The grass is cut, helmets are on and training camp is underway for the Denver Broncos, who are looking to battle in what many consider the toughest division this season.
Training camps give players the opportunity to sharpen their skillsets, while preseason games give those players a chance to showcase their talents.
This training camp is much different for the Denver Broncos with many spectators and analysts believing this could be the year that Broncos Country could make an appearance come playoff time.
A new system is in place with a young offensive-minded coordinator in Nathaniel Hackett serving as the head coach.
A system change that fans pleaded for after years of conservative defensive-minded head coaches that move the ball as if the team was playing in a sandstorm.
Along with the new guidance at head coach, the defense will take a new look under defensive coordinator Ejiro Evero.
The preseason games give Hackett and Evero an important look at the puzzle they are looking to piece together with a few question marks on the roster.
As it stands, Denver is set for a big year, but to get there, seeing what works and what doesn’t is the top priority. Nothing screams what fits better than seeing it live in action during preseason games.
Here’s everything you need to know about the Denver Broncos schedule.
Denver Broncos 2022 preseason schedule
Week 1: vs. Dallas Cowboys, 7:00 PM MT (NFL Network, FOX) – Saturday, August 13
Week 2: @ Buffalo Bills, 11:00 AM MT (NFL Network, FOX) – Saturday, August 20
Week 3: vs. Minnesota Vikings, 7:00 PM MT (local networks) – Saturday, August 27
Who becomes Denver Broncos Tight End 1?
When the Denver Broncos traded for quarterback Russell Wilson, they also lost some key players, like tight end Noah Fant. The 24-year-old was used to help push the trade to get Denver the quarterback of their dreams but also created a sizable hole in the tight end department.
Fant was on the brink of stardom and was the perfect modern-day catch first, block later tight end for the Broncos.
The preseason schedule offers games against the Dallas Cowboys, Minnesota Vikings, and Buffalo Bills, who all have solid pass coverage that could come to be a good test to see which tight end emerges.
Right now three-year vet Albert Okwuegbunam is set to be the guy to hopefully move the chains on first down, but no job is safe, especially one freshly open for competition.
Eric Tomlinson, who’s bounced around the NFL since going undrafted back in 2015, is in the mix as well as this year’s third-round pick Greg Dulcich.
The preseason games can show that Okwuegbunam is ready to line up as the starting tight end or give Hackett and company enough confidence in their rookie Dulcich.
Tomlinson should be in the mix for a few weeks, but the competition should come down to Okwuegbunam and Dulcich as the front runners for who number three throws to this season.
Teams who want it just as bad…
The Denver Broncos have the opportunity to play against three teams who many believe will at the very least compete for their division.
The Cowboys, Vikings, and Bills are teams known who do not just lay down, no matter if it’s the preseason or playoffs, which is beneficial to a team looking to piece it together.
Both the Cowboys and Bills made the playoffs last season while the Vikings struggled, however, all three teams are looking for a way to make it over the championship mountain, giving the Broncos a fruitful preseason hike.
Opening their preseason against the Dallas Cowboys is already a benefit after having all training camp to adjust to the high altitude that has become nightmares for opposing teams.
The Cowboys will likely look to throw heavy, giving Denver a great look at what the new-look secondary can do, especially after the injury-riddled season a year prior.
The Vikings, who also play in Mile High, will likely unload their defense looking for stops, which gives Russell Wilson and company a chance to maneuver against different looks and establish chemistry early on.
Lastly, the Bills who have a solid depth chart will give Broncos players who are on the chopping block a chance to prove they belong, allowing coaches to see how the new talent does on the road with the final cut awaiting.
The better the competition in preseason games, the better suited the Broncos will be come regular season…It’s just that simple…
Adjusting on the fly
There’s an old myth that teams that play in the Pacific and Mountain time zones struggle for their eastern time zone games. Luckily for Denver, two games of the preseason are at an ideal 9:00 p.m. ET start, however, their meeting with the Buffalo Bills starts at 1:00 p.m. ET.
This is a great introduction for the Broncos players and staff who are experiencing their first early game of the season without any record being held over their heads based on performance.
This is something the Broncos will need to adjust well with as they set to be the second most traveled team in the NFL with 27,398 miles to be recorded across multiple time zones.
Getting an early look at what a heavy travel load will look like right before the kickoff of the season will be huge in the Broncos finding what works and what doesn’t.
Be sure to check back with Predominantly Orange as we continue our coverage on all things Denver Broncos.