Kapri Bibbs Fifth RB on Denver Broncos Depth Chart for Preseason Opener

Aug 2, 2014; Denver, CO, USA; Denver Broncos running back Kapri Bibbs (35) runs with the football prior to the start of a scrimmage at Sports Authority Field. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports

The Denver Broncos have released its first depth chart ahead of this Thursday’s preseason opener against the Seattle Seahawks and Colorado State Rams rookie, Kapri Bibbs is not in the top four at the running back spot.

Instead, the Broncos will take the field with Montee Ball, Ronnie Hillman and C.J. Anderson.  While that surprises nobody, what is noteworthy is that Bibbs did not head the list of the rest trying to challenge the top three for reps. Instead, undrafted rookie free agent, Juwan Thompson heads the list of “the others”. Bibbs, who impressed in OTAs has not stood out in camp. Couple that with Thompson’s good start to the preseason and that’ the way the proverbial cookie crumbled.

However, to quote REM, it’s not “The End of the World as We Know It” for Kapri. At CSU, he had a history looking flat during the week and then excelling on Saturdays (to the tune of a school record 1741 yards and 30 touchdowns in 2013). He is displaying a proficiency at one very important element to the position: protecting the football. And we have seen how NOT protecting the football has hurt running backs on this roster in recent years. Thus ball security can only help his cause.

Bibbs can also take solace in a Broncos icon (and should-be HOFer) who almost didn’t make the team in 1995. Terrell Davis was not making anybody really notice him after being selected in the 6th round of the 1995 draft. Then, in a preseason game against the San Francisco 49ers in Japan, made a special teams play that put everybody on notice.

So hopefully for Bibbs and CSU fans, he will get some touches on Thursday night and begin to show those flashes we saw in 2013 when the games really counted.