The Denver Broncos will officially open their 2023 training camp on Friday and the team will have many questions to answer and storylines for fans to follow with a brand new coaching staff and hopefully, the dawn of a new era, ready to start.
Training camp may not be what it once was in the NFL. There's only a handful of practices (no more two-a-days), but teams still must make the most of the time that they have. For the Broncos, like most teams, most of the things to keep an eye on in training camp will center around position battles and which players will help round out the final 53-man roster.
Fans will also want to see that the team is firing on all cylinders and ready to go in practices and in preseason games. Yes, that part is important, Nathaniel Hackett.
With camp on the cusp of kicking off, here are some of the top storylines to follow with the Broncos.
Top Denver Broncos storylines ahead of training camp: The health of Javonte Williams
It was recently announced that the Broncos' top running back, Javonte Williams, will not start training camp on the PUP list, which many may see as a surprise.
The hope all offseason has been that Williams is back to full speed by the time the season kicks off after suffering a major knee injury that shut him down in 2022, but he appears to be well ahead of schedule.
The Broncos should still proceed with caution, especially since the depth behind him is a bit questionable, but it is an encouraging sign that he appears to be a full participant as camp is rolling around.
The Broncos have not done much to address the running back position this offseason outside of signing Samaje Perine, so Williams is going to need to be one of the biggest offensive factors that the team has.
Top Denver Broncos storylines ahead of training camp: Does the defensive line have enough depth?
This was a legitimate question to ask before, but with the recent suspension of Eyioma Uwazurike, it becomes an even bigger one.
Uwazurike will miss at least this entire season due to violating the league's policy against gambling and that creates a hole within a position group that was already thin.
The Broncos have D.J. Jones and Zach Allen as starters and after that, it's anyone's guess. I continue to make the argument that Shelby Harris should be brought back, like as soon as possible, because there isn't great depth on this roster.
The other defensive linemen on the team include Mike Purcell, Tyler Lancaster, Jonathan Harris, PJ Mustipher, Elijah Garcia, Jordan Jackson and Haggai Ndubuisi. Someone from that group is going to need to make a statement at some point this summer and take charge of that third spot on the line.
Top Denver Broncos storylines ahead of training camp: The kicking battle
The Denver Broncos have made several changes at kicker this offseason, cutting ties with Brandon McManus, the second-highest points scorer in team history, and bringing in a couple of journeymen kickers in Elliott Fry and Brett Maher.
Fry has played for so many teams (11) but has just six field-goal attempts in his career. That's because despite his many chances, he's pretty much just been used as a camp leg or someone to push the veteran on the roster.
For that reason, the Broncos also brought in Maher, a kicker who has more 60-yard field goals than anyone in history but one who also made a comedy out of the extra point in the playoffs against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers last season.
Experience and a big leg is on the side of Maher. Can Fry finally prove he is the guy? Will either of these guys even be the kicker in Week 1? The team could certainly scour the waiver wire following roster cutdowns and find a better option.
Top Denver Broncos storylines ahead of training camp: The return duties
Perhaps no player on the Broncos' roster was hurt more by the team's offseason moves than last year's fifth-round pick, Montrell Washington.
After a promising summer last year, Washington assumed the role of the team's kick and punt returner but he also seemed to offer a ton of upside in the passing game as well.
But the Broncos signed Tremon Smith, a cornerback with a history of being a solid return man before using their second-round pick on Marvin Mims, Jr. who won't just take a spot at wide receiver, but could also be used as a returner.
Washington is going to have to fight and scratch to keep that role going into 2023. Last season, he averaged 8.4 yards per punt return on 32 returns and 18.8 yards on 18 kickoff returns.
For his career, Smith has an average of 24.7 yards per kickoff return with one return for a touchdown.
Washington will have his work cut out for him because of the position he plays as well, as the team has such good depth at the wide receiver position. He is going to have to be much better than Smith as a returner and even then, he is going to have a hard time making this team.
Top Denver Broncos storylines ahead of training camp: The wide receiver group
To add on to what was discussed within the team's kick returners, the Broncos have some terrific options at wide receiver this year.
In addition to the top three of Jerry Jeudy, Courtland Sutton and a returning Tim Patrick, the Broncos also have Mims and Marquez Callaway, who had some promising time as a member of the New Orleans Saints.
Brandon Johnson and Jalen Virgil, two undrafted players last year, should both make a good push to make the roster and K.J. Hamler, a former second-round pick, cannot be counted out as long as he can stay healthy.
The team also has veterans Kendall Hinton and Lil'Jordan Humphrey, giving this unit a well-rounded, experienced group that will make things difficult for the coaching staff to narrow down.
As you keep tabs on training camp practices and preseason games, this will be the most interesting group to watch as roster cuts are going to be difficult at wide receiver.