Broncos roster battles: Revealing the winners from preseason Game 4

Entering the third week of the preseason, I identified 10 battles going on that can have an impact on the Denver Broncos' roster, or even the practice squad.

Today, not only am I going to break down why these battles matter and set the stage for each one, but also the final analysis of the players' game performances in L.A. to declare who won each battle.

QBs Kevin Hogan vs. Brett Rypien

With Drew Lock hurt after he essentially won the backup quarterback job, the Broncos need to find their new backup quarterback. After hoping they could sneak him onto the practice squad, Brett Rypien will have a chance now for the backup job. Can he beat out the struggling Hogan?

Winner: Push

The game against the Rams was a bad one for both quarterbacks. It is hard to imagine the Broncos' front office finding either of these guys acceptable to be the backup quarterback. Ball placement was off, they both held the ball too long, bad reads abounded and multiple other mistakes highlighted their game.

OGs Austin Schlottmann vs. Don Barclay

The Broncos' depth on the offensive line hasn’t shown themselves to be anything but a liability yet. Can Schlottmann and Barclay change that? Both players have not stepped up their game yet, and in the case of Barclay he has been declining.

The regular season is right around the corner, and they have to step it up.

Winner: Push

It was a poor showing from both backup interior linemen. Denver needed to see better and they simply failed to step up. Barclay has been on the decline since the Hall of Fame Game, and Schlottmann hasn’t stepped it up quite yet during the preseason. With one game left, the O-line depth continues to be a major concern.

OGs John Leglue vs. Sam Jones

Both players have been seeing their snaps on the inside. Jones has been struggling as the preseason games go on, while Leglue has been getting better each week. Both players are pushing for a roster spot, or a practice squad spot. Can Leglue keep getting better, or can Jones rebound and take hold of the spot?

Winner: John Leglue

This was a tough one, but Leglue gets the nod based on consistency. Both players put together a good game in L.A., which was a must for Jones who has struggled in previous games.

They both gave up pressures and had misses in the run game, but they also had some huge blocks on the ground. Jones just made a few more technical mistakes. Also, for seeing some reps at right tackle, Leglue looked like he can hang there, especially with added growth.

OTs Jake Rogers vs. Chaz Green

If Denver keeps four tackles, one of these two are the final option. Rogers had a strong game against the Niners but he must step up and continue to show he can do it at this level. For Green, he needs to bounce back after three poor games to even have a fighting chance for the spot.

Winner: Push

What a bad game from both of the backup tackles. Rogers killed it against the Niners, but was unable to build on that against the Rams. Previously he has been at right tackle, and he started this game at left tackle, which could be a big reason for his struggles.

Meanwhile, Green continues to flop when he is on the field with really poor play. At this point, he isn’t making the roster.

WRs Trinity Benson vs. Kelvin McKnight vs. Nick Williams

These three receivers are in a tough battle for a potential sixth receiver spot. Each week there is a different frontrunner, and that is going to lead to a hard decision. One of these guys needs to really emerge as the obvious solution, and their play as returner could be what decides the outcome.

Winner(s): Kelvin McKnight and Trinity Benson

These two receivers were so close with their play that I couldn’t quite decide between them. McKnight had a more clear impact than Williams and Benson, but Benson ran great routes and really showed his speed. Something that hurt Benson was the lack of arm from Hogan and Rypien.

ILBs Josh Watson vs. Keishawn Bierria

The search for a backup linebacker is ongoing without anyone really standing out. Josh Watson has looked like the No. 4 guy, but there needs to be more consistency to his game. His play so far has been better off the edge than off-ball. Bierria, on the other hand, has yet to really make his presence felt.

Winner: Josh Watson

It was not a great game from Watson, but it was solid. He continues to make some plays off the edge and as an off-ball linebacker. His play is clearly rookie level with a lot to work on, but he has shown to be farther along in development than the second-year linebacker he was battling with.

DL DeMarcus Walker vs. DeShawn Williams vs. Mike Purcell

Every week Walker and Williams are battling for a spot, but Mike Purcell joins them this week after a strong showing against the Niners. There isn’t much time left for them to make their marks in-game and separate from the others.

Who can step up going into the second to last preseason game?

Winner: Mike Purcell

What a performance from Purcell, who dominated the Rams' offensive line, making a case for the roster. Denver is deep on the defensive line, but Zach Kerr was the only other 330-plus pound lineman and he was released Monday morning. Purcell showed some quickness for his size, and plenty of strength to clog the middle.

CBs Alijah Holder vs. Rashard Causey

Holder, the undrafted rookie, has received little reps during the games though he has flashed, and Causey arrived in Denver late and seemed to be seeing the field before Holder. However, Causey has not looked good out there on the field, which keeps the door open for Holder. Don’t expect either of them to make the roster, but a practice squad spot is on the line.

Winner: Alijah Holder

Holder saw time at safety and boundary corner, and he flashed potential at both spots. With Horace Richardson on injured reserve, Holder can make a strong push for the practice squad, and this game was a step to do just that.

TEs Jake Butt vs. Orson Charles

Butt was poised to play in his first game in nearly a year. He is far behind the curve of all the other tight ends, except for the new addition of Charles. This battle has the two tight ends on somewhat even ground. While Charles is new, he has been able to play and practice, but Butt has had plenty of time to get the playbook down.

Winner: Jake Butt

In his first game action in almost a year, Butt looked good enough to belong out there. It wasn’t a bad game from Charles, but you could see he didn’t fully have everything down yet. This battle isn’t over, but Butt took a huge step forward, which he needed to save his butt.

RBs Devontae Jackson vs. Khalfani Muhammad

Both players are said to be a big play waiting to happen. They haven’t shown it yet, but they have been close to getting there. Muhammad has the edge over Jackson based on previous games, but that can change quickly. Can Jackson come back, or will Muhammad run away with it?

Winner: Khalfani Muhammad

His speed has been on display in previous games, and it showed up again against the Rams. He made defenders miss on his way to making good plays for the Broncos offense. If he gets a shot as a returner, he could realistically make this roster.

Follow Erick on Twitter @ErickTrickel.