5 roster concerns Broncos are running out of time to fix

The Broncos need solutions to these five roster problems asap.

The Denver Broncos didn’t play their starters against the Los Angeles Rams, so their depth was on full display, and the results were less than inspiring. 

While some of the Broncos' position groups looked to have really good depth, like the defensive line and for the most part receiver and running back, there were multiple areas that were a major concern that the team needs to find a solution to because right now if an injury to one of their starters is suffered, they are in a world of hurt. 

Here are five roster concerns that the Broncos need to address, but have little time to do so.

1. Backup QB

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When Denver lost Drew Lock to injury the hope was either Brett Rypien or Kevin Hogan could step their game up and look like a backup quarterback. The last preseason game against the Los Angeles Rams showed that it's a persisting problem. 

Both quarterbacks put out some bad tape replete with holding onto the ball too long and bad reads. Hogan and Rypien were two of the lowest graded players for me, and makes me hope even more that Joe Flacco doesn’t get hurt.

There is little available for quarterback help off-roster, but Denver could potentially make a move for one when teams start cutting down to their final 53. It is expected that the Broncos will waive Rypien with intentions of re-signing him to the practice squad, but if they can find someone better than Hogan, they need to upgrade. 

Frankly, Hogan had played himself off the roster, until Lock got hurt. 

2. Linebacker depth

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The Broncos have lost both Josey Jewell and Todd Davis for a brief time at differing stages of this preseason, which has given the depth guys a chance to step up. While a couple of the backups have risen to the occasion, they have still made mistakes that can be alarming if they ever were to see a lot of time. 

This is an issue for Denver, as Davis' timetable to return in time for the regular-season opener is in doubt. There isn’t much talent available in the free-agent market, and Denver is in a tight spot cap-wise.

This has been an issue for weeks now, and the Broncos still have yet to really address it. Of course, that cap issue is part of the reason for it. Despite that, Denver is still carrying 11 receivers on their roster with eight of them set to make the roster and practice squad, or are competing for it, and the team could use a couple of those spots to further help the linebacker position that only has five healthy players. 

The Broncos haven’t done enough to try and fix this issue, and that needs to change soon.

3. Returner

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Denver needs to find a returner that can cleanly field punts and kickoffs, but also be a threat to put the Broncos in good field position. Having a guy who can provide a spark in the field-position battle is an obvious benefit. 

The Broncos have guys that have returner traits, but for one reason or another, they aren’t getting many opportunities to do so. *cough* Trinity Benson *cough*

4. O-line depth

Part of the issue with the backup offensive line depth is that in a majority of their bad plays, three or four of them look great, but one guy makes a mistake and like Jenga, it all comes crumbling down. 

There is a lot of inconsistency from the depth guys. Don Barclay has gotten progressively worse as the preseason goes on, Elijah Wilkinson is the definition of inconsistent and Chaz Green is a failed experiment, to name just a few of them.

The Broncos have had a couple of guys that have looked like solid depth in John Leglue and Jake Rogers, though they both did struggle some in the last game vs. L.A. That said, Denver hasn’t had the growth from their backups like they had hoped to get, with only two of them making good strides game-to-game.

5. Special teams units, both return and coverage

What a mess. Denver has struggled on special teams for years. 

There is a lack of discipline to stay in their lanes on coverage units. When one guy leaves his lane, that leaves a gap for the opposing returner to get through. 

As for the return units, the above section talks specifically about the returner, but the issue is more than that. When watching over the Broncos' returns, there is a clear issue of blockers whiffing, or in a couple of instances, blockers looking completely uninterested in doing their job.

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