problem with all of this, Sarah, is that the Broncos only have one week to figure all of this out. And of course, it's not going to be made based on what happens this week. there's a larger body of work in mind here. But as Sean Payton always says, there's a race, there's an urgency to improve. No doubt. And the Broncos do have that race because obviously they're in a Super Bowl window right now. And that urgency has to be there from positions 1 through 53 on this roster.
Starting point is 00:01:22 And that includes the backup quarterback position, which we found out last season is a mission critical position. And not that anybody could have done any different with that crazy blizzard and the circumstances of the second half in that aFC championship game. But when somebody's number gets called Cody, they've got to be ready in the NFL, no matter if you're the backup quarterback, no matter if you're the star quarterback, the wide receiver
Starting point is 00:01:45 one, the wide receiver six. We saw last season, it wasn't just the backup quarterback getting called upon. It was the practice squad receivers getting called upon in big time spots and all over the roster, similar things happening. So yes, these discussions are incredibly
Starting point is 00:02:01 important, especially when it to the backup after what we saw last year, which is where I would say, Jared Stidham, Sam Ellinger, to me, neither of those guys has done anything. I know you've been out at practices, so you can maybe speak to this to a different degree than I personally can.
Starting point is 00:02:17 But what I've seen from Stidham and Ellinger in this year's preseason and last year's preseason, I don't know that either of those guys is necessarily the one that I would say, if the same circumstance presents itself in the AFC divisional round, you beat somebody, you go to the AFC championship, but oh, Bolognax can't play. I mean, yes, there's a degree to which you kind of just say,
Starting point is 00:02:37 well, we're in trouble either way. But man, if you have an opportunity to upgrade there, maybe you should. And for $8 million on the cap, I don't know if Jarrett Stidham is the guy. So I think this discussion does sort of heat up this week. So the bigger question here to that is, if not them, then who, right?
Starting point is 00:02:56 And that's the challenge because what do you run into? Like, for example, let's say the Broncos thought process it isn't Sam, it isn't Jared, but it's got to be somebody else. I don't know who that guy is. Teddy Bridgewater ain't coming out of retirement. Certainly, I don't even think Teddy would be a great option here for Denver. So, I mean, that is the thing, too. Like any NFL team, if you lose your starting quarterback, it's caca.
Starting point is 00:03:19 Like your hopes and dreams kind of go down the poop tube. And now you're trying to figure out what the heck you're going to be doing. But I do think you are right. Like here's my thought process, Sarah. Like if you're keeping any quarterback, and I don't know if Denver's going to keep all three guys. I don't think that they should on the 53. I think it's got to be one of these guys. Now, Denver's truly interested in another person out there. Let's say Zach Wilson, that's been something I think a couple of Broncos country fans have commented on our YouTube feed like, hey,
Starting point is 00:03:46 what about Zach Wilson? I wouldn't be opposed to it, but Zach has not been in this system. He's been in another system. So I don't know if that would be the case. But if you were to look at another option like that, you have to at least in my opinion, to keep one of Stidham or Ellinger on the practice squad because of scheme continuity and that flexibility. I just can't justify them carrying three onto the 53, but it is the overall larger body of work. We saw Stidham look really well with the ones in that first season game against Atlanta. We saw him struggle with a different group of supporting cast players in this past game
Starting point is 00:04:19 against the Green Bay Packers. And so is this too fresh for us, like looking at like what happened to the AFC championship game with Stidham and then looking at a game like this where he didn't play well at all? He locked into his reeds. That's stuff that you can't have happened if you have to step up in the regular season. I think we've been jaded over time with, you know, Brock Osweiler helped carry the Broncos a little bit and play well when Peyton Manning went down with the injury. Nick Foles had his little historic moment in the Philadelphia Eagles, Super Bowl win that they had. But the reality of it is very, very difficult.
Starting point is 00:04:52 It is hard to win with your backup guys. There's a reason those guys aren't starters on this team or any other teams. So that's where you kind of have to tap into it. So I think that's where Broncos country is probably the most conflicted if we're playing this or that. Let us know Procco's country where you're at. Is it Stidham? Is it Ellinger? Is it somebody else?
