As Broncos prepare for preseason test, there’s a key trend they hope sustains

ENGLEWOOD, Colo. — For the Broncos, Friday night’s preseason opener will provide some illumination. That’s true even with Bo Nix sitting out the game, a slew of injured players — including wide receivers Marvin Mims Jr. and Jaylen Waddle — set to miss the game after spending the week on the side field working their way back from recent injuries.

Which players can sustain their practice-field progress? Which ones will prove to be “gamers”? These are the queries that start getting answered with the first of the three preseason games.

But with the recent injuries at center, the game also offers the Broncos’ offensive line — and offense in general — a chance to prove that one interesting trend of practice can continue: fewer pre-snap infractions than at this time last year.

Practices in 2025 were occasionally marred by clusters of illegal motions, false starts and illegal shifts. This year, those moments have been fewer and farther between.

“It’s a great question because we’ve had some in and out with center,” Broncos coach Sean Payton said. “We’ve had some guys nicked up.

“We’ll get a chance to see for real here Friday. It all kind of comes to a little bit of a head. You get a chance to see where you’re at with mechanics. I would say nothing remarkable other than maybe that second or third group with some guys that maybe hadn’t got the reps at center that were working there now because someone maybe is nicked up.”

So, take what you see if there’s an infraction with a shaker’s worth of salt. After all, the Broncos will be on Centers Nos. 4 and 5, with Luke Wattenberg and Alex Forsyth working out on the side field Wednesday and Michael Deiter out for the season with the quadriceps injury he incurred in Tuesday’s practice.

But if the Broncos’ pre-snap process continues to be as consistent as it has in practice, that’ll be music to Payton’s ears.

BRONCOS WILL GET A LONG LOOK AT KAGE CASEY

The second of the Broncos’ two fourth-round choices last April — three picks after running back Jonah Coleman — Casey was listed on the unofficial depth chart at right guard, but he’s been settled in at left guard with the No. 2 offense for much of training camp. With Alex Palczewski working his way back from injury on the side field in the previous three days, Casey should get a long run at left guard on Friday night.

He’s flourished in one-on-one pass-protection drills, so it should come as no surprise that his fellow offensive linemen like Mike McGlinchey are noticing his work.

“I think Kage has done a great job. He’s very, very consistent,” McGlinchey said. “He’s got a great approach. He’s super strong, quick. All the things that you need to be able to [have], the physical tools are there. He’s learning really fast and he’s applying with the things that we’re talking about in the meetings, working on it (during) individual (periods) and immediately putting it into reps on the field. So, he’s been impressive for everybody this training camp.

“I think Kage has a hell of a future.”

For more from the day, watch the embedded video:

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