Denver Broncos: Players with the most at stake vs. Seattle

CANTON, OH - AUGUST 01: Kurt Benkert #6 of the Atlanta Falcons gets pressured while trying to pass in the second half of a preseason game against the Denver Broncos at Tom Benson Hall Of Fame Stadium on August 1, 2019 in Canton, Ohio. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images)
CANTON, OH - AUGUST 01: Kurt Benkert #6 of the Atlanta Falcons gets pressured while trying to pass in the second half of a preseason game against the Denver Broncos at Tom Benson Hall Of Fame Stadium on August 1, 2019 in Canton, Ohio. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images)
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MINNEAPOLIS, MN – SEPTEMBER 24: Mitch Leidner #7 of the Minnesota Golden Gophers throws the ball for a gain in the first quarter while Josh Watson #55 of the Colorado State Rams applies pressure in at TCF Bank Stadium on September 24, 2016 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by Adam Bettcher/Getty Images)
MINNEAPOLIS, MN – SEPTEMBER 24: Mitch Leidner #7 of the Minnesota Golden Gophers throws the ball for a gain in the first quarter while Josh Watson #55 of the Colorado State Rams applies pressure in at TCF Bank Stadium on September 24, 2016 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by Adam Bettcher/Getty Images)

In case you haven’t already been keeping score at home, the Denver Broncos have lost the following inside linebackers due to injury, some longer than others:

  • Todd Davis
  • Josey Jewell
  • Joe Jones

Another thing to keep in mind — those are the Broncos top three linebackers returning from last year’s team.

They have been working in players left and right at the inside linebacker position, and Vic Fangio said the young guys are doing a good job getting better and better the more they play.

One player I’m really intrigued by is former Colorado State star Josh Watson, who had five tackles and a hit on the quarterback against the Falcons.

Watson, wearing Brandon Marshall’s old no. 54, is a phenomenal athlete who can range around the field and attack the line of scrimmage. Of the young players on the defensive side, he may be getting the most reps with the number one defense so far in training camp.

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