Starting point is 00:05:08 But also, if it's somebody else, how does that help when that player does not have as much time in this scheme specific? That's where things get tricky. But Sarah, I want to go to the offensive line here. Now, typically, Denver's carried nine. You and I, before I think everything happened this preseason or even training camp, I think you and I both were in agreement on the fact that we said, okay, nine offensive linemen on the 53, makes sense. You're starting five, Alex Forsyth, Alex Pouchesky, Frank Crum, there's eight, and then rookie Cage Casey. How do you feel about that right now because of the injuries to
Starting point is 00:05:39 Luke Wattenberg, the injuries to Alex Forsyth, and Calvin Throckmorton, I will say, has done a really good job stepping in at that center position. Does that change things in terms of the numbers Devere make Kerry at this position specifically? It might, but I don't know if I would let it. I think that what the Broncos have done with Throckmorton the last couple years has given them that ultimate roster flexibility because like we've been talking about, this is a team that has Super Bowl aspirations, but that doesn't mean that you can just completely take both eyes off the future as well. So you can't compromise certain guys that you believe in their developmental upside. As George Payton said before day three of the draft, they were targeting specifically
Starting point is 00:06:19 guys that they felt had future starter upside in the back half of the draft. So you can't cut, let's say, I mean, this is just an example. I'm not saying he's going to get cut, but you can't cut Justin Jolie so that you can keep, you know, Calvin Throckmorton, right? That makes no sense in terms of. Yeah. So I get that the roster gymnastics are not exactly, you know, it's not one for one in that sort of situation. But to me, I would stick with the plan that they've had with Throck Morton, which is, hey, we can get you back on the practice squad, we'll elevate you here, we'll add you to the active roster, but you can't make any guarantees either. I mean, Sean was asked about that with Sam Ellinger. And, you know, he's
Starting point is 00:06:59 like, no, we didn't make him any guarantees. You know, you just kind of, you hope that you've built a culture enough to the point that these guys want to stay and that they don't want to leave for other opportunities. Because some guys have, some guys have done that. High priced, undrafted free agents, veterans, they've said, you know what, I'm going to leave. But that's the risk that you have to be willing to take when it comes to present value versus future upside. And so, yes, the injuries certainly may, I mean, that may change the game, Cody.
Starting point is 00:07:27 but if the injuries are bad enough, that's the question. So I just think the ideal scenario is that you could keep things going the way that you have been with Throck Morton, but the ideal scenario is not always the scenario you get to play with. Well, maybe here's the path, right? Here is the scenario where Throck Morton makes the 53. Like, I don't know the extent of Alex Forsyth's ankle injury or whatever he's dealing with. I'm assuming it's ankle because that's what he was dealing with last year. But if that is the case, like there is a chance.
Starting point is 00:07:56 like the Broncos do have the ability in order to get foresight to where he needs to be fully healthy, right? There is a possibility. Let's say he lands on IR before the season. Right now, Broncos, I believe they're allowed. You can designate two guys for IR that can return in the regular season. I think you can do that initially. I don't know if that's to take place like when you make your initial roster cuts, but I don't think they can do that right now.
Starting point is 00:08:18 If you put them on IR right now, they're done for the year. I think it is a roster cut scenario. Correct me if I'm wrong on that. But that might be the only path there. And you do have that flexibility because here's the thing, right? Let's say that's the scenario that plays out Forsyth. You know, when roster cuts happen, lands on the IR but can return in the regular season, he's got that designation.
