Tag: Kris Abrams-Draine

Broncos PFF grades: Best, worst players from 34-27 loss to Chargers

Broncos CB Kris Abrams-Draine (75.6) impressed again while LB Justin Strnad (28.7) had a night to forget. View more PFF grades here.

Following the Denver Broncos‘ 34-27 loss to the Los Angeles Chargers on Thursday Night Football, Pro Football Focus has released grades for each player’s Week 16 performance.

PFF grades players on a 0 (worst) to 100 (best) scale. Check out the best and worst of Week 16 below.

Best Offensive Players 

  • TE/FB Nate Adkins: 79.7
  • FB Michael Burton: 75.3
  • RB Audric Estime: 74.1
  • G Quinn Meinerz: 73. 6
  • RB Blake Watson: 70.6

Adkins and Burton did a good job opening up running lanes and Estime impressed, averaging 5.3 yards per carry. RB Javonte Williams (67.3) received the sixth-best grade on offense after averaging 6.0 yards per tote. Denver should have been more committed to the run.

Best Defensive Players 

  • DL Malcolm Roach 84.9
  • CB Kris Abrams-Draine: 75.6
  • DL Eyioma Uwazurike: 75.5
  • DL D.J. Jones: 74.6
  • LB Drew Sanders: 73.4

One defensive snap, one sack for Sanders. Perhaps we’ll see more of him in the final two games of the regular season. Abrams-Draine, meanwhile, continues to look like a fifth-round gem.

Worst Offensive Players 

  • G Ben Powers: 42.3
  • OT Mike McGlinchey: 47.2
  • OL Matt Peart: 50.3
  • TE Adam Trautman: 52.2
  • WR Troy Franklin: 56.1

Franklin continues to struggle to make an impact. QB Bo Nix (62.6) ranked 11th among Denver’s 19 graded players on offense.

Worst Defensive Players 

  • LB Justin Strnad: 28.7
  • LB Cody Barton: 34.6
  • DB P.J. Locke: 43.7
  • DL John Franklin-Myers: 45.4
  • OLB Jonathan Cooper: 47.5

Strnad had a night to forget. In addition to his foul against a sliding Justin Herbert, the linebacker also allowed seven catches for 103 yards on eight coverage targets. The Broncos will need to make upgrading the inside linebacker position a priority in 2025.

Special Teams 

  • ST JL Skinner: 71.9
  • LS Mitchell Fraboni: 64.8
  • R Marvin Mims: 61.2
  • K Wil Lutz: 73.5 (FG) 60.0 (KO)
  • P Riley Dixon: 67.5

You can view grades for every player on the paid version of PFF’s website.

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WATCH: Kris Abrams-Draine grabs interception vs. Chargers

What an important takeaway by Broncos rookie CB Kris Abrams-Draine!

Denver Broncos rookie cornerback Kris Abrams-Draine grabbed a crucial interception in the second quarter of Thursday’s game against the Los Angeles Chargers.

Here’s video of the play, courtesy of the team’s official Twitter/X page:

This was Nix’s reaction to the takeaway:

Following the takeaway, the Broncos preserved their 21-10 lead.

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5 things to watch for when Broncos face Chargers on ‘TNF’

Here are five storylines to watch for when the Broncos face the Chargers on ‘Thursday Night Football’ in Week 16.

The Denver Broncos (9-5) are set to face the Los Angeles Chargers (8-6) on Thursday Night Football in Week 16. Here are five quick storylines to watch for going into Thursday’s game.

1. Broncos running back rotation: Jaleel McLaughlin has been the team’s best running back in recent weeks, but he was ruled out with a quad injury on Wednesday. That will leave Javonte Williams and rookie Audric Estime as the next men up, and Denver will likely elevate Blake Watson from the practice squad. We could see Marvin Mims mix in at running back as well, something he did leading up to the team’s bye week.

2. Denver’s cornerback depth: Riley Moss (knee) has been ruled out again, marking the third game he has missed. Fortunately, Pat Surtain (ankle) was able to practice this week and he was not given an injury designation for Thursday. Kris Abrams-Draine will likely start across from Surtain with Ja’Quan McMillian playing in the slot and Damarri Mathis getting rotational snaps like last week. When these teams met earlier this season, Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert went 21-of-34 for 237 yards and a touchdown in a game that Surtain left with a concussion.

