Tag: Position preview

Bears 2023 training camp preview: Offensive line

Our next Bears position preview is the offensive line, a group that will look very different than it did in 2022.

Chicago Bears training camp is less than a month away, which means it’s time to start looking ahead at the roster the team is bringing to Lake Forest.

We’re unveiling our Bears 2023 training camp position previews, where we’re breaking down every player by position and examining the biggest question facing the group.

Rounding out the offensive side of the ball is the offensive line, a group that only has one projected starter playing the same position they played in 2022. Braxton Jones is back at left tackle but the rest of the line has done more shuffling than the 1985 Bears.

Teven Jenkins and Cody Whitehair were both prominent starters in 2022 who are now playing new positions, while newcomers Nate Davis and Darnell Wright were added to anchor the right side of the line. Meanwhile, players like Lucas Patrick and Larry Borom are now backups after entering last year’s camp as starters.

Here’s a closer look at the Bears’ offensive line heading into training camp.

Bears 2023 training camp preview: Running backs

Our next preview ahead of Bears training camp is running back, which looks to be the most intriguing position battle on the team.

Chicago Bears training camp is less than a month away, which means it’s time to start looking ahead at the roster the team is bringing to Lake Forest.

We’re unveiling our Bears 2023 training camp position previews, where we’re breaking down every player by position and examining the biggest question facing the group.

Up next is running back, a position that looks drastically different than it did a year ago. Khalil Herbert is now the top rusher entering camp, but a few new acquisitions will be pushing him for touches.

The Bears signed veteran D’Onta Foreman in free agency and drafted Roschon Johnson, each looking to become the bell cow back in 2023.

Here’s a closer look at the Bears’ running backs heading into training camp:

Broncos position preview for 2023: Quarterback

Russell Wilson and Jarrett Stidham are locked in for the top two spots. Who will be the Broncos’ third-string QB in 2023?

As we wrap up our position preview series for the Denver Broncos ahead of training camp and the 2023 season, we’re down to the final — and most important — position on the team: quarterback.

The Broncos are bringing back Russell Wilson and he will remain the team’s starting quarterback. Denver also brought in Jarrett Stidham this offseason to serve as the team’s new QB2, replacing Brett Rypien.

Where things get interesting on the depth chart is the QB3 job. Ben DiNucci and Jarrett Guarantano will compete for that role this summer, and the winner might end up on the practice squad.

Before camp begins at the team’s Centura Health Training Center next month, here’s a quick look at our projected quarterback depth chart for the Broncos.

Be sure to also check out our 2023 position previews for running back, tight end/fullback, wide receiver, offensive line, defensive line, outside linebacker, inside linebacker, cornerback, safety and special teams.

Broncos position preview for 2023: Wide receiver

Wide receiver seems to be one of the Broncos’ deepest positions ahead of training camp.

After trading up in the second round of the NFL draft to select Oklahoma’s Marvin Mims in April, the Denver Broncos now have 12 wide receivers on the 90-man offseason roster: Jerry Jeudy, Tim Patrick, Courtland Sutton, Mims, Kendall Hinton, Jalen Virgil, Marquez Callaway, Brandon Johnson, KJ Hamler, Montrell Washington, Taylor Grimes and Lil’Jordan Humphrey.

Barring a trade, Jeudy, Patrick, Sutton and Mims all seem to be locks for the 53-man roster. If the Broncos only carry six wide receivers on the active roster, that would only leave two more spots for nine WRs competing for a job.

Denver will have to make some tough decisions at WR this summer. Here’s a quick look at how the team’s (projected) WR depth chart stacks up ahead of training camp next month.

Broncos position preview for 2023: Offensive line

The Broncos’ offensive line looks much better on paper now than it did in 2022.

After signing guard Ben Powers and right tackle Mike McGlinchey during free agency and drafting center Alex Forsyth in April, the Denver Broncos now have 16 offensive linemen on the 90-man offseason roster: Lloyd Cushenberry, Kyle Fuller, Luke Wattenberg, Forsyth, Powers, Quinn Meinerz, Henry Byrd, Will Sherman, Garett Bolles, McGlinchey, Quinn Bailey, Cam Fleming, Isaiah Prince, Christian DiLauro, Demontrey Jacobs and Alex Palczewski.

Bolles and Meinerz are returning as locked-in starters at their spots and Cushenberry is the incumbent at center, but he will face some competition this summer. Powers and McGlinchey will instantly jump to the top of the depth chart at their respective positions.

Broncos’ (Projected) Offensive Line Depth Chart

Broncos position preview for 2023: Cornerback

The Broncos have quality starters at cornerback and exciting young defensive backs behind them on the depth chart.