Starting point is 00:08:37 Well, when he returns, you can wave or you can release Calvin Throckmorton and Calvin can sign to the practice squad. And then you still have the three practice squad to game day elevations there that gives you flexibility. So that is the path for that to happen, you know, there right now. I just think with the injury to Forsyth, I'm not as concerned about Wattenberg yet at the he'll probably be back full go this week at practice. Knock on wood, we'll have to see if that transpires. But I do worry about that, like especially like if Wattenberg, if that's a sensitive area
Starting point is 00:09:06 and something were to reaggregate, you have to have a good plan in place here. And so I think the Broncos will consider all options. But it felt like throwing that out here. Do you know off the top of your head here if that is, if it has to be at roster cuts versus right now? No, you're right. You're right about that, Cody. So, yeah, you can only designate a couple of guys, I believe right before the start of the season. but they changed the rule because remember it was it was so awful when you were putting together your roster
Starting point is 00:09:30 you would have to like cut somebody and then roster the player that was injured and then the next day you know kind of flip everything over and say well actually this guy's going on temporary iR and this guy is coming back up to the roster so i think the NFL kind of just eliminated that by giving you some flexibility there so yes not every player who's put on iR at roster cuts you know, can't come back anymore. That rule has changed as far as I remember. So that scenario that you presented right there, I think is the path for kind of maybe that shuffling
Starting point is 00:10:06 that we could see on the offensive line. But I still think to me it's 9-0 line and it's two QBs. I think those to me are kind of the solidified numbers if I'm putting together a 53. Well, the next debate that we're going to have has to do with whether or not the Broncos carry three or four running backs or five or six wide receivers. We'll break that down here on today's episode of the show.
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Starting point is 00:11:46 We're going to talk about the running back position and the wide receiver position on the 53 man roster here in today's episode of the show. show and Cody let's start about let's start with the running back position because to me this one is pretty straightforward I'll plant my flag in the ground here and say that I think it's three running backs for the Denver Broncos on the 53 man roster and I think I mean obviously you you classify the fullback as a running back so I would say then four but I don't think you keep four backs like they did last year with Jolil McLaughlin or Tyler Badee and I know Cody Schrader's run pretty well in the preseason but I think he's an ideal practice squad guy.
Starting point is 00:12:23 I'm saying three running backs and a fullback for a total of four. What say you? Yeah, I'm going with three running backs this year as well. And I think it's very clear who those three are. I mean, from the onset, it's kind of been dictated based on the reps and the share that we've seen throughout training camp and even in the preseason that it's J.K. Dobbins, your primary guy, RJ Harvey, is kind of that do-it-all all around, pass-catching run threat. And then you got Jonah Coleman, who I think is going to be pass protection, that third down roll. you need short yarder situations.
Starting point is 00:12:51 Jonah's going to be that guy. And I think Jonah's going to be a little bit more underrated out of the backfield than most people are counting for right now. I almost never keep the fullback in combination with the running backs. I have it separate. Like on my 53 that I have, I just have them keeping one fullback, which is obviously Adam Prentice. I think because we're seeing more under center looks, Sarah probably makes a little more sense for the Broncos to actually carry a fullback onto the 53. And Adam Prentice, he's been really dang good for the most part, I'd say all throughout camp. And in the preseason, last year, he became a very reliable option.
Starting point is 00:13:22 The point, I mean, the Broncos are giving him touches in actual preseason games. He's getting full-back carries. So I think he'll make it. So I've got three. I mean, this is the challenge, too, right? Because you want to usually carry four in case there's an injury, but that's what your practice squad is for. Your hope is that you can get these three guys, right? You've got your top three guys locked in.
Starting point is 00:13:40 Your hope is that you can get at least two of these three other backs that are on your roster right now to your practice squad come the regular season. We have to do cuts. Jilil-McLoughlin, at the if he gets released which probably if Denver does carry three and I have them trending that way jolil is going to have offers from other teams but to the point that you mentioned earlier in the show have you established enough culture where guys want to be here versus going anywhere else right even if they're not going to see time as much on the regular season I wonder where jililil is going to be at with that because he's a great culture guy I think you can have an impact for you especially if
Starting point is 00:14:10 there's an injury that pops up to any of these guys at the tailback position but when it comes to needing numbers, strengthen numbers at other positions, you absolutely have to factor this into the equation. Three running backs makes the most sense here for Denver. Now, I want to go through and make the argument here at wide receiver. Typically, you and I, I think before training camp again, we predicted it. We said five guys. That was going to be the theme here at wide receiver.
