3 Broncos players whose stock is skyrocketing entering preseason Week 2

Before the Denver Broncos take on the Kansas City Chiefs in the first Monday Night Football game of the 2026 season, there are mission-critical roster decisions to be made, and plenty of on-field battles to take place.

The next chapter will be written on Friday night as the Broncos take on the Green Bay Packers for preseason Week 2 showdown between two teams with some of the best ability to identify and develop talent in the entire NFL. And entering that matchup, there are a handful of Broncos whose stock is absolutely skyrocketing.

We're going to take a closer look at a few players -- some obvious names, and perhaps a sleeper that needs more attention -- on the rise entering the second week of the preseason.

3 Broncos players whose stock is on the rise entering preseason Week 2 vs. Packers

1. Jonah Elliss, OLB

To say that Jonah Elliss's stock is on the rise right now might be the understatement of the week. Elliss is proving himself to be a true weapon for the Broncos off the edge, and entering his third season, appears poised for a major breakout.

Elliss had a number of really impressive pass-rush reps against the Falcons in the first week of the preseason, but none more so than when he got his hand up into the throwing lane, affected the follow-through of Falcons backup QB Cooper Rush, and caused an interception by cornerback Riley Moss.

At a surface-level glance, this rep isn't even all that "impressive" from Elliss. It looks like he just barely gets hands on the tackle and shoves him to the side like you would your little brother going for the last Pop Tart in the pantry. But this is indicative of what Elliss brings to the table when he's fully healthy.

He has become known for his outstanding effort and intensity on the field, but what he really does well as an edge rusher is convert speed to power, using his length and strength to his advantage. When you are an edge rusher with elite speed, you have to do more than bend the edge.

If Elliss can be the first to get hands on -- as he did in this rep -- he's capable of using that speed-to-power combination and keeping tackles off-balance all game. And the result can be an interception, which we saw here, or it could end up being a strip-sack in the future. Either way, it helps the Broncos create more takeaways, which is a huge emphasis for them in 2026.

2. Jonah Coleman, RB

At this point, Jonah Coleman's rapidly ascending stock is well-documented.

And it's not just the fan base hyping up Coleman -- it's the coaching staff.

Sean Payton noted after the game that Coleman was pulled rather quickly for a rookie in his first preseason action because they had seen enough from him to confirm what they needed to see, and Davis Webb recently echoed those sentiments.

So what is it that makes Coleman such a special player? There are a handful of qualities that make an NFL running back valuable, and Coleman has them in spades:

• Contact balance
• Ball security
• Pass protection skills
• Strong hands
• Ability to create yards after contact
• Patience & vision

Yes, he was a 4th-round draft pick, but that shouldn't cause anyone in Broncos Country to clip the wings of excitement. His draft status doesn't matter compared to his fit in the offense, and what he does with his opportunities. And he's earned a lot more of those.

3. Cameron Ross, WR/KR/PR

If Broncos Country has been sleeping on anyone this offseason, it might be rookie UDFA wide receiver Cameron Ross.

Ross didn't get the biggest signing bonus to come to the Broncos after the draft, and he's joined an absolutely loaded room, but his skills in the return game could give him an edge over others. And if you were paying close attention in the preseason game against Atlanta, you might have noticed that it was Ross who was the first man up as a kickoff returner in place of the recovering Marvin Mims Jr.

The Broncos also got him involved in the punt return game (3 returns total), as a receiver (3 targets), and on a jet sweep, where he made his biggest play of the game: A 28-yard run which helped him lead the team in rushing overall on just one carry.

His name has also quietly started to pop up with the top units in practice reps as well.

The Broncos keeping a 6th receiver on the 53-man roster would be a surprise. The Broncos keeping an undrafted rookie as the 6th receiver would be the stunner to end all stunners. But perhaps Cam Ross is on his way...

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