Broncos news: Right tackle competition heating up at training camp.
After the team sat out of practice on Thursday in protest for social justice, some big Denver Broncos news came out of practice on Friday, specifically pertaining to the right tackle position.
Sound the alarms, because Demar Dotson — signed as a free agent after Ja’Wuan James opted out of the 2020 season — has finally started getting some reps with the starters.
🚨Demar Dotson getting reps with the ones🚨
— RK (@RyanKoenigsberg) August 28, 2020
Dotson did not exclusively work with the starters during Friday’s training camp practice — he was still rotating with Elijah Wilkinson — but he did get his first reps after spending the majority of his time getting his feet wet with the third-team and a little bit with the second-team.
This could be an indicator, as head coach Vic Fangio stated, that the team plans on Dotson being ready at a moment’s notice to take over for Wilkinson, or it could be an indicator that the team is prepping for Dotson to be the week one starter.
The Broncos paid $400,000 guaranteed for Dotson and put some bonuses in his contract if he is on the gameday roster, but his pedigree is such that it would be a slight surprise if he wasn’t the opening day starter.
Fangio talked after practice about it being ideal for Wilkinson to play to the level the team believes he’s capable of and that he would be the starter to open the season, but that’s certainly not guaranteed.
Fangio on potential of Demar Dotson starting at right tackle: "As long as Elijah [Wilkinson]'s playing the way we think he's capable of playing, he'll be the right tackle."
— Aric DiLalla (@AricDiLalla) August 28, 2020
Fangio makes it sound like the job is definitely Wilkinson’s to lose at this point, which would mean Dotson is really a good value for a potential backup heading into the season.
Even though a $400,000 guarantee is an expensive training camp rental, if Dotson doesn’t win the starting job there may not be a guarantee he’s on the roster depending on how much the Broncos like a young player like Calvin Anderson.
Because of Dotson’s cheap contract, there’s no reason to really cut him loose come time for the regular season. You’re always just one injury away from needing him back again anyway.