Starting point is 00:14:34 Based on what we've seen throughout training camp with some of the injuries that have popped up to Jalen Wattel, the vet days for Cortland Sutton, which really were a big nothing burger, but the injury to Marvin Mims, has your stance changed on this based on what we've seen? are you still sticking with five or you go with six here? I think you go with six wide receivers. I think the sixth one being Lil Jordan Humphrey. And then I think you try like heck to get Cameron Ross on the practice squad. I mean, he's looked really good in the return game to me.
Starting point is 00:15:01 Cody Colby Katzis as well. I would say try to bring those guys back onto your practice squad. And you could try to fudge around and get Lil Jordan back to the practice squad. But to me, he's kind of proven his value to this team over the years. right. I mean, there's frustration when he's a featured weapon in the offense. I don't like that. I've been on record many times of saying that. And because he's been a featured weapon, we hold him to the standard of a starting wide receiver. So when he's out there dropping passes or fumbling the football, he's going to get treated like, hey, you're being given these opportunities in big moments.
Starting point is 00:15:37 You have to come through, even though the Broncos said initially a couple of times now that Lil Jordan is either not rosterable or he's a practice squat player. But now, I think he's kind of proven himself in the divisional round against Buffalo in the preseason especially made an underrated catch from Bo Nix. Really nice, just
Starting point is 00:15:56 catch radius, I would say, is kind of what I would classify that catch as. But he's made some big plays and he's made some big plays in camp. He's got that single digit number confidence. I think Bill Jordan to me is the sixth receiver that you keep on the 53. I don't think you try to mess around getting him to, you don't have to
Starting point is 00:16:13 subject him to waivers, but I think you don't mess around with the practice squad unless you absolutely have to in his case because of some of the injuries that have already come up. I think he has earned it. And to your point, because of the injuries to Marvin Mims, Jay Leno had a brief stint. Like the Broncos were forced at one point. They were down Galen Waddle and Cortland Sutton for a string of practices. And it was Pat Marriott, Troy Franklin, and Lord Jordan Humphrey having to step up. Marvin Mims as well included in that conversation. But Marvin since then has also been injured, has missed two preseason games. He's been practicing with the wide receivers but hasn't done any team drills just yet. So maybe the hope with
Starting point is 00:16:48 Marvin is that we just want to get Marvin to the regular season. And I understand that. But because of what we've already seen transpire throughout training camp in the preseason with some of these injuries, Sarah, I think it's a no-brainer that you carry six wide receivers and that little Jordan Humphrey is that six guy. I think he's proven. I think he's had outside of Pat Bryant, I think he's had probably one of the stronger camps of all the wide receivers. And with that is going to come, you know, there are some hype surrounding Little Jordan Humphrey. But with that as we've seen, he has been called upon and he has been reliable in times where he has been called upon. And sometimes you've got to live with some of the mistakes there. But I think Lord
Starting point is 00:17:21 Jordan Humphrey over this off season, I felt like he's turned into a much better player than what we've seen in the last handful of years. Is he going to be your number one option? No, you have to hope he never does become your number one option. But if he's your fourth or fifth option because of an injury, I think little Jordan Humper is going to do it. And here's the thing he's going to do more so than anybody else. He's going to play as a core four special teams guy on all of Darren Rizzies units. That is helpful. But there is that flexibility element that comes to it as well, Sarah, because he is a vested veteran. And I want to go over a couple of guys that I have listed on my list right now that the Broncos could use that vested veteran status as roster flexibility.
Starting point is 00:17:57 Calvin Throckmorton, Adam Prentice, Taylor Rapp, the new safety they signed last week, little Jordan Humphrey. And then you have Sam Ellinger and Jared Stidham. These guys are all vested veterans that Denver does have the ability to say, hey, we're going to release you. We're going to bring back to the practice squad. So they have those numbers. But to me, I'm not chancing it. I'm not playing around with it. Little Jordan Humphrey, I have him making the 53 as that six wide receiver.
Starting point is 00:18:18 I think he's earned it. Yeah, I think he has too. And you have to reward guys who earn their spots on the team, right? That's just a, you don't, like I said, you can't compromise the future at a certain,
Starting point is 00:18:30 like let's say, hey, the Broncos are saying, hey, we're keeping Lil Jordan Humphrey and we're going to, you know, trade Troy Franklin or so.
