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Here are our main takeaways from the Broncos’ second preseason game.
In their second game of the preseason, the Denver Broncos fell 21-20 at the hands of the San Francisco 49ers. Today, Broncos Wire reviews five takeaways from the loss.
The Broncos showed more signs of life against the 49ers. Here’s where things stand.
For the second time in as many weeks, the Denver Broncos found themselves snatching defeat from the jaws of victory, losing their second preseason game of 2023 by a score of 21-20 against the San Francisco 49ers on Saturday. We take a look at five risers and fallers from the game.
Another preseason touchdown for the Broncos’ rookie running back!
Denver Broncos rookie running back Jaleel McLaughlin scored a second touchdown against the San Francisco 49ers on Saturday evening when he caught a nine-yard pass from quarterback Ben DiNucci for a score.
Here’s video of the play, courtesy of the team’s official Twitter page:
Shifty 'Leel! 🙌@Speedkills2k_ | 📺: 9NEWS pic.twitter.com/Ax7IGLskn4
— Denver Broncos (@Broncos) August 20, 2023
The score was set up by Tony Jones’ 43-yard run that gave Denver the ball at San Francisco’s nine-yard line.
McLaughlin scored earlier in the game on an eight-yard run. At the time of publication, the Broncos are leading the 49ers 20-12.
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Broncos rookie RB Jaleel McLaughlin scored on a eight-yard touchdown run against the 49ers on Saturday night.
Denver Broncos rookie running back Jaleel McLaughlin rushed for an eight-yard touchdown in the third quarter of Saturday’s preseason game against the San Francisco 49ers.
Here’s video of the play, courtesy of the team’s official Twitter page.
🔙 to 🔙 weeks with a TD for @Speedkills2k_ 👏
📺: 9NEWS pic.twitter.com/u6Cfmn3AJn
— Denver Broncos (@Broncos) August 20, 2023
The Broncos were set up with great field position after cornerback Fabian Moreau recovered a muffed punt at the eight-yard line.
We'll take that!
📺 #DENvsSF on 9NEWS pic.twitter.com/odymCRoIq1
— Denver Broncos (@Broncos) August 20, 2023
McLaughlin also scored in the team’s preseason opener last week.
At the time of publication, Denver is leading San Francisco 13-9. McLaughlin has rushed five times for 40 yards so far tonight.
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“He was sharp,” Broncos coach Sean Payton said of QB Russell Wilson’s preseason debut.
Broncos Wire will have weekly updates now through the end of training camp on the latest storylines from practice and preseason. This is the fourth edition.
Russ watch: Coming off the worst season of his career, Broncos QB Russell Wilson is now entering Year 2 in Denver and Year 1 under new coach Sean Payton. His first game under Payton was mostly positive with the veteran QB going 7-of-13 passing for 93 yards and one touchdown against the Cardinals in Week 1 of preseason. “He was sharp,” Payton said of Wilson after the game. “He’s had a good week at practice.” Wilson’s numbers could have been better if not for a drop from WR Jerry Jeudy and spotty protection from Denver’s offensive line (Wilson was sacked once and hit multiple times). The performance of that offensive line will play a big role in Wilson’s ability to have a bounce-back season, but the QB himself is off to a good start.
Rookie watch: RB Jaleel McLaughlin set the NCAA’s all-time record with more than 8,000 rushing yards in five seasons. The small (5-7, 187 pounds), speedy running back could be a candidate to fill a role that Darren Sproles once held under Payton with the Saints. McLaughlin rushed four times for 20 yards and a touchdown and caught one pass for 12 yards in his NFL debut last week. He’s competing for Denver’s RB3 job behind Javonte Williams and Samaje Perine this summer.
This post originally appeared in Sports Weekly.
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“Jaleel [McLaughlin]’s got such great burst, such great confidence,” Broncos QB Russell Wilson said of the team’s rookie running back.
Denver Broncos rookie running back Jaleel McLaughlin only played 10 snaps in the team’s preseason opener last week, but he made them count.
McLaughlin (playing with his name spelled wrong on his jersey) rushed four times for 20 yards and a touchdown and caught one pass for 12 yards. The only lowlight to the running back’s (preseason) NFL debut was a fumble, but it happened near the sideline and fortunately went out of bounds.
“Overall, pretty good,” coach Sean Payton said of McLaughlin’s performance after the game. “Pretty good. He had the ball come out once on one run, but we will see it on tape. We will have a chance to correct it.”
Payton praised McLaughlin during training camp for being one of the first players to arrive at the facility each morning. The NCAA’s all-time leading rusher quickly made a good impression on coaches and teammates.
“Jaleel’s got such great burst, such great confidence,” quarterback Russell Wilson said. “He’s there early, leaves late. He’s dedicated to the game.”
Javonte Williams will serve as Denver’s starting running back this season with Samaje Perine rotating in. McLaughlin is competing with Tyler Badie and Tony Jones for the team’s third-string RB role.
The Broncos lost their preseason opener to the Arizona Cardinals 18-17 last week and while McLaughlin was happy to score, he had a good mentality after the defeat.
