Five Broncos to keep an eye on in the Hall of Fame Game
Aug 1, 2019, 7:00 AM
The Broncos kick off the 2019 preseason in the Hall of Fame Game on Thursday as they play against the Falcons in Canton, Ohio. There are many starters on the team who are not going to play as per usual in this contest.
That’s not a bad thing, as teams don’t want to risk injury for star players in an exhibition game. It gives teams the opportunity to see younger and inexperienced players, some in their first NFL action.
The Broncos are no different, and there are some interesting players who could stand out in this preseason opener. Here are five Broncos players to watch for in the Hall of Fame Game:
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5. Jeff Holland
The Broncos have two of the best pass-rushers in the league in Von Miller and Bradley Chubb, but what do they have behind that dynamic duo? The first player up behind Miller and Chubb is Jeff Holland. Undrafted out of Auburn in 2018, Holland has good length and burst off the line of scrimmage. He has been developing a bag of tricks as a pass rusher and could be an important player for the Broncos when Miller and Chubb need a breather.
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4. Josh Watson
Before the 2019 NFL Draft, many analysts thought the Broncos would select an inside linebacker – perhaps even with a premium pick in the first round or two. They didn’t pick an inside linebacker at all, but they did add Josh Watson as an undrafted free agent. Coming out of Colorado State, Watson was known as a smart player and a team leader. He has the instincts to stand out as a coverage player and Watson has been getting some first-team work since Todd Davis has been out.
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3. Devontae Jackson
We shall see how the backup running back situation shakes out during the preseason. Devontae Jackson is a player the Broncos like and he has a chance to get plenty of work on Thursday night. He’s an electric runner with quickness and agility to make defenders miss in the open field. Jackson is fast but needs to show more patience as a runner as too often he will ignore his blocking and just try to bounce runs to the outside where he thinks he can outrun the defense. In addition to standing out as a runner and receiver out of the backfield in training camp, Jackson has gotten an opportunity as a return man in practice. His play on special teams could ultimately determine whether or not he makes the 53-man roster.
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2. Nick Williams
The Broncos need to find a solid return man and that may be veteran wide receiver Nick Williams. They picked him up after the start of training camp and Williams immediately stood out as a slot receiver on offense. It didn’t take long until Williams was getting some first-team reps and catching passes from Joe Flacco. He’s solid as a slot receiver and knows how to get open while providing a consistent target for his quarterback. That’s a great skill to have but if he can stand out as a return man, then Williams has a good shot of making the roster if the Broncos choose to keep six wide receivers.
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1. Drew Lock
The potential future franchise quarterback of the Broncos is going to get his first game action on Thursday against the Falcons. Lock has had his fair share of ups and downs in training camp. His arm is big and he’s an athletic player who can make plays other quarterbacks can’t. However, the rookie has struggled with some mechanical issues like footwork and release point when throwing. It will be interesting to see how much the Broncos actually play him against the Falcons. Lock is not starting, but he is the next quarterback up after Kevin Hogan (Flacco is not playing). If Lock performs well, it will go a long way into perhaps catapulting him into the backup spot.