3. Broncos’ defense against Herbert and Co.: J.K. Dobbins rushed for 96 yards and a touchdown against the Broncos earlier this season, but he’s now on injured reserve. Denver pass rusher Nik Bonitto has scored a touchdown in each of the team’s last two games and he’s just one sack away from tying the NFL leader (Trey Hendrickson has 12.5 sacks). The Broncos, Chargers and Philadelphia Eagles have a three-way tie for the fewest points allowed per game (17.6), so Thursday night could be a defensive struggle.

4. Bo Nix bouncing back from three turnovers: Nix struggled against the Indianapolis Colts last week, throwing a career-high three interceptions. He had a bit of an in-game bounce back with three touchdown passes in a 31-13 win over Indy, but now Nix will have a fresh game to put those mistakes behind him. Nix will face an L.A. defense that allows the 10th-fewest passing yards per game (211.6), a unit that has totaled the seventh-most interceptions (14) and the eighth-most sacks (40) in the league this season.

5. Denver’s potential return to the postseason: The Broncos have already secured their first winning season since 2016. With one more win, Denver will clinch its first playoff berth since winning Super Bowl 50 following the 2015 season.

Thursday’s game will be available to stream on Prime. The Broncos are one win away from clinching a spot in the 2024 NFL playoffs.

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Broncos’ depth chart for ‘TNF’ clash with Chargers

Levi Wallace is still listed above Damarri Mathis and Kris Abrams-Draine on the Broncos’ “unofficial” depth chart.

The Denver Broncos are set to face the Los Angeles Chargers in a Thursday Night Football showdown in Week 16.

The Broncos did not make any official changes to their published depth chart this week, but Damarri Mathis and Kris Abrams-Draine have clearly jumped Levi Wallace, who was a healthy scratch on Sunday. Wallace is still listed above them on the depth chart, though.

With that caveat in mind, here’s a look at Denver calls the “unofficial” depth chart going into Thursday’s game.

Broncos offensive depth chart

WR Marvin Mims Troy Franklin
LT Garett Bolles Matt Peart
LG Ben Powers
C Luke Wattenberg Alex Forsyth
RG Quinn Meinerz Alex Palczewski
RT Mike McGlinchey Frank Crum
TE Adam Trautman Lucas Krull
WR Courtland Sutton Lil’Jordan Humphrey Devaughn Vele
RB Javonte Williams Jaleel McLaughlin Audric Estime Blake Watson
FB Michael Burton Nate Adkins
QB Bo Nix Jarrett Stidham Zach Wilson

Broncos defensive depth chart

DE Zach Allen Jordan Jackson
NT D.J. Jones Malcolm Roach
DE John Franklin-Myers Eyioma Uwazurike Matt Henningsen
SLB Jonathon Cooper Jonah Elliss Drew Sanders
WLB Nik Bonitto Dondrea Tillman
ILB Justin Strnad Zach Cunningham
ILB Cody Barton Levelle Bailey
LCB Pat Surtain Levi Wallace Tremon Smith
RCB Riley Moss Damarri Mathis Kris Abrams-Draine
NCB Ja’Quan McMillian
S P.J. Locke JL Skinner
S Brandon Jones Devon Key

Broncos special teams depth chart

PK Wil Lutz
KO Wil Lutz
P Riley Dixon
H Riley Dixon
LS Mitchell Fraboni
KR Marvin Mims Tremon Smith Jaleel McLaughlin
PR Marvin Mims Tremon Smith

Thursday’s game will be available to stream on Prime. The Broncos are one win away from clinching a spot in the 2024 NFL playoffs.

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Broncos CB Kris Abrams-Draine is ‘built for moments like this’

“He’s built for moments like this,” Broncos star cornerback Pat Surtain said of impressive rookie Kris Abrams-Draine.

The Denver Broncos seem to have done it again.

Three years ago, the Broncos used a first-round draft pick to select cornerback Pat Surtain. All-Pro.

Two years ago, Denver signed Ja’Quan McMillian as an undrafted free agent. Impressive slot cornerback.

Last year, the Broncos used a third-round pick to select Riley Moss. Pro Bowl-talent.

This year, Denver used a fifth-round pick to add Kris Abrams-Draine. So far so good.

With Moss (knee) sidelined, Abrams-Draine made his NFL debut in Week 13, then he saw extensive action in Week 15 coming out of the bye. He allowed just one catch for 11 yards in 34 coverage snaps on Sunday, according to NFL Next Gen Stats.

