Broncos reserve QB Ehlinger: “I feel a lot different” than at this time last year

ATLANTA — By the time Broncos quarterback Sam Ehlinger entered Friday night’s 27-7 preseason win over the Atlanta Falcons, the starters were long since gone from the equation. And one consequence of the injuries to Jaylen Waddle and Marvin Mims Jr. is that the domino effect of injuries meant that even rotational players such as Lil’Jordan Humphrey and Troy Franklin were also out of the mix when Ehlinger stepped into the huddle for the first time early in the third quarter.

So, much of his work came with four undrafted rookies at wide receiver — Kyre Duplessis, Kolbe Katsis, Cam Ross and Joseph Manjack. UFL product Hakeem Butler was also in the mix, as was Kyrese Rowan, who spent last season in Broncos training camp. But with so many newcomers, Ehlinger had to be a guiding force.

For this, he was ready. Moreso than last year, given the increased comfort he has in the Broncos’ offensive scheme.

“I feel a lot different,” he said. “I think the challenge in the NFL — especially for backup quarterbacks — is, at some point for most guys, the light’s going to come on, it’s just do you have enough enough time to develop in order for that to happen?

“I feel like I’m in a really good spot and starting to see the game really well and with the second year in the in the system and understanding the offense, I feel like I’m in a really good spot.”

Largely taking what the Atlanta defense gave him, he mostly kept it short, completing 10 of 14 passes for 67 yards Friday. But he did some damage with his legs; he averaged 7.3 yards on his three non-kneeldown carries.

 

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And it’s that aspect of his game that makes Ehlinger so intriguing. He is arguably the most dynamic runner in the Broncos’ quarterback room.

“I think it’s a big element. You see the league going a lot to that, to the dual-threat guys,” he said. “It opens up a zone-read opportunity. And then also the fourth element — there were a few plays where nothing was open and I got to use my legs and get out and get a first down. So, I think it’s a a big factor.”

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When the Broncos last had a quarterback competition in 2024, Stidham started the first game, with Bo Nix getting the first-team repetitions in the second. So, given how Ehlinger has received some second-team opportunities in training camp, it would seem logical that Ehlinger works ahead of Stidham next Friday night against the Green Bay Packers.

At that point, the comparison would be more fair — although with Bo Nix expected to play on Aug. 21, Ehlinger wouldn’t get the starters at his disposal as Stidham did. And certainly having targets such as Courtland Sutton, Pat Bryant and Evan Engram to target helped things along for Stidham — especially on the first series, when strikes of 15 and 40 yards to Bryant and Sutton, respectively, allowed the Broncos offense to sprint to a first-series touchdown.

But the lead that Stidham and Co. created put Ehlinger in an ideal situation to take the field.

“It’s always nice to go into the game with a 20-point lead,” he said. “So, it was very comfortable.”

And that’s about the best scenario for which you can ask — although he wasn’t particularly worried about the scoreboard or personnel hand he was dealt Friday.

“There’s a lot of things that are outside of your control, and not just with your position and where the depth chart and things of that nature,” he said. “So, it’s not something I can focus on or control. So, let’s focus on just being the best that I can be and supporting everybody in the room.”

And that’s true no matter when his number gets called next Friday by Broncos coach Sean Payton.

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