“It was a blessing,” the RB said of scoring in his NFL debut. “It sucks that we didn’t get the win. That is definitely something I have been working hard like that for a long time since I was a kid. Now it is kind of a surreal moment. It sucks that we didn’t get the win. It would have felt even better but, it was definitely a blessing to score a touchdown.”
McLaughlin will get another opportunity to impress when Denver travels to face the San Francisco 49ers in Week 2 of preseason.
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Welcome to the NFL, Jaleel McLaughlin! 😅
Welcome to the NFL, rookie.
You’ll have to earn your spot on the 53-man roster. Apparently, you’ll also have to earn having the correct name on the back of your jersey.
Denver Broncos rookie running back Jaleel McLaughlin made his (preseason) NFL debut on Friday night, but he had to wear “McGlaughlin” on the back of his jersey after his name was printed with a typo.
The mix-up did not prevent McLaughlin from impressing in his first game as a pro. The speedy running back carried the ball four times for 20 yards and a touchdown and caught one pass for 12 yards against the Arizona Cardinals on Friday.
All while wearing a “McGlaughlin” jersey.
Looks like a little nameplate fail on Jaleel McLaughlin’s surname: pic.twitter.com/gBx9gAvMxn
— Andrew Mason (@MaseDenver) August 12, 2023
McLaughlin’s overall performance was solid, but he did fumble once. Fortunately, the fumble occurred near the sidelined and went out of bounds. He’ll need to protect the ball over the next two weeks if he’s going to make the team and have “McLaughlin” on the back of his jersey in Week 1.
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“He’s shifty, and he has good change of direction,” Broncos coach Sean Payton said of rookie running back Jaleel McLaughlin.
So far, so good for Denver Broncos rookie running back Jaleel McLaughlin.
The NCAA’s all-time leading rusher, McLaughlin signed with Denver as an undrafted free agent this spring and he made a good first impression on head coach Sean Payton.
“He has a little burst, and there’s some toughness to him,” Payton said on July 31. “He’s the first one here. I don’t know what time he gets here in the morning, but it’s pretty early. He’s a guy you root for. He’s shifty, and he has good change of direction.”
Payton was asked just how early McLaughlin has been arriving at the facility and the coach said it’s been before the field staff around at 5 a.m. Payton then implied that McLaughlin’s undrafted status won’t hurt his chances of making the team.
“We say this to all of them: once they get in the room, how they got here — drafted, undrafted, free agent, free agency — it doesn’t matter. We kind of held true to that in our years in New Orleans. We had a ton of free agents play for us that deserved to play, so we try to evaluate everyone.”
McLaughlin’s performance in preseason will ultimately prove to be more important than how early he arrives at the facility each morning. If the running back plays well in the team’s preseason games this month, McLaughlin will have a real chance to win the RB3 job behind Javonte Williams and Samaje Perine.
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Jaleel McLaughlin rushed for 8,155 yards in college, setting an NCAA record.
Broncos Wire’s 90-man offseason roster series continues today with a look at rookie running back Jaleel McLaughlin, No. 38. (During the offseason, players can share a jersey number if they play on different sides of the ball. McLaughlin will wear No. 38 on offense this summer.)
Before the Broncos: McLaughlin (5-7, 187 pounds) started his college career at Ohio’s Notre Dame College (DII) and he dominated at that level, rushing for more than 2,400 in each of his two seasons. McLaughlin then transferred to Youngstown State (FCS) and rushed for 3,418 yards in three years, finishing his college career with 8,155 rushing yards, an NCAA record. That impressive production combined with his 4.42 speed caught the attention of NFL teams this offseason.
Broncos tenure: Denver signed McLaughlin as an undrafted free agent in May. He will make his Bronco debut during preseason this summer.
Chance to make the 53-man roster: Denver will likely have an open competition for the RB3 job this summer behind Javonte Williams and Samaje Perine, but McLaughlin won’t be a favorite to make the team. McLaughlin’s size might hold him back at the NFL level, but he if impresses during preseason, the RB could stick around with the Broncos.
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The Broncos cut three running backs in less than a week. Where does that leave the team’s RB depth chart? Here’s our projection.
Less than a week after they cut running backs Jacques Patrick and Tyreik McAllister, the Denver Broncos also parted ways with Damarea Crockett.
Following those three roster cuts, the Broncos are now left with just five running backs on the 90-man offseason roster: Javonte Williams, Samaje Perine, Tony Jones, Tyler Badie and Jaleel McLaughlin.
So, why was Denver OK with cutting three RBs in less than a week? One potential possibility is that the Broncos continue to feel good about Williams’ recovery from a knee injury he suffered last October.
Denver coach Sean Payton has said that he expects Williams to be ready not only for Week 1 but even for training camp. That seems hard to believe, but actions speak louder than words and Williams has been practicing (on a limited basis) at OTAs and the Broncos have been trimming down their RB room before training camp even begins.
The team’s roster moves seem like a good sign that Williams truly is trending in the right direction.
