The Denver Broncos battle the Arizona Cardinals for their Week 7 matchup of the 2026 regular season. Both teams are coming off victories due to great play on defense. However, each have a lot to sort out on offense. Here are three storylines I’ll be monitoring closely on Sunday.
The return of edge rusher Jonathon Cooper
The Broncos were the top team in the NFL the past two seasons when it came to sacking opposing quarterbacks. However, there has been a slight dip in production so far this season. Defensive lineman John Franklin-Myers leaving
in free agency was one of them. Edge rusher Jonathon Cooper being on the Commisioner’s Exempt List for the first six games of the season is another.
While Cooper and the Broncos likely won’t get finality on his ongoing legal situation until next year, we do know he is poised to make his regular season debut this weekend against the Cardinals. And the timing couldn’t have been any better.
Third-year edge rusher Jonah Elliss, who replaced Cooper as a starter, hobbled off the field in the Broncos’ thrilling overtime victory versus the Seattle Seahawks. Elliss was seen in a boot and crutches at the Utah vs. Colorado collegiate game over the weekend. It’s safe to say he will be missing a few games.
With Cooper back in the fold, that should help bolster their pass rush. His sack productivity did decline toward the end of last season, but he still boasted some of the best hurry and pressure rates amongst edge rushers. I think Denver’s run defense will also be better with him in the mix. I’m looking forward to seeing him play.
What version of Bo Nix will show up on Sunday?
To say that quarterback Bo Nix is experiencing some regression this season may be putting it mildly. A few days ago, Head Coach Sean Payton was asked whether or not he was considering making a switch at the position. Payton stood behind his third-year signal caller and pointed out that there are a bunch of issues on offense that need to be fixed.
“No. He’s going to become the byproduct of all the finer things that get improved. The improved play from our offensive line, the more efficient we are relative to balance, running the football. That’s our jobs as coaches here. We talked after the game about we’re excited to get that win, and yet at the same time find that improvement we need in all areas. So, it starts with all of us,” stated Payton.
Though it’s clear Nix needs to improve drastically moving forward in order for the Broncos to be a contender. I’m trying to remain optimistic. He has struggled early on in his first two seasons, but has got better in the second half stretch. That gives me some hope moving forward.
Perhaps the Cardinals game will provide an opportunity to see the old Bo Nix. The Cardinals had a good defensive performance against the Rams in Week 6, but that unit has not been strong most of the season. They currently rank 22nd in the NFL in pass yards allowed per game. Moreover, are one of the worst in the NFL on stopping opponents on third down.
Will Nix finally start showing some promise and help guide Denver to a win? That’s one thing I’ll be monitoring.
Who steps up to lead the way in the Broncos’ backfield?
As Payton noted, the struggles on offense aren’t all Bo Nix. When you look at Denver’s running game to start their 2026 gridiron campaign compared to where they were at last season through the same stretch—it’s a huge difference. The Broncos touted one of the top rushing attacks in the NFL in the first portion of last season. This year, they are one of the worst.
That isn’t an excuse for Nix’s issues, but everyone knows he would operate a tad better with a better ground game. All quarterbacks do. As I authored earlier today, Denver needs to run the ball with authority. That means the offensive line has to do a much better job with their run blocks. Moreover, the running backs need to perform much better too.
J.K. Dobbins has really struggled. Last season, he averaged five yards per carry. So far this year, he is posting a 3.3 yard per carry average. Second-year running back RJ Harvey has shown some flashes, but the long runs and explosive plays haven’t been there. Rookie running back Jonah Coleman is eligible to come off short-term injured reserve this week. If healthy, he could provide a spark for Denver’s rushing attack and help them grind out another victory.