Starting point is 00:18:36 Like, that's a strategy that I'm not really on board for. But I think if you're keeping a sixth receipt, that really changes the, you know, overall look of that move. So, yes, I like keeping a sixth receiver. But if you're keeping a sixth receiver, that will necessitate probably not keeping three quarterbacks on the roster as well as probably not four tight ends, which I think is another, you know, interesting question.
Starting point is 00:19:01 But I don't know. Where do you compromise defensively? Where do you cut? You know, I don't know. That's the tough part. And if you keep four tight ends, who's practice squad bound in that conversation? Well, I kind of played around with the numbers already, right? I've got the Broncos carrying six wide receivers on my 53.
Starting point is 00:19:18 That means they're carrying three running backs, keeping one fullback, two quarterbacks, four tight ends. I've got Troutman, Evan Ingram, Justin Jolie, and Nate Adkins as the four tight ends. And then you bring down in Bentley to the practice squad while still keeping nine offensive linemen. That puts me at 25 players on the offensive side of the ball. So it didn't really have to mess with the offensive flow too much or one key guy that you're like, ah, you know, you need this guy in the 53.
Starting point is 00:19:40 that's kind of how it worked out for me. And we'll get to the defensive side here coming up in a minute because we're also going to debate four inside linebackers or five safeties. If you had to choose one or the other Broncos country, where you're leaning, that's what we're going to get into on today's episode of the show. Support for today's episode, Lockdown, Broncos comes from our friends over there, Indeed, sponsored jobs when workplace chaos hits and you need the right hire. Indeed, sponsored jobs helps connect employers with candidates
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Starting point is 00:21:05 As we continue our game of this or that as we debate some of the biggest 53-man roster questions for your Denver Broncos in the final week in the preseason. We'll look at linebackers and we'll look at safeties primarily. Sarah, I want to focus first on inside linebacker. We carry five initially before training camp or even the preseason began. And as time has gone by and we've had a chance to observe practices, we've had a chance to observe two preseason games. When it comes to inside linebacker specifically, are you carrying four or five? I feel like this last week's game against the Green Bay Packers, had me questioning whether or not I want to carry five,
Starting point is 00:21:41 even though I would say that this position right now in terms of quality depth, experience depth, is arguably the biggest question on this roster. A hundred percent. It's actually been driving me a little bit crazy. I mean, obviously it's, you know, once what have we called it throughout the off season, a little bit of the champagne problems, so to speak,
Starting point is 00:22:00 when you have one of the best rosters in the NFL and you're talking about a backup inside linebacker. But I think the real discussion is, is that the Broncos failed to, upgrade the talent there in terms of what they had previously. You cut Dre Greenlaw and you don't draft somebody until the very last pick of the draft itself. So, yes, I think four linebackers currently on this team, Cody, I think Jordan Turner is a clear practice squad candidate.
Starting point is 00:22:25 I think, you know, Karen A Reid practice squad candidate. Maybe he makes it over Tori and York, though. I don't know. Maybe he makes it over Red Murdoch. I don't know. I think the assumption that I've been making is that, well, you drafted Red Murdoch. so he's making it. And you gave Tori and York the highest guarantee of any undrafted player in Broncos history.
Starting point is 00:22:44 So he's making it. I would say maybe a little bit of a not so fast, my friend, you know, a little Lee Corso homage there and say maybe Carine Reed makes it over one of those two rookies. But I don't think the fifth linebacker is on the team right now. I think that the Broncos are going to have to trade for somebody or acquire somebody some other way to upgrade the depth there, similar to what they did with the Taylor Rap signing. I am, that's, that's my hang up, my dilemma. Now, I have Corinne Reed making the 53.
Starting point is 00:23:13 I think he's probably been out of everybody, the most consistent linebacker outside of the rotation of your two starters. I think he's done a really good job. To me, I've got Red Murdoch making it as well. I've got Tori, New York on the practice squad. I think they're going to try to get him there. I just, I don't know what it was about this last preseason game, but the linebacker play against the Green Bay Packers,
Starting point is 00:23:34 it made me very, very concerned about, okay, can these guys step in if need be. Now, granted, I think also sometimes we get jaded by, okay, well, this linebacker is playing with this unit, this unit's struggling. So that means that they're all struggling. How does it look? I mean, I think it's different when you plug in a guy like Karen A.