After using a third-round draft pick to select Iowa’s Riley Moss in April, the Denver Broncos now have 10 true cornerbacks on their 90-man offseason roster: Pat Surtain, Damarri Mathis, K’Waun Williams, Riley Moss, Tremon Smith, Essang Bassey, Ja’Quan McMillian, Art Green, Faion Hicks and Delonte Hood (it’s unclear if Devon Key will play primarily as a cornerback or safety).

Surtain returns as the team’s star cornerback and Mathis enters his second season as the early favorite to start across from PS2. Williams remains the top option to play in the slot this fall, but Moss will get an opportunity to compete for playing time right away.

Broncos’ (Projected) Cornerback Depth Chart

Broncos position preview for 2023: Inside linebacker

With Drew Sanders and Jonas Griffith behind Josey Jewell and Alex Singleton, the Broncos have good depth at ILB going into the summer.

After using a third-round pick to select Arkansas inside linebacker Drew Sanders in April’s draft, the Denver Broncos now have six ILBs on the 90-man offseason roster: Josey Jewell, Alex Singleton, Jonas Griffith, Sanders, Justin Strnad and Seth Benson.

Jewell and Singleton are returning as the team’s starting inside linebackers with Griffith and Sanders projected to serve as the top backups. Strnad and Benson will be competing for reps this summer as well.

Denver also has Ray Wilborn listed as a “linebacker” on their offseason roster. It’s unclear if Wilborn will play primarily as an inside linebacker or outside linebacker this season.

Broncos’ (Projected) ILB Depth Chart

Broncos position preview for 2023: Defensive line

The Broncos need a defensive end to step up and start across from Zach Allen in 2023. Who will it be?

Going into the summer, the Denver Broncos have 11 defensive linemen on the 90-man offseason roster: D.J. Jones, Mike Purcell, Zach Allen, Matt Henningsen, Eyioma Uwazurike, Tyler Lancaster, Jonathan Harris, Elijah Garcia, Jordan Jackson, PJ Mustipher and Haggai Ndubuisi.

Jones and Purcell are returning as the team’s top two nose tackles while Henningsen and Uwazurike are among the club’s defensive end options. The Broncos just signed Allen and Lancaster during free agency this offseason.

Denver carried six defensive linemen — four ends and two tackles — on its initial 53-man roster last summer. The Broncos will likely carry a similar number in 2023.

Broncos’ (Projected) Defensive Line Depth Chart

Broncos’ updated OLB depth chart after signing Frank Clark

Following the arrival of Frank Clark, here is a projected outside linebacker depth chart for the Broncos.

After signing veteran pass rusher Frank Clark to a one-year contract, the Denver Broncos will have nine outside linebackers on the 90-man offseason roster: Randy Gregory, Baron Browning, Clark, Jonathon Cooper, Nik Bonitto, Christopher Allen, Aaron Patrick, Marcus Haynes and Thomas Incoom.

Gregory and Browning are the team’s returning starters but both of them have battled injuries in recent seasons. Browning is currently sidelined this summer after undergoing knee surgery, but he is expected to be back in time for Week 1.

Clark will likely serve as the team’s No. 3 pass rusher, filling in as a starter whenever one of Gregory or Browning are unavailable. Behind them, the Broncos also have Cooper and Bonitto, a pair of promising rotational rushers.

Allen returns this year after missing his rookie season due to a foot injury and Patrick will aim to recover from a torn ACL in time for the season. Haynes and Incoom will be longshots to make the team.

Denver Broncos OLB Depth Chart

Broncos’ updated tight end depth chart with new signing

Following the arrival of Tommy Hudson, here is an updated tight end depth chart for the Broncos.

After signing tight end Tommy Hudson last week, the Denver Broncos now have five true tight ends on the 90-man offseason roster: Greg Dulcich, Adam Trautman, Chris Manhertz, Albert Okwuegbunam and Hudson.

Nate Adkins, an undrafted rookie, might be a tight end/fullback hybrid. If that is the case, he will end up behind Michael Burton on the depth chart.

On the TE-specific depth chart, Dulcich leads the way as the team’s top receiving option entering his second season in the NFL. Behind him, the Broncos just traded for Trautman during the NFL draft. Before that, the Broncos signed Manhertz during free agency.

Okwuegbunam is a wildcard. He could emerge as a key receiving tight end this season or he could end up not making the 53-man roster. Neither scenario would be a big surprise given that Denver has a new coaching staff and a new offense going into the 2023 season.

Broncos (Projected) Tight End Depth Chart