Week three preseason is all about the last-ditch effort to make a team. Week 3 is the last preseason game before teams must cut their rosters down to 53 on Tuesday, August 29th. These three Denver Broncos players should be concerned about their futures in Denver.
The Broncos have a new head coach looking to put last season’s fiasco behind them. Every Denver Broncos player is concerned about their status on the team. And while it is true that some have more concern coming into the last preseason game, the level of concern isn’t the same for all. These are three specific Denver Broncos players whose level of concern begins in earnest in Week 3 of the preseason.
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3 Denver Broncos Who Have Reason For Concern in the Preseason Week 3
Russell Wilson’s Reason For Concern
After last year’s performance, coupled with an enormous payday, Wilson’s play will be heavily scrutinized all season. The concern over Wilson’s play began before preseason but lingers. There is no question his enormous contract will not keep him safe. New head coach Sean Payton doesn’t believe anyone is “safe.”
In 15 games last season, Wilson finished with his lowest completion percentage (60.5%), second lowest yards per attempt (7.3), second lowest rushing yards (277), lowest passing touchdowns (16), and second most interceptions (11).
In the first preseason game against the Arizona Cardinals, Wilson was on the field for 31% of the snaps (20). His play was inconsistent against the Cardinals’ first team. Denver’s first team stayed on the field until Wilson connected with Jerry Jeudy on a 21-yard touchdown pass.
“You don’t have the luxury like you did in college where you are a 100 deep on the sidelines, so I want to see improvement in that area from younger players.”
Sean Payton said offense did pretty good for their first preseason game, but he’s looking for improvement from players… pic.twitter.com/tkluWciaVN
— DNVR Broncos (@DNVR_Broncos) August 14, 2023
Wilson played for 20 snaps, he went 7-of-13, 93 yards, one touchdown and one fumble. He was sacked once and had zero rushing yards.
The second preseason game went better for Wilson. He was on the field for 12 snaps (one drive). In that one drive, Wilson was 3-of-6 for 24 yards. He also had three carries for 25 yards. The preseason’s first two games were a mixed effort from the presumptive franchise quarterback.
The Broncos play the Los Angeles Rams for the final preseason game. The teams had two practices together. It is unlikely that Wilson will play in this game.
Wilson’s concern is that if Jarrett Stidham plays well in the third preseason game and Wilson falters coming out of the gate, he will be replaced.
Garett Boles Reasons for Concern
Left tackle Boles suffered a broken leg in Week 5 of last season. His return began in Week 1 of the preseason against the Arizona Cardinals. It wasn’t good. Wilson was pressured on nine of his 14 dropbacks. Wilson and Stidham were sacked once, and the Broncos’ quarterbacks were the most pressured of any quarterbacks playing in the first preseason game. Wilson suffered pressure on 64%, Stidham was pressured on 59%, and Ben DiNucci was pressured on 11% per Sharp Analysis.
context for QB preseason performance
preseason week 1 pressure rate:
64% – Russell Wilson
63% – Jake Browning
59% – Jarrett Stidham
53% – Nathan Rourke
52% – Tommy DeVito
50% – Mason Rudolph
50% – Chris Streveler
50% – Gardner Minshew
50% – Brett Rypien
50% – Trey Lance
50% -…— Warren Sharp (@SharpFootball) August 14, 2023
To be fair, the offensive line is playing without Mike McGlinchey, who is rehabbing from a leg injury, and the offensive line, as a whole, did improve in the second preseason game.
Boles’ salary is fully guaranteed for this season. But, the Broncos are projected to be over the salary cap next season. Boles’ base salary next season will be $15.75 million with a $250 thousand per-game roster bonus.
Last season before his injury, Boles had six penalties, allowing 10 pressures and 1.5 sacks. Boles’ concern should not only be with being benched this season but his status with the Broncos beyond this season.
Albert Okwuegbunam Reasons for Concern
In the first preseason game, Okwuegbunam played 17 snaps, had zero targets, and was listed fifth on the depth chart. In the second preseason game, Okwuegbunam again was not on the field with the starters, while three other tight ends did make an appearance. Adam Trautman was on the field for 17 snaps and ran five routes. Greg Dulcich was on the field for 11 snaps and ran eight routes. Even undrafted free agent Nate Adkins was on the field for one snap with the starters.
Okwuegbunam has found himself in a run-first offense that values tight ends who can block. Blocking is not his strength. While Payton has praised Okwuegbunam, he has also voiced concern.
Okwuegbunam’s concern in week three preseason should be on making the team.
Why Worry?
The Broncos were 5-12 last season, finishing last in the AFC West. None of the starters played in any preseason game last year, and the new head coach was fired before the regular season ended.
This third preseason game already signals a different Broncos team. So far, the concern for Bronco Nation is that preseason isn’t exhibiting a huge difference from last season. The Denver Broncos levels of concern are many fold.
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