The Denver Broncos remain on the East Coast this week as they practice at The Greenbrier Resort in West Virginia. This week will be pivotal in shaping the identity of this young team. How will the Denver Broncos fare this week?
Major Loss
Football is a game where players are defined by their toughness as much as their production. There may be no tougher player in the National Football League than Denver Broncos Linebacker Alex Singleton. At the 5:20 mark in the first quarter of Sunday’s game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Denver Broncos CB Brandon Jones made a huge play when he intercepted Baker Mayfield.
It was a play that had a significant impact on the outcome of the game and potentially turned the season for the Broncos. But not for reasons that were immediately apparent. On that play, according to Head Coach Sean Payton, leading tacker and captain Alex Singleton tore his ACL. Singleton played the remainder of the game, but that does not tell the entire story. Despite the injury, he finished second only to Tampa Bay’s Jamal Dean with 10 tackles.
Additions
Led by GM George Paton, the Denver Broncos front office wasted little time in replacing Singleton. They signed Zach Cunningham and Kwon Alexander to the practice squad. Both are experienced inside linebackers. Cunningham, a 2017 second-round pick, has started 86 games with 705 tackles. Alexander, a 10-year veteran, recently played for the Steelers, posting 41 tackles in 2023.
Alexander is a 10-year veteran and most recently played for the Pittsburgh Steelers. In 2023, Alexander appeared in nine games — starting two — and posted 41 tackles, five tackles for loss, two quarterback hits, a sack, a forced fumble, and an interception. In other moves, the Broncos promoted RB Tyler Badie to the 53-man roster, rewarding the running back for his solid performance in week 3 against the Bucs. Payton said he would continue rotating his running backs, but Badie would get more chances.
What’s Next
The Denver Broncos are hoping to build on the momentum from the decisive victory in Tampa Bay. The loss of Singleton will have an impact, but the Broncos hope that by signing additional veterans and having the rest of the roster play well, they won’t miss a step against the Jets. The Broncos will be tested by the Jets. The running back combination of Breece Hall and Braelon Allen is more than capable of running up and down the field at MetLife Stadium. The Broncos defense will need to continue to be a dominant force in stopping the run, or Denver will have a very long afternoon.
Stopping the run is not the only concern for the Denver Broncos this week. Future first-ballot Hall of Fame Quarterback Aaron Rogers will also be a factor for the New York Jets. Even if the Broncos have success stopping the run, Rogers is more than capable of destroying a defense by connecting with third-year receiver Garrett Wilson and old Green Bay teammate Allen Lazard.
Cornerback Patrick Surtain is having another outstanding year. He has shut down every receiver he has faced this season. He will likely see Lazard for the majority of the contest on Sunday. Riley Moss, opposite of Surtain in the Broncos’ secondary, has played very well and is having a breakout year. He faces a huge challenge this week against Wilson.
Final Words
The Broncos face a steep challenge in the Jets this week. It will be interesting to see how the Broncos fill the massive void left by Singleton and whether the defensive backs can shut down two solid receivers. It’s not just the defense that must stop Aaron Rogers and the Jets. The offense must build on its Week 3 improvement. The best way to defend Rogers is to keep him on the sideline.
The Denver Broncos will, once again, need to run the ball effectively. Rookie Quarterback Bo Nix, who had a solid game last week, must continue improving and making smart, accurate throws. How the Denver Broncos perform against the Jets on the road this week will show whether the solid performance last week was a reality or if there is still a long way to go.
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