2024 NFL Power Rankings: Where every team stands entering the preseason
With the 2024 preseason kicking off, David Helman sorts out the NFL's hierarchy coming out of the offseason.AUGUST 1
DENVER BRONCOS 7-5 · 3RD IN AFC WEST
7-5 · 3RD IN AFC WEST
Next Game vs Browns · Tue 1:15AM
DEN -5.5 TOTAL 42
Greg Dulcich has made it back to the Broncos' main field after two injury-marred seasons
Tight end Greg Dulcich is finally healthy after missing 15 games last season and seven the year before with recurring hamstring injuriesJULY 31 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
Quinn Bailey - Breaks right ankle Head coach Sean Payton told reporters that Bailey left Wednesday's practice in an ambulance with a broken right ankle, DNVR reports.
Impact Bailey's 2024 campaign could be over after breaking his right ankle during Wednesday's camp session. He'll likely be placed on the Broncos' injured reserve or reserve/PUP list in the coming days due to the severity of his injury.
JULY 31 • ROTOWIRE
Bo Nix - Showing improvement Coach Sean Payton is pleased with Nix's progress and told reporters the QB played "overall, pretty well" Wednesday, Aric DiLalla of the Broncos' official site reports.
Impact Parker Gabriel of The Denver Post suggests Wednesday represented Nix's best day of practice in pads as well as his best showing yet with the first-team offense. The Broncos also have given QBs Jarrett Stidham and Zach Wilson work with the starters, although it's unclear if that will continue for Wilson given that he's now gone three days in a row without any first-team reps, per Ryan McFadden of The Denver Post. The job battle may be narrowing down to two QBs with preseason games on the horizon, and Nix remains a favorite to start Week 1 if only because he's facing such shaky competition.
JULY 31 • ROTOWIRE
Nik Bonitto - Returns to practice Bonitto (back) returned to practice Wednesday, Ryan McFadden of The Denver Post reports.
Impact Bonitto has been dealing with a back issue for the past week or so, but it now appears that he's moved past the injury. The 2022 second-round pick out of Oklahoma recorded 30 total tackles, including 8.0 sacks across 15 games in his sophomore campaign, and he's expected to remain an impactful edge rusher heading into 2024.
JULY 31 • ROTOWIRE
Russell Wilson on track to be Steelers’ QB1, but Justin Fields ready for his shot
Mike Tomlin says Russell Wilson holds the "pole position," but Justin Fields will get his chance to impress during preseason games.JULY 31
Jonah Elliss - Recovered from shoulder injury Elliss (shoulder) has been an active participant at the Broncos' training camp, Aric DiLalla of the team's official website reports.
Impact Elliss has fully recovered from the surgery he underwent to address a torn shoulder labrum last season. The 21-year-old appears to be set to operate as a primary reserve option behind Jonathan Cooper at weakside linebacker on Denver's defense in 2024.
JULY 31 • ROTOWIRE
Nik Bonitto - Expects to practice soon Bonitto (back) is expected to return to practice soon, Aric DiLalla of the Broncos' official site reports.
Impact Bonitto is still dealing with a back injury but is now expected to return to practice as soon as Wednesday. Once healthy, the 2022 second-round pick will look to build off his career-year last season when he recorded 8.0 sacks.
JULY 31 • ROTOWIRE
Adam Trautman - Competing for depth chart slotting Trautman (abdomen) has been participating in training camp.
Impact Trautman is past an abdominal issue that hampered him during the offseason, allowing him to compete for slotting on the Broncos' tight end depth chart ahead of Week 1. Greg Dulcich and Lucas Krull are also in the mix, and while Trautman is a strong blocker, his upside as a receiver is limited after he produced a 22-204-3 line in 17 regular-season contests with Denver in 2023.
JULY 30 • ROTOWIRE
John Elway: Biggest mistake as Broncos GM was not drafting Josh Allen
John Elway admitted on a recent podcast that he regrets not selecting quarterback Josh Allen in the 2018 NFL Draft.JULY 30
John Franklin-Myers shows off power and push that the Broncos are counting on to bolster the defense
The Denver Broncos held their first full-padded practice of training camp Monday and newcomer John Franklin-Myers didn't disappointJULY 29 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
Caden Sterns - Activated off PUP list Denver activated Sterns (knee) from the active/PUP list Sunday, Aric DiLalla of the Broncos' official site reports.
Impact Sterns has been working his way back from a torn patellar tendon in his knee that he sustained in Week 1 of last season. The 2021 fifth-round pick out of Texas has played in just six regular-season games over the last two seasons due to various injuries. In his rookie season, Sterns registered 28 tackles (22 solo), including 2.0 sacks, five passes defended and two interceptions across 15 regular-season games. Sterns will now be able to participate in practices and preseason games, and he's slated to serve as the Broncos' starting strong safety.
JULY 28 • ROTOWIRE
With Randy Gradishar's induction at age 72, the 'Orange Crush' finally gets into Canton
Former linebacker Randy Gradishar is the first member of the Denver Broncos' famed “Orange Crush” defense to be enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of FameJULY 28 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
Brandon Jones - Expected to be out 1-to-2 weeks Broncos head coach Sean Payton indicated Saturday that Jones (hamstring) will miss 1-to-2 weeks, Aric DiLalla of the Broncos' official site reports.