“The last two weeks, he showed some moxie, stayed with his guys, didn’t panic when the ball was in the air,” coach Sean Payton said this week. “There’s something about him and so … I was really encouraged.”

Abrams-Draine rotated with Damarri Mathis, who also played well on Sunday. Mathis has had an up-and-down tenure in Denver and he has one year left on his contract, so it’s no surprise that fans have focused on Abrams-Draine over the last two weeks.

“He’s developing very well,” Surtain said when asked about Abrams-Draine last week. “He’s learning fast. He’s played a good amount of ball — a great amount of ball actually in the SEC. He’s built for moments like this. To see him out there with those few snaps, I think he did pretty good.”

The 23-year-old defensive back appears to have a bright future ahead of him, and the Broncos might just have the best cornerback room in the NFL.

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Broncos PFF grades: Best, worst players from 31-13 win vs. Colts

Broncos OLB Nik Bonitto (92.2) did it again and CB Kris Abrams-Draine (79.4) looks like a gem. View more PFF grades here.

Following the Denver Broncos‘ 31-13 win over the Indianapolis Colts on Sunday, Pro Football Focus has released grades for each player’s Week 15 performance.

PFF grades players on a 0 (worst) to 100 (best) scale. Check out the best and worst of Week 15 below.

Best Offensive Players 

  • TE/FB Nate Adkins: 85.9
  • OT Mike McGlinchey: 81.3
  • G Ben Powers: 78.1
  • G Quinn Meinerz: 77.6
  • OL Matt Peart: 75.3

A brilliant performance from the offensive line. Peart only played five snaps, but the sixth- and seventh-best players on offense were WR Marvin Mims (71.3) and tackle Garett Bolles (70.8).

Best Defensive Players 

  • OLB Nik Bonitto: 92.2
  • DB Brandon Jones: 92.0
  • CB Kris Abrams-Draine: 79.4
  • DB P.J. Locke: 78.7
  • CB Pat Surtain: 76.0

Another Defensive Player of the Year performance from Bonitto. Meanwhile, Abrams-Draine looks like another cornerback gem uncovered by Denver’s staff.

Worst Offensive Players 

  • WR Devaughn Vele: 45.2
  • WR Troy Franklin: 45.8
  • WR Lil’Jordan Humphrey: 49.4
  • WR Courtland Sutton: 49.9
  • RB Javonte Williams: 51.5

The sixth-worst player on offense was running back Jaleel McLaughlin (53.9). Adding weapons for QB Bo Nix should be a top priority in 2025.

Worst Defensive Players 

  • DL Jordan Jackson: 45.0
  • CB Ja’Quan McMillian: 53.7
  • DL Zach Allen: 55.9
  • CB Damarri Mathis: 56.0
  • ILB Cody Barton: 57.0

Watching the game live, it didn’t seem like McMillian played as poorly as his grade indicates. Broncos coach Sean Payton also praised Mathis, so these harsh grades on defense should perhaps be taken with a grain of salt.

Special Teams 

  • ST Jonah Elliss: 70.4
  • LS Mitchell Fraboni: 73.0
  • R Marvin Mims: 86.2
  • K Wil Lutz: 70.3 (FG) 60.0 (KO)
  • P Riley Dixon: 62.9

You can view grades for every player on the paid version of PFF’s website.

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8 players did not play in Broncos’ win against Colts

Eight Broncos did not play against the Colts on Sunday, with Riley Moss being the most notable absence.

Eight members of the 53-man roster did not play in the Denver Broncos‘ 31-13 win over the Indianapolis Colts in Week 15.

Broncos quarterback Zach Wilson*, cornerback Riley Moss (knee), cornerback Levi Wallace, linebacker Levelle Bailey, guard/center Nick Gargiulo, offensive tackle Frank Crum and defensive lineman Eyioma Uwazurike were inactive on Sunday.

*Wilson was inactive but still dressed as an emergency third quarterback. Jarrett Stidham, Denver’s primary backup quarterback, Jarrett Stidham, also did not play as Bo Nix took every snap on offense, giving the Broncos eight total players who did not see the field. Stidham has only appeared in two games this season.

Broncos who did not play in Week 15

  1. QB Zach Wilson (*emergency third QB)
  2. CB Riley Moss (knee)
  3. CB Levi Wallace 
  4. LB Levelle Bailey 
  5. OL Nick Gargiulo
  6. OT Frank Crum
  7. DL Eyioma Uwazurike
  8. QB Jarrett Stidham (active)

Up next for Denver is a road game against the Los Angeles Chargers on Thursday Night Football in Week 16.

