Broncos-Packers: Three players to watch

Only the Broncos’ season-ending loss of linebacker Levelle Bailey to a broken leg marred their preseason opener last Friday night in Atlanta. The rest of the team emerged healthy from the 27-7 win over the Falcons, and the team saw the progress it wanted in some potential key players, particularly running back Jonah Coleman.

His spinning, off-balance, tackle-breaking 13-yard run late in the first quarter helped power the Broncos to a field goal — but more importantly, it offered a validation of the work he’d shown during training-camp practices.

“I think after that one run, we all said on the headset, ‘We’re good,'” offensive coordinator Davis Webb said.

“He did what we needed to do, and he’s been great the last three weeks, just like Sean (Payton) said. He’s been consistent, and we’ve been throwing a lot of installs at him, and he’s been great.”

Webb added that the team was “satisfied with the entire (running-back) room, but the other runners are known commodities at this level, to varying degrees. Coleman is the rookie who’s already demonstrated that this level shouldn’t be too large for him going forward.

His work will be worth monitoring, but here are three other players to watch when the Broncos face Green Bay on Friday night in the preseason home opener:

BRONCOS TO WATCH IN PRESEASON WEEK 2

1. QB BO NIX

Could it be anyone else? The Broncos held Nix out of work last Friday, ceding the snaps to Jarrett Stidham in the first half and Sam Ehlinger in the second. But Payton said he expects Nix to play somewhere in the neighborhood of 14 snaps as he receives his first game action of the year.

2. TE JUSTIN JOLY

Pass-catchers in general are always worth a look, but it would be nice to see some strides from the fifth-round pick after some frustrating moments in practice — including having a potential reception from Ehlinger late in Wednesday’s practice wiped out by a flag thrown after he pushed off.

With Evan Engram poised for a major role and Adam Trautman and Nate Adkins handling the “Y” tight-end work — and Lucas Krull perhaps being a practice-squad depth option if he doesn’t stick on the 53-player roster — the Broncos can afford to play the long game with the N.C. State alumnus, but a flash of his potential would be beneficial.

If Jaylen Waddle makes his game-time debut Friday night, he’ll seize the attention. The prized offseason acquisition returned to practice Monday, immediately getting involved in the offense. By Wednesday he was beating Pat Surtain II deep downfield for a touchdown. Denver could opt for caution with Waddle, who wore a compression sleeve on his leg this week after missing time due to a muscle strain.

The rookie receivers will also bear monitoring. Last week, Cam Ross gained 28 yards on a sweep, while Joseph Manjack matched Courtland Sutton for the team lead in receptions, catching three second-half passes in three targets for 40 yards. Kolbe Katsis had a catch, but also dropped a pass.

3. ILB RED MURDOCK

The final pick of the Broncos’ draft class — and the entire 2026 NFL Draft class, for that matter — led the team in tackles last week with eight, but defensive coordinator Vance Joseph wants to see a bit more from the University at Buffalo product.

“I thought Red did a great job of controlling the huddle, making the calls, making the checks,” Broncos defensive coordinator Vance Joseph said. That’s his strength, man. I mean, he is super smart.”

However …

“I want him to turn it loose more often than not,” Joseph added. “I thought (Taurean) York ran through gaps and made some plays. I think Week 2 here, you’ll see more playmaking from Red. But he’s super smart, man. I mean, the checks, things move, we’re in the right fronts, we’re in the right coverages. So, that’s his strength right now. The playmaking will come with time.”

Joseph has entrusted him with relaying the defensive calls in the huddle and aiding in pre-snap alignment for the front seven, a sign of just how much he trusts Murdock’s acumen.

Now it’s a matter of bringing all the pieces together in what could be shaping up as a four-way battle among Murdock, second-year players Karene Reid and Jordan Turner and undrafted rookie Taurean York for two or three spots on the 53-player roster behind starters Justin Strnad and Alex Singleton.

And among those four, at least one must prove to be a better option than a veteran the team could add — in a similar vein to how the Broncos picked up Taylor Rapp on Thursday to reinforce their safety depth.

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