We’re a few days out from the Broncos’ Monday Night loss to the Chiefs, and it still stings. The Broncos opened up the season with a disappointing and downright embarrassing 31-10 loss to the Chiefs. Thedebut of offensive coordinator Davis Webb was a failure, and theDenver Broncos defense had a historically high missed tackle rate
It was all bad.
Stock up and stock down is a weekly series where I go through the Denver Broncos roster and give you stock-ups and stock-downs on every player currently on the 53-man
roster. After a game like that on Monday Night, we are looking at a lot of stock downs. So, with all that said, here are your stock-ups and stock-downs for the Denver Broncos after their blowout loss to the Kansas City Chiefs.
Quarterback
Bo Nix – Stock down: Monday Night was one of the worst games of Bo Nix’s career thus far. He had an opening-drive interception, later fumbled the ball, was lucky not to fumble the ball again, and was sacked a total of 4 times. Not all the blame falls on Nix; he was put in a bad situation by his coaching staff (no run game), his protection sucked, and there were drive-killing drops and penalties throughout. Still, it was not a great game for Nix, and he and the Broncos need to bounce back next week.
Jarrett Stidham – Unchanged: He was the backup to Bo Nix, as expected
Sam Ehlinger – Unchanged: He was the emergency third-string QB, as expected
Running Back
JK Dobbins – Unchanged: I thought about stock down here, but he played well when given the ball. He had 8 carries for 36 yards and averaged 4.5 yards per carry. That’s what you want to see from Dobbins, just more of it. The Broncos ran the ball 6 times at halftime, and then the game got away from them in the second half.
RJ Harvey – Stock up: I thought Jonah Coleman was going to be the Broncos’ RB3, but RJ Harvey seems to be firmly their RB2 or even their 1B with JK Dobbins. He out-snapped Dobbins (likely due to game script and all the passing) and played well when given the ball. His pass blocking looked questionable at best, but overall, he seems like someone who’s going to be featured in their offense moving forward.
Jonah Coleman – Stock down: Coleman saw 3 offensive snaps and returned a kick. I expected to see the rookie used a little bit more, but he’s clearly behind Dobbins and Harvey right now.
Tyler Badie – Unchanged: He was inactive and is their RB4.
Adam Prentice – Unchanged: Only saw 6 offensive snaps and did most of his work on special teams. There was a key 3rd-and-1 where his lead blocking or short-yardage ability would have come in handy.
Wide Receiver
Jaylen Waddle – Stock down: All that hype, and we get 3 targets and 1 catch for 2 yards. Waddle himself was not bad, though he did have a drop on 3rd down, but his lack of targets and usage was odd to me. I would have expected the Broncos to feature the new weapon they traded for and hyped up all offseason. Yet, just 3 targets and 1 catch for 2 yards.
Courtland Sutton – Unchanged: Sutton wasn’t featured much either, but we know what he and Nix can do, so I am not going to overreact here. Still, he didn’t get his first target until the 3rd quarter, I believe, which is a very odd game plan.
Pat Bryant – Stock up: He played 59% of the offensive snaps and led the way for the Broncos receivers with 6 targets and 4 catches for 42 yards. He came up big for them on their lone touchdown drive and showcased why he will be a key part of this offense moving forward. He did have a couple of holding calls, which I thought were mostly BS, so I am not holding them against him. His drop on a screen play that would have led to a 1st down did suck, though.
Marvin Mims – Unchanged: Mims had another injury scare, but thankfully seemed to be okay. He didn’t do much on offense but did have a few nice kick returns. We did see Troy Franklin play more offensive snaps than him, so that will be something to watch moving forward.
Troy Franklin – Stock up slightly: I thought Franklin was in danger of being inactive due to the Broncos going with Lil’Jordan Humphrey, but that did not happen. LJH played the procedural off and on the roster game this week, and Franklin was active and played 33% of the offensive snaps. However, he did see just 1 target, and it was a rather bad OPI call, which set the offense back. His usage gives him stock up, but that OPI was not great.
Lil’Jordan Humphrey – Unchanged: It was reported prior to the game that the Broncos released Lil’Jordan, but it was simply a procedural move and that he would rejoin the team soon. On Tuesday, it was reported that LJH re-signed with the team. I would anticipate him being active and utilized a little more moving forward, but we shall see.
Tight End
Adam Trautman – Unchanged: He did catch 2 passes for 10 yards, but that’s not why he’s on the roster. He’s a run-blocking tight end, one that is being paid decently by a team that refuses to run the ball. Make that make sense.
Evan Engram – Stock up: Engram led the Broncos in receiving yards and caught their lone touchdown on a well-drawn-up play that left him wide open in the end zone. This was the lone bright spot for the Broncos on Monday Night, but I think we’ll see Engram used a bit more moving forward.
Nate Adkins – Unchanged: Played 13 snaps and is a blocking specialist for a team that does not run the ball. He did have 8 special teams snaps as well.
Dallen Bentley – Unchanged: The rookie was inactive.
Offensive Line
Garett Bolles – Unchanged: I am no OL expert, but it was a rough night for the Broncos blockers. Bolles has earned the benefit of the doubt.
Ben Powers – Stock down slightly: From the clips I did see, Powers had a rough night and gave up some pressure up the middle of the Broncos’ offensive line.
Luke Wattenberg – Stock down slightly: In the same boat as Powers but also had a few iffy snaps. It was humid, and the ball was likely slippery, so hopefully that was the reason for that.
Quinn Meinerz – Unchanged: Like Bolles, Meinerz has earned the benefit of the doubt from me.
Mike McGlinchey – Stock down: I did notice a lot of pressure coming off that edge, and in the clips I did see, McGlinchey was having a rough time. Again, I am not an OL expert, but he’s the one loser I am going with from this group.