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Levi Wallace comments ‘worst game’ of his life against Browns

“This was the worst game I ever played in my life,” Broncos cornerback Levi Wallace said of his performance against the Browns.

With Riley Moss (knee) sidelined, the Denver Broncos turned to veteran cornerback Levi Wallace against the Cleveland Browns in Week 13.

Wallace struggled in a Monday Night Football spotlight as he was repeatedly targeted by Browns quarterback Jameis Winston. Wallace allowed seven receptions on 11 targets for 164 yards and a touchdown, according to advanced stats from Pro Football Reference.

Wallace was eventually benched in the fourth quarter in favor of rookie Kris Abrams-Draine and Denver held on to win 41-32. Following a bye week, Wallace commented on his poor showing against the Browns for the first time after Wednesday’s practice.

“Every time. Plays got made on me and I didn’t make plays. Simple as that,” Wallace said, via KUSA-TV’s Mike Klis. “Can’t blame anyone else. … This is the NFL. You go through good, go through bad. This was the worst game I ever played in my life. I flush it.”

The Broncos are now set to host the Indianapolis Colts on Sunday and Moss remains sidelined. It would not be surprising to see a different cornerback (perhaps Abrams-Draine) start over Wallace against Indy.

“Wherever the coach needs me,’’ Wallace told The Gazette‘s Chris Tomasson. “We all know the importance of this game. I know especially myself I didn’t put the best stuff on tape last week. But when you play this long you have some good games and you have some bad games. I take accountability for what I did last week and you move forward. It’s football. You have to find a way in playing in knowing that it’s a week-to-week league.”

Wallace, 29, has played in all 13 games this season, totaling 28 tackles and two pass breakups. We’ll see if he suits up on Sunday.

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Broncos coach Sean Payton pleased with CB Kris Abrams-Draine

Kris Abrams-Draine made his NFL debut against the Browns and Broncos coach Sean Payton was pleased with the cornerback’s performance.

After being picked by the Denver Broncos in the fifth round of this year’s NFL draft out of Missouri, cornerback Kris Abrams-Draine was inactive for the team’s first 12 games of his rookie campaign.

Against the Cleveland Browns in Week 13, with cornerback Riley Moss (knee) sidelined, Abrams-Draine made Denver’s game-day roster for the first time this season. Levi Wallace started in the place of Moss but he struggled and was benched late in the game in favor of Abrams-Draine.

The rookie cornerback was penalized in his brief appearance, but the call was disputed, and Abrams-Draine turned in an impressive overall performance.

“Good,” Broncos coach sean Payton said Monday when asked about the cornerback’s NFL debut. “He’s smart. He has a savviness to him. I think he’s getting stronger physically.

“I thought he handled his role [well] Monday night, going in there and playing. I thought he had a pretty good game in the kicking game. That’s important. So overall, I was pleased.”

Abrams-Draine played 12 snaps on defense and 12 snaps on special teams, ending the game with one tackle. If Moss also misses Sunday’s game against the Indianapolis Colts, it wouldn’t be surprising to see Abrams-Draine leapfrog Wallace on the depth chart.

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7 players did not play in Broncos’ game against Browns

Seven Broncos players did not play against the Browns on Monday, with Riley Moss being the most notable absence.

Seven members of the 53-man roster did not play in the Denver Broncos‘ 41-32 win over the Cleveland Browns on Monday Night Football in Week 13.

Broncos quarterback Zach Wilson*, cornerback Riley Moss (knee), linebacker Drew Sanders, guard/center Nick Gargiulo, offensive tackle Frank Crum and defensive lineman Eyioma Uwazurike were inactive in Week 13.

*Wilson was inactive but still dressed as an emergency third quarterback. Jarrett Stidham, Denver’s primary backup quarterback, also did not play as Bo Nix took every snap on offense, giving the Broncos seven total players who did not see the field on Monday. Stidham has only appeared in two games this season.

Broncos who did not play in Week 13

  1. QB Zach Wilson (*emergency third QB)
  2. CB Riley Moss (knee)
  3. LB Drew Sanders
  4. OL Nick Gargiulo
  5. OT Frank Crum
  6. DL Eyioma Uwazurike
  7. QB Jarrett Stidham (active)

Up next for Denver is a bye in Week 14 followed by a home game against the Indianapolis Colts (6-7) in Week 15.

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