The Jets face the Broncos for the sixth season in a row on Sunday, in London. Last year, New York was looking for a third straight win but lost 10-9 on a late missed field goal, but they enter week six of this season looking to snap a five-game losing streak.
Let’s break down the Broncos’ roster going position by position:
Quarterbacks
Last year’s 12th overall pick, Bo Nix, got the win over the Jets last year but it was hardly an impressive performance as he completed just 12 of 25 passes for 60 yards.
Since then, though, he’s established himself well and has posted solid but unspectacular numbers so far in 2025. His best game saw him pass for over 300 yards in a win over the Bengals.
Nix is a good athlete, who can extend plays and make yardage with his legs, although he’s not been rushing much this year with just 100 yards on 28 carries.
Jarrett Stidham returns as the number two, but Denver replaced Zach Wilson with Sam Ehlinger in the number three role.
Offensive Line
After facing three teams in a row that were decimated by injuries on the offensive line, they are running into an opponent whose five starters have not only been healthy all season but also started most of last season together, so their chemistry has been excellent.
That has changed this week though, as left guard Ben Powers was just placed on injured reserve with a biceps injury.
Right tackle Mike McGlinchey, right guard Quinn Meinerz and left tackle Garett Bolles are all reliable veterans, although Bolles has been a little penalty-prone in the past with 16 last season. Meinerz is an excellent young run blocker.
If there is a weak link, it’s at center where Luke Wattenberg was a full time starter for the first time last year. He has six penalties so far this year.
On the bench, Alex Palczewski, who started at right tackle against the Jets in 2024, is listed as the main backup at guard so presumably will start for Powers.
The other three reserves, Matt Peart, Alex Forsyth and Frank Crum were all with the team last season too. Peart is the primary reserve at tackle and Forsyth is the number two center.
Running Backs
As Jets fans know all too well Javonte Williams is now in Dallas but Denver’s run game hasn’t suffered. They rank 4th in the NFL with at least 118 yards in every game, led by JK Dobbins, who has over 400 and four touchdowns.
Jaleel McLaughlin was looking like a solid change of pace option a few years ago but he seems to have lost that role to Tyler Badie, who offers a passing game threat that Dobbins doesn’t.
However, the current backup is second round rookie RJ Harvey, who is off to a good start averaging 4.8 yards per carry.
Denver also has a fullback on their roster in Adam Prentice with Michael Burton on injured reserve.
Pass catchers
Denver has a diverse group of pass catching threats, with veteran Courtland Sutton leading them in catches, receiving yards, touchdown receptions and yards per catch.
Troy Franklin and Marvin Mims have developed into solid contributors with Franklin moving into more of a slot-based role since the last time these teams met.
Tight end Evan Engram also presents a potential matchup nightmare with his combination of speed and athleticism.
Pat Bryant was drafted in the third round but he and Trent Sherfield have not played much.
Adam Trautman and Nate Adkins back up Engram at the tight end position.
Defensive Line
The Broncos play a 3-4 system and often send five, which generates a lot of pressure and has them on course to lead the league in sacks for the third year in a row. While their sack leaders play on the edge, starting defensive ends Zach Allen and John Franklin-Myers combined for 15.5 sacks between them last year.
The Jets are, of course, very familiar with Franklin-Myers having given him a big money extension in 2021 but then traded him to the Broncos in the 2024 draft. Allen, meanwhile, led the team with 40 quarterback hits and earned second-team all-pro honors last year.
The other starter is nose tackle DJ Jones with Jordan Jackson and Eyioma Uwazurike returning in rotational roles. They also drafted Sai’vion Jones in the third round but he’s not played much either.
Linebackers
Starting outside linebackers Jonathon Cooper and Nik Bonitto both hit double digits in sacks last year with Bonitto’s 13.5 leading the team. He’s leading the entire league so far this season, with seven in the first five games.
The Broncos drafted Jonah Elliss in the third round last year and Que’ Robinson in the fourth this year to fortify their depth at this position, although Robinson hasn’t played yet with Dondrea Tillman in the rotation instead. Elliss has been ruled out for Sunday, though.
On the inside, Alex Singleton plays a full-time role and Justin Strnad has been starting alongside him, although he often comes off the field. Dre Greenlaw would probably be starting if not for a quad injury that landed him on injured reserve in September.
Backup inside linebackers Garret Wallow and the undrafted rookie Karene Reid have not yet played any defensive snaps.
Defensive Backs
The Broncos have a strong secondary led by all-pro cornerback Pat Surtain II, who Garrett Wilson said on Thursday he relishes going up against. Wilson specifically praised his footwork and said that any reps he gets against him are like “a game within the game”.
Their other cornerbacks are Riley Moss on the outside and Ja’Quan McMillian in the slot. Their first round draft pick was Jahdae Barron, who currently backs them up but has made some plays already this season. Kris Abrams-Draine provides additional depth.
Brandon Jones, who is the only Denver player to intercept a pass this season, returns at safety. In addition, the Broncos upgraded from last year’s other starter, PJ Locke, by bringing in Talanoa Hufanga on a big-money free agent contract. Locke remains with the team in a reserve role.
The versatile Devon Key provides additional secondary depth, with JL Skinner also backing up at safety.
Special Teams
Denver drafted their new punter, Jeremy Crawshaw, and he’s kicked well, although he has given up a significant amount of return yardage.
Will Lutz is a solid kicker with a lot of range, and has only missed one kick all season, but that came in the fourth quarter of a one-point loss to the Colts.
The primary punt gunners are Sherfield and Skinner. In kick coverage, Key, Elliss and Badie all also contribute.
In the return game, Mims is a big-play threat on kicks and punts, while Harvey has also been getting some work on kickoffs. Moss is listed as the backup punt returner.
