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Former Air Force defensive lineman Jordan Jackson may have also solidified a roster spot with two sacks in the first two defensive series.
DENVER — Jarrett Stidham received a very brief opportunity to secure the Broncos’ No. 2 quarterback position.
The veteran made the most of it. Will it be enough?
Given one series, Stidham led the Broncos on a 10-play, 55-yard drive that culminated with a 3-yard touchdown run by rookie running back Audric Estime. The Broncos lead the Arizona Cardinals, 14-0 at halftime of their preseason finale on a warm Sunday afternoon before a modest gathering at Empower Field at Mile High.
Stidham only completed two passes on the opening drive, but they were significant. The first to Estime went for 14 yards to convert a second-and-9. Stidham them drilled a 14-yard slant to a tightly covered Devaughn Vele on a slant pattern to convert a fourth-and-2.
Estime was also finished after the first series. He had 18 yards on 5 hard-running carries.
The rest of the game belonged to No. 3 quarterback Zach Wilson, who was receiving an extended audition for the No. 2 quarterback behind rookie starter Bo Nix.
Wilson finished the first half 8 of 11 for 93 yards with a 1-yard touchdown pass to tight end Nate Atkins for a robust 128.2 passer rating. He also had completions of 24 yards to David Sills V, 19 yards to rookie Troy Franklin and 19 yards to Adkins.
Wilson also scrambled for 21 yards on one play during his 77-yard touchdown drive.
The Broncos must trim their 90-man roster to 53 by 2 p.m. Tuesday. The biggest question is whether head coach Sean Payton keeps three quarterbacks – Nix, Stidham and Wilson – or just two.
Two roster moves can already be written down as injured outside linebacker Drew Sanders (Achilles) and safety Dellarin Turner-Yell (ACL) will be placed on the physically unable to perform (PUP) list.
One player who made a strong case to earn a backup defensive line spot was former Air Force standout Jordan Jackson. He had two sacks in the test against the Cardinals – one in each of the first two series. Jackson, who spent the past two seasons on practice squads for the New Orleans Saints (2022) and Broncos (2023), had been trending as Denver’s No. 5 defensive lineman – behind John Franklin-Myers, Zach Allen, D.J. Jones and Malcolm Roach — entering the final preseason game.
Bronco Bits
Sills has two catches for 38 yards at halftime to lead all receivers …
The Broncos didn’t dress 28 of their top players, including receiver Lil’Jordan Humphrey and running back Samaje Perine, veterans who were thought to be on the roster bubble. …
Besides his 21-yard reception, Franklin had a 9-yard gain on an end around in what was the fourth-round rookie’s most productive effort of the preseason. …
Strnad has primarily been a special teams player the past three years but he leads all defenders with 6 tackles at halftime with a forced fumble and sack. …
Former Bronco Matt Prater, the NFL’s all-time leader 50-yard or further field goals, naturally made a 50-yard field on the final play of the first half.
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