Starting point is 00:23:52 Reid or a Red Murdoch in with the starting defense at other positions, though that player can still struggle or still face some challenges. I think it's different than when you're playing with those other units and those other guys. And I did feel like the linebacker position this past week. I think there were too many instances, the defensive line got blown off the ball and they're at the second level and they're allowing the offensive line to get up to these linebackers versus anyone anchoring down and and creating those opportunities for them to fill their gaps correctly. So that's the debate right now, right now in
Starting point is 00:24:20 terms of a linebacker. I've got them carrying four. I think you'll look at some practice squad flexibility for certain guys. But now that gets us into the safety position here, I don't think safety for the most part, I don't think with Devon Key or JL Skinner, Brandon Jones, or Hufanga, I don't think the play from them in camp or even in the preseason. To me, it has not been problematic. Do you carry four or do you carry five? Because I also think if you're going to go lighter at inside linebacker, you might have to have an additional safety,
Starting point is 00:24:47 that fifth safety option just for special teams. And is or can Taylor Rap be that guy for Denver? I think that's where the other debate comes in because we haven't seen as much from Tyson Anderson and rookie Miles Scott. I think you can bring Miles Scott to the practice squad and continue to develop him within this system. Well, I thought you made a great point, Cody. on one of your Broncos hits that you did
Starting point is 00:25:07 where you talked about the flexibility that you have with Taylor Rap and you mentioned it earlier in this show as well to potentially put him on the practice squad to start things off because he's not going to hit the waiver wire you can just procedurally cut him one day and he's on the practice field the very next day. So that is
Starting point is 00:25:23 a possibility. However, I will say if the team does go light at linebacker, there's really no reason to even make that procedural move. If you already have an open spot somewhere else, you keep that fifth safety and I think you sign rap because you didn't like what you had seen elsewhere at the safety position. Tyson Anderson, Miles Scott, those guys either need more development or haven't shown enough.
Starting point is 00:25:45 I would say in Miles Scott's case, he has the luxury of being a rookie. And I think in Tyson Anderson's case, it's like, shoot, we called upon you to come and make at minimum special teams plays. And we're not seeing that. So I think you definitely brought in Taylor Rapp to be that primary guy if Funga or Jones goes down potentially, not right away necessarily, but potentially at some point because of his experience in big games, starting for the bills and the Rams.
Starting point is 00:26:14 I think definitely he's that guy that I would say right now you have the flexibility, but only if you need to use it. Otherwise, I think he is that fifth safety. So how I have the Broncos 53 playing out right now, and this could change obviously throughout the week, five corners, five safeties with RAP being that fifth safety option, five outside linebackers, that puts you at 15, four off-ball linebackers that put you at 19, and then six defensive linemen.
Starting point is 00:26:38 I got Zach Allen, DJ Jones, Malcolm Roach, Inouma, Owas, Rake, Tyler O'Neadam. And I have Savian Jones on there, though I feel like that could also be another debated topic right now in terms of that. Do you cut a third-round pick in their second season when they haven't had a chance to play it in? I feel like he played great against the Green Bay Packers, but are we letting one game get to us? I don't know. The coaches are going to have the bigger picture in mind. We'll see. But that's where things are at.
Starting point is 00:27:01 And then you have your three specialists. It's Will Lutz, Jeremy Croshon, Mitchell Fibroni, between D and special teams. You've got 25 defensive players, 25 offensive players, and three special teams guys. So that gets you to the 53-man roster right now, how I have it. And I'm very curiously how it may change based on Friday's preseason game against the Minnesota Vikings. That's going to be very interesting year. But Broncos country that I'll wrap up today's episode of the show. Make sure you share your thoughts with us on some of the biggest 53-man roster debates that we have right now going into the final week of the NFL preseason.
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Starting point is 00:27:50 There's no place like LOB. Thank you so much, Brockos, country for Baracko with us. We'll see you tomorrow for a brand new episode of the show.

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