Denver Broncos: Who is not playing against the Vikings?

The Denver Broncos are set to take on the Minnesota Vikings as they open their 2018 preseason slate. Which players will not be participating?

The Denver Broncos are set to take on the Minnesota Vikings in their first preseason game of the 2018 season.

In 2017, the Broncos did not lose a preseason contest. How will they fare this year?

The Broncos are one of the deepest teams in the NFL, but so are the Vikings, and a couple of familiar faces are coming to town to try and get back at the Broncos for letting them go.

Namely, quarterbacks Trevor Siemian and Kyle Sloter will make their preseason debuts in purple and gold and the reception Siemian receives, in particular, will be interesting.

Which players won’t be playing for the Broncos in this one?

Let’s take a look at the final injury report…

Su’a Cravens, S — OUT

The Broncos will be without one of their prized defensive acquisitions in this game. Cravens has been out nursing a knee injury and the hope is that he will return to the field for practice next week.

The Broncos are going to be pretty stingy about injuries, especially early in camp. They will not push guys past what their bodies can handle, especially if they are in no danger of being cut, and Cravens is a lock to make the final roster.

Jeff Heuerman, TE — OUT

On the Broncos’ initial depth chart, Heuerman was listed as the team’s starting tight end. There’s a growing belief that they didn’t just put him there, either.

The Broncos seem to value Heuerman, and when you look at what Pro Football Focus had to say about his blocking last season, there’s perhaps some justification for it.

Heuerman is also really the only tight end on the roster with any significant NFL experience so it’s possible seniority is playing into that decision as well.

One way or another, we will not see Heuerman in the lineup against the Vikings, and instead will see more of Jake Butt. Not a terrible trade-off, and perhaps an open door for Butt to be the number one tight end on the next depth chart.

Menelik Watson, OG — OUT

Menelik Watson is out for this game with a pectoral injury.

The fact that you haven’t heard much about Watson this offseason is actually a pretty good sign for his on-field success.

Unfortunately, Watson has been far too injury-prone in his NFL career to anyone’s liking, and the Broncos are stuck paying him a pretty significant chunk of their cap.

Watson’s contract is going to go down as one of the worst John Elway and the Broncos front office have agreed to since 2011.

Right now, he’s penciled in as the Broncos’ top backup at right guard behind Connor McGovern.

Clinton McDonald, DL — Game-time decision

The Broncos are playing it safe with Clinton McDonald’s shoulder injury, especially after he missed all of OTAs.

McDonald was flashing, making some nice plays at training camp early on but apparently, the shoulder injury has flared up.

It was actually a bit surprising to read that he was even a game-time decision for this one. If the Broncos are at all concerned about him, they should just hold him out.

We know what McDonald can do.

Tramaine Brock, CB — Game-time decision

The Broncos signed Brock in free agency to be their number three cornerback, presumably, but he’s unfortunately been unable to show what he can do with the pads on in training camp.

With that being the case, preseason play will likely be critical for him winning a job over rookie Isaac Yiadom, who appears to be seizing the day and winning that third cornerback spot outright.

Brock is going to have to fight through this injury, not necessarily to make the team but to have a significant role.

Joe Jones, LB — Game-time decision

Jones is a speedy linebacker and special teams player who the Broncos picked off of the Seahawks’ practice squad last year.

The Broncos have a competitive situation at linebacker so Jones is likely going to try and geek himself up to play.