Denver Broncos: Minnesota Vikings preseason game thread

The Denver Broncos and Minnesota Vikings commence their preseason Saturday. This is the Broncos’ first chance to see Case Keenum in action…

The Denver Broncos’ preseason schedule commences Saturday and the foe, the Minnesota Vikings, is a familiar one for new Broncos signal-caller Case Keenum.

Last season, Keenum had the best season of his career, posting 22 touchdowns against seven interceptions while completing 67.6 percent of his passes.

Every year of his career, Keenum’s completion percentage has increased but from 2016-2017, he had the largest increase in his six seasons. He rose it by 13.4 percent from 54.2 percent-67.6 percent.

Anyway, this is a fascinating preseason opener in other ways because the Broncos have lots of players who have excelled at training camp thus far.

I cannot go anywhere on Broncos Twitter without someone gushing about Courtland Sutton, for instance.

The Broncos’ stud rookie receiver was selected 40th overall out of Southern Methodist last April.

All he has done since training camp commenced is impress everyone.

Here’s NFL Draft writer Chris Trapasso opining on Sutton’s magnificence:

Beyond this, fellow rookie receiver DaeSean Hamilton has impressed at camp as has defensive end Bradley Chubb, selected fifth overall.

Broncos star linebacker Von Miller has spoken glowingly of Chubb, saying emphatically “he reminds me of myself,” in previous comments this off-season.

Anyway, it’s safe to say that the Broncos have weapons in 2018 that they didn’t last season and this should serve them well moving forward, based on the eyeball test of those who have been at camp.

Rookie tailback Royce Freeman is expected to split carries with Devontae Booker although De’Angelo Henderson is expected to get some reps as well.

When the Broncos have depth as they appear to this season at key positions, this has to bode well for what should be a successful season.

The defense, for all intents and purposes, should be strong once again.

If star cornerback Chris Harris Jr. was correct when he suggested that this offense, with Keenum and offensive coordinator Bill Musgrave, can put up 30 points per game, this could even be an elite team.

The Broncos have several injuries they are dealing with as Zac Stevens of BSN Broncos confirms.

I have done my best to come up with a Vikings injury report but even on Twitter, the information is scarce, if not entirely non-existent.

Denver 9 News meteorologist Kylie Bearse also has the forecast for the game.

Thus, the conditions are propitious.

The Broncos are hosting their first preseason game for the first time since 2014, a 21-16 win over the Seattle Seahawks. Incidentally, this is the last Broncos game I attended.

In preseason home openers, the Broncos are 30-28 (.517) and 14-14 at home.

The Broncos are also 5-7 (.417) against the Vikings in the preseason and 5-3 (.625) at home in the series.

Several Broncos were once Vikings as well in addition to Keenum. These include game-time decision Tramaine Brock, whom the Broncos obtained from Minnesota in a trade.

Additionally, defensive coordinator Joe Woods was the Vikings’ defensive backs coach from 2006-2013 and Musgrave was Minnesota’s offensive coordinator from 2011-2013.

Furthermore, Broncos’ offensive assistant/quarterbacks coach Klint Kubiak was the Vikings’ assistant receivers coach from 2013-2014.

In any event, this is your game thread. Please use it especially since I have other things going on and cannot visit the thread as much as I’d like to tonight.

Have fun and treat any Vikings fans we may come across kindly: the Broncos’ way. GO BRONCOS!