Updated

Updated · DenverBroncos.com · Aug 15

Broncos Set 15-Snap Starter Plan for Falcons Preseason Opener as 2 QBs Split Game

Updated

Updated · DenverBroncos.com · Aug 15

Broncos Set 15-Snap Starter Plan for Falcons Preseason Opener as 2 QBs Split Game

Q: Could Sam Ehlinger's recent camp surge finally dethrone Jarrett Stidham for the crucial Broncos backup quarterback role tonight?

Yes — but tonight is more likely to be an audition than a final overthrow. Ehlinger has clearly tightened the race. Multiple camp reports say he has looked sharper than Jarrett Stidham at times, has taken some second-team reps, and is showing much better command of Sean Payton’s offense in his second year in the system. Payton himself said Ehlinger’s grasp of the terminology and rhythm has improved “considerably,” and he has praised Ehlinger’s mobility and ability to create when plays break down. That said, Stidham still appears to enter the preseason opener as the incumbent favorite. He was Denver’s No. 2 quarterback last season, and Payton is giving him the start and the first half against Atlanta. Publicly, Payton has also been careful not to frame the competition as decided or dramatically shifted. What makes tonight important is the scale of the opportunity. With Bo Nix sitting out, Stidham and Ehlinger will split the game evenly, giving Denver its cleanest head-to-head evaluation so far. For Ehlinger to truly jump Stidham, he likely needs more than just a solid outing; he needs to be clearly better in command, decision-making, situational football and ball security. Stidham’s uneven AFC title game showing and contract cost have kept the door open. Ehlinger’s camp surge has made this a real competition. But entering tonight, he has not definitively dethroned Stidham yet — he has simply put himself in legitimate position to do it.

Q: Which young defensive lineman will step out of the shadows tonight to fill the massive void left by John Franklin-Myers?

Eyioma Uwazurike looks like the best bet to step out tonight. Among Denver’s young defensive linemen, he has the strongest mix of momentum, versatility and direct praise from the coaching staff. Defensive coordinator Vance Joseph has said Uwazurike changed his body, is moving better, rushing the passer more effectively and has been “dominant” in camp while playing nose, 4i and 3-technique. D.J. Jones went even further, saying “he can’t be blocked.” That matters because replacing John Franklin-Myers is not just about holding up against the run; it is about recreating interior disruption. Sai’vion Jones is probably the other most compelling candidate. The Broncos traded up for him in 2025, and both Sean Payton and George Paton have publicly backed his upside, size and motor. He was essentially redshirted as a rookie, so tonight should be his first real chance to show whether his development has caught up to his traits. If he flashes power and pocket collapse, he could quickly strengthen his case for a real rotational role. Tyler Onyedim is also in this race, but he may be more likely to show up as an early-down penetrator than as a full Franklin-Myers replacement right away. Coaches and teammates like his athleticism, attitude and film habits, but as a rookie, this is still an early evaluation stage. So if one young lineman is most likely to seize the spotlight tonight, it is Uwazurike, with Jones the high-upside challenger and Onyedim the intriguing long-term piece.

3 articles · Updated · DenverBroncos.com · Aug 15

Sean Payton said Denver’s starters are expected to play about 15 snaps Friday in Atlanta, using the preseason opener to build regular-season readiness and evaluate the roster.
Jarrett Stidham and Sam Ehlinger will split the quarterback workload by halves, while Bo Nix travels but will not make his preseason debut until next week against Green Bay.
11 training-camp practices have set up the first live test for Denver’s rookies, including running back Jonah Coleman, lineman Kage Casey, first draft pick Tyler Onyedim and Mr. Irrelevant Red Murdock.
Several injured players will stay in Denver, but Payton said the broader goal is to get proper evaluation reps in a game environment he believes practice cannot fully replicate.