The Minnesota Vikings play football tomorrow when they face off against the Denver Broncos. While the Vikings were disappointed with their season, the Broncos saw themselves come within an ankle injury of the Super Bowl.
For the Vikings, all eyes will be on their new quarterback Kyler Murray, while the Broncos will be looking to build their offense into a Super Bowl-worthy unit after their defense reached those heights in 2025. Meanwhile, Murray will bring an athleticism to the quarterback position that the Vikings have not enjoyed in quite a while.
To get a better and more unique angle of the game, we asked Broncos Wire's lead writer Jon Heath some questions about the new-look team playing in Denver.
1) Who is a notable name fighting for a roster spot heading into the final preseason game?
On offense, running back Jaleel McLaughlin
totaled 1,142 yards from scrimmage and scored six touchdowns through his first two seasons, but he’s certainly not a lock to make the 2026 squad. On defense, outside linebacker Drew Sanders is a former third-round pick who has battled injuries throughout his career. Sanders has talent, but the Broncos are stacked at his position.
2) Which rookie has impressed fans the most so far?
Definitely running back Jonah Coleman. The fourth-round draft pick out of Washington has been the talk of training camp, drawing praise from coaches and teammates. He figures to begin the season as RB3 behind J.K. Dobbins and RJ Harvey, but it’s easy to imagine Coleman carving out a larger role over time.
3) Is there a UDFA who has been shining in camp for the Broncos?
Not to the extent that Denver has had in years past. Receivers Cam Ross and Kolbe Katsis are both competing at returner, but they are probably practice squad candidates. Offensive tackle Tyler Miller looks promising, but the offensive line is probably too deep for him to make the active roster. Cornerback Brent Austin has impressed at camp, but the Broncos are also stacked at CB. Linebacker Taurean York was the team’s big UDFA signing this spring, but he’s not even a lock for the 53.
4) What is a position battle no one is talking about with the Broncos?
Good question, because there’s not really a huge position battle for Denver this summer. The biggest one was the defensive end spot that opened up after John Franklin-Myers left in free agency, but it looks like Malcolm Roach has just about secured that spot. Perhaps the most notable remaining position battle is for the fourth safety spot. Devon Key, JL Skinner, Tycen Anderson, Miles Scott and Parker Robertson are competing for that role.
5) What would need to happen for the Broncos to walk away happy with their performance?
The biggest thing is staying healthy. Even though it’s preseason, Denver does want to win, but evaluating players fighting for roles and roster spots is obviously a main focus of preseason. If the Broncos can see players making clear claims on the final roster spots while staying healthy, Friday will be a success for the Broncos.
This article originally appeared on Vikings Wire: Behind Enemy Lines: Get to know the Broncos before the Vikings matchup