Impact Jones suffered a hamstring injury during practice Friday and will consequently be sidelined for a short period. Based on the recovery timeline mentioned by Payton, the fifth-year pro has a good chance of being past the injury well before the start of the regular season. Jones is slated to take on a starting role at safety for Denver during the upcoming campaign.
JULY 27 • ROTOWIRE
Brandon Jones - Dealing with hamstring issue Jones tweaked his hamstring at practice Friday, Zac Stevens of TheDNVR.com reports.
Impact The severity of the injury isn't known at this point, but even seemingly minor hamstring issues sometimes have a tendency to linger. Until Jones is healthy enough to practice again, 2023 sixth-rounder JL Skinner could get more looks during team drills.
JULY 26 • ROTOWIRE
Bolles lobbies for his next contract after watching Meinerz get a big extension from the Broncos
Left tackle Garett Bolles is lobbying for another contract as he enters his eighth season as the anchor of the Denver Broncos' offensive lineJULY 26 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
Nik Bonitto - Expects to practice Saturday Coach Sean Payton said that Bonitto should practice Saturday, Ryan McFadden of The Denver Post reports.
Impact Bonitto left the Broncos' last game of their 2023 season early due to a calf injury, but it doesn't look like that will carry over to the new football year. Now he'll work to try to improve on the impressive benchmark (8.0 sacks) he set for himself last year.
JULY 26 • ROTOWIRE
Caden Sterns - Still not close to healthy Coach Sean Payton said Thursday that Sterns (knee, PUP) still has a road ahead of him in terms of getting healthy, Ryan McFadden of The Denver Post reports.
Impact Sterns suffered a torn patellar tendon in his knee last Week 1 and missed virtually all of the 2023 season. Ruptured patellar tendons are notoriously one of the toughest injuries to overcome in football. The Broncos signed veteran safety Brandon Jones in free agency and also have P.J. Locke as an experienced option on the back end should Sterns not be ready for the 2024 opener.
JULY 25 • ROTOWIRE
Courtland Sutton - Gets contract restructure Sutton and the Broncos agreed Thursday to restructure his contract, Tom Pelissero of NFL Network reports.
Impact Sutton previously was scheduled for $13.6 million and $14 million in the final two years of his contract. There was talk of a training camp holdout, but it never seemed especially likely and the Broncos have now placated their No. 1 receiver by adding $1.5 million in incentives for the upcoming season, per Chris Tomasson of The Denver Gazette. While TD regression is highly likely after Sutton scored on 10 of his 90 targets last year, he can make up for it with added volume in other areas of the field. The Broncos had a highly unusual offensive distribution last year, ranking 27th in pass attempts (513) but first in RB targets (153).
JULY 25 • ROTOWIRE
Payton praises running back Javonte Williams as Broncos hit field for first time at training camp
Three things stood out Wednesday when the Denver Broncos hit the field for the first time at training campJULY 24 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
Audric Estime - Practicing in full Estime (knee) was a full participant in Wednesday's training camp session, Nick Kosmider of The Athletic reports.
Impact Estime looks back to full health after missing most of the spring offseason program due to a knee scope. The rookie fifth-round pick appears to have a real opportunity to compete for a role in the Broncos' backfield, which also houses Javonte Williams, Jaleel McLaughlin and Samaje Perine. He boasts the size and physical profile to potentially carve out a goal-line role, but it may take until well into the preseason for the shape of Denver's backfield split to truly become clear.
JULY 24 • ROTOWIRE
Greg Dulcich - Practicing, as anticipated As expected, Dulcich participated in practice Wednesday, Ryan McFadden of The Denver Post reports.
Impact Per McFadden, Dulcich made his mark during Wednesday's session by making a couple of nice catches during 7-on-7 and 11-on-11drills. Dulcich was limited to just two regular-season appearances in 2023 as he dealt with hamstring and foot issues, but if he's able to stay clear of significant injury concerns ahead of Week 1, the 2022 third-rounder has a chance to carve out a key pass-catching role in a Denver tight end corps that also features Adam Trautman and Lucas Krull.
JULY 24 • ROTOWIRE
Javonte Williams - Looks sharp at practice Coach Sean Payton noted that Williams " looked real sharp" at practice Wednesday, Aric DiLalla of the Broncos' official site reports.
Impact The report adds that Williams has lost some weight since last season, with Zac Stevens of TheDNVR.com indicating that the running back currently checks in at around 220-221 pounds. Per Troy Renck of Denver 7 News, Williams sought to trim down this offseason based on feedback from Payton, and the 2021 second-rounder's apparent improvements in conditioning can only help him maintain his perch atop a Broncos backfield depth chart that also includes Samaje Perine, Jaleel McLaughlin and Audric Estime.
JULY 24 • ROTOWIRE
Edge rusher Randy Gregory placed on restricted list after failing to report to Bucs training camp
Edge rusher Randy Gregory was a no-show for the start of Tampa Bay Buccaneers training camp and placed on the Reserve/Did Not Report listJULY 24 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