Matt Peart – Unchanged: Reserve OT/Swing tackle and played 2 special teams snaps
Alex Palczewski – Unchanged: Reserve OL and likely 6th offensive lineman, but saw just 2 special teams snaps.
Alex Forsyth – Unchanged: backup center and saw 2 special teams snaps
Kage Casey – Unchanged: The rookie OL was inactive
Defensive Line
Zach Allen – Unchanged: It was a rough night for the defense, but Allen gets the benefit of the doubt from me. I am sure he missed some, but I don’t recall him missing any notable tackles.
DJ Jones – Stock down: When you’re a run-stuffing nose tackle and a team runs for over 200 yards on you, your stock is going down. The Broncos’ run defense has been leaky dating back to the playoffs, and Jones is the man in the middle of their defensive line. They need better play from him.
Malcolm Roach – Unchanged: I went back and forth here, but settled on unchanged. He’s a run-stuffing DL on a team that sucked vs. the run, but he made some plays, including a nice PBU on 3rd down. Run defense needs to be better/
Eyioma Uwazurike – Stock down slightly: Need more from the Broncos’ big man. He was supposedly unblockable in camp, but that didn’t seem to be the case vs. the Chiefs. I am not sure if he played badly or not, but again, 200+ yards rushing. Everyone has a bit of stink on them.
Sai’vion Jones – Stock up slightly: This is just based on usage. He played 15 defensive snaps and 7 special teams snaps while also being active ahead of rookie Tyler Onyedim and Jordan Jackson. Can’t say I noticed him out there, but the playing time is encouraging.
Tyler Onyedim – Stock down slightly: The Broncos don’t seem to play rookies, but Onyedim, their top pick and a 3rd-round pick, was among their inactives. We’ll see if he can push for playing time.
Jordan Jackson – Unchanged: Reserve DL who was inactive.
Edge Rushers
Nik Bonitto – Unchanged: This was not a Nik Bonitto game script. The Chiefs ran the ball and threw quick passes all game, which neutralized his pass rush off the edge. Still, wanted to see more from the All-Pro edge, but the Chiefs made sure to make him a non-factor.
Jonah Elliss – Stock down: He did get the start, as expected, but I can’t say I really saw anything great from him. He played 58% of the snaps, but the one time I did notice him, he(and Moss) were whiffing on a tackle on WR Rashee Rice and allowing him to scamper into the end zone
Que Robinson – Stock up: Que saw 46% of the snaps on defense and was one of their lone bright spots. He had some pressures and seems like a player who should and will see more playing time as the season progresses.
Dondrea Tillman – Stock up: He played 46% of the snaps and seems to be a key member of the edge rotation while Jonathon Cooper is sidelined. His bump up in usage is why I have his stock up.
Linebackers
Alex Singleton – Stock down: What a frustrating night for the Broncos’ top linebacker and team captain. Multiple missed tackles, was badly stiff-armed by Kenneth Walker, then would go on to be flagged for a personal foul, and gets a lot of the blame for the Broncos’ struggles against the run. The Broncos re-signed Singleton and preached how important he is to the team, which is true, but the play on the field needs to be better.
Justin Strnad – Stock down: The Chiefs ran for 200+ yards, and you’re a starting linebacker. Need better.
Jordan Turner – Unchanged: Played in 93% of the special teams snaps, which is his role on this team. He also saw 2 defensive snaps.
Karene Reid – Unchanged: He played only 43% of the special teams snaps and seems to be behind Turner in the pecking order, but we shall see.
Cornerback
Pat Surtain II – Unchanged: I don’t think the Chiefs went after Surtain once in this game. Mahomes did not play well, and the Chiefs’ passing game struggled.
Riley Moss – Stock down: Tackling is not Moss’s main job, but man, his whiffs led to two Chiefs touchdowns. He missed on the Rashee Rice touchdown and then failed to set the edge and whiffed again on Kenneth Walker on 4th down, which led to that backbreaking 60-yard touchdown. He had a few nice PBUs, but man, making those tackles, especially the one on 4th down, could have completely changed the game.
Ja’Quan McMillian – Unchanged: He missed a tackle on Kelce on his long reception, but did make a nice tackle later in the game. The Chiefs struggled to pass the ball, so the Broncos corners were never really tested.
Jahdae Barron – Slightly down: He played just 4 defensive snaps, but that is due to game script. Chiefs were in heavy packages and running the ball, not spreading it out and passing it.
Kris Abrams-Draine – Unchanged: Reserve corner, but also came in for Marvin Mims as a punt returner.
Safety
Talanoa Hufanga – Stock down: Team leader/captain and a big-hitting safety, but still allowed the Chiefs to run at will on you. He had at least one bad missed tackle. We know Hufanga can play better, and he will need to step it up moving forward.
Brandon Jones – Stock up: Had a big INT on Patrick Mahomes and set the Broncos up with a 1st and goal at the 5-yard line. This could have gotten the Broncos back in the game, but they had to settle for 3 points.
Devon Key – Unchanged: The All-Pro special teamer played 93% of the Broncos’ special teams snaps.
JL Skinner – Unchanged: The reserve safety played 64% of the Broncos’ special teams snaps
Tycen Anderson – Unchanged: Anderson, a special teams ace, played in 75% of the Broncos’ special teams snaps.
Special Teams
Wil Lutz – Unchanged: 1/1 on FGs and 1/1 on XPs
Jeremy Crawshaw: Stock up: Probably the Broncos best performing player on Monday Night. Had 3 punts pinned inside the 20-yard line and routinely flipped field position with his booming punts. He had a long of 68 yards and averaged 52.3 yards per punt.
