Broncos Host Vikings in 2026 Preseason Finale as Bo Nix Likely Sits

Q: Which surprise standout from the preseason finale will force Denver to completely rethink their backup quarterback strategy?

Sam Ehlinger is the surprise standout who could force Denver to revisit its backup quarterback plan. The preseason finale did not automatically make him QB2 over Jarrett Stidham, but it made the decision harder to dismiss. After an interception on his first throw, Ehlinger settled down and finished 15 of 20 for 233 yards and three touchdowns in the 34-6 win over Minnesota. He also flashed the off-script mobility and play-extension ability Sean Payton has praised throughout camp, traits that fit Denver’s offense and more closely mirror starter Bo Nix’s style. The broader reporting still suggests Stidham remains the favorite for the primary backup job. He started the finale, has more experience in the system, and had already built an edge earlier in the preseason. But Ehlinger’s finish kept the competition alive and strengthened the case for Denver to keep three quarterbacks instead of two. That is the real strategic question now. Payton has said the Broncos are still weighing whether to carry two or three quarterbacks on the 53-man roster. Ehlinger’s performance made it riskier to assume he could simply be stashed on the practice squad again, especially after he drew outside interest in the past. So the player forcing the rethink is Ehlinger. More than any other bubble player in the finale, he affected a major roster decision by making Denver reconsider whether its backup quarterback room needs to be larger — and whether he deserves more than a developmental role.

Q: Could a late-game surge by an unknown rookie force a veteran running back off the final 53-man roster?

Probably not for the 53-man roster, but yes for the bubble hierarchy around it. Cody Schrader’s late surge against Minnesota was the best individual statement by any Broncos running back in the finale. He produced 132 yards from scrimmage, scored, and looked decisive as both a runner and receiver. Sean Payton had challenged bubble players to “make us spin the chair,” and Schrader did that. But the broader roster picture still works against him. Multiple camp reports and roster projections indicate Denver’s top three backs are J.K. Dobbins, RJ Harvey and rookie Jonah Coleman, with Adam Prentice separately valued as a fullback. That leaves Schrader competing less for a true offensive role than for a depth slot or practice-squad place. The veteran most clearly in danger is not one of the top three, but Jaleel McLaughlin, who hurt his standing by playing deep into the preseason finale while Tyler Badie got the start. Around Denver, that usage was widely read as a warning sign. Badie’s pass protection also remains a meaningful edge in Sean Payton’s system. So Schrader’s breakout could help push a veteran out indirectly, especially McLaughlin from the back-end roster mix. Still, the stronger expectation from local coverage is that Schrader improved his odds of making the practice squad more than he forced his way onto the 53. Unless Denver keeps an extra running back, his performance likely reshaped the pecking order behind the main group rather than fully overturning it.

3 articles · Updated · DenverBroncos.com · Aug 29

Denver closes its 2026 preseason Friday at 7 p.m. MT, hosting Minnesota at Empower Field at Mile High with a chance to finish 2-1.
Sean Payton said Wednesday that quarterback Bo Nix probably will not play, with the coaching staff set to finalize roles for the finale that night.
The game will air locally on 9NEWS and nationally on NFL Network, with out-of-market streaming available on NFL+ and radio coverage on KOA and SiriusXM.
The finale serves as Denver’s last preseason evaluation before the regular season, with playing time expected to tilt toward reserves if Nix and other starters sit.