First Look: Denver Broncos, preseason week 3

[CGI_Ram]

First Look: Denver Broncos, preseason week 3

www.therams.com

First Look: Denver Broncos, preseason week 3

Los Angeles’ lone 2019 preseason game at the Coliseum will feature the Denver Broncos and first-year head coach Vic Fangio. Kickoff is set for 6 p.m. PT.

In advance of the contest, here’s an early look at the Broncos, including how their preseason has gone so far, some of their top statistical performers and key storylines.

HOW THEIR PRESEASON HAS GONE SO FAR

Thanks to an appearance in the NFL’s annual Hall of Fame game in Canton, Ohio, the Broncos will be playing five preseason games this month.

Saturday’s game against the Rams is the fourth of the five, following a 14-10 win over the Falcons in Canton on Aug. 1, a 22-14 loss at the Seattle Seahawks on Aug. 8 and a 24-15 loss to the 49ers Monday night. Those results have them sitting 1-2 heading into Week 3.

TOP PERFORMERS

An undrafted free agent out of Colorado State signed this spring, linebacker Josh Watson has had a strong preseason so far.

Watson is the preseason’s leading tackler with 19. He shared with second-year LB Bradley Chubb for fourth-most against San Francisco Monday night.

Rookie quarterback Drew Lock’s 254 total passing yards are 10th-most among preseason passers.

The fourth QB off the board in this year’s NFL Draft, Lock won’t be seeing any action against the Rams.

An MRI revealed a bad hand sprain sustained in Monday’s loss to the 49ers, according to NFL Network Insider Ian Rapoport. While the setback won’t require surgery, it’s serious enough to prevent him from playing the remainder of the preseason.

Depending on how much Fangio chooses to play starter Joe Flacco, look for Brett Rypien and Kevin Hogan to see more opportunities this Saturday against the Rams defense as a result.
Keeping with the offense, veteran WR Emmanuel Sanders is eight months removed from a torn Achilles, but his opportunities against the 49ers – his first live game action since the injury – showed he’s getting closer to his normal self. It is unclear how much he will play against the Rams, but he’s one of Denver’s key offensive players so it will be worth monitoring.

The Broncos’ starting defense, meanwhile, made quick work of 49ers starting QB Jimmy Garoppolo Monday night. He went 1 for 6 with zero passing yards and 0.0 quarterback rating, getting pulled from the game after three series. Similar to Sanders, how involved Denver’s defensive starters will be on Saturday remains to be seen, but if they do see time on the field against Los Angeles, it will be a good test for L.A.’s second team offense.

 

[CGI_Ram]

Quotes & Notes 8/20: Rams looking forward to more routine week

Home preseason game this weekend will have Rams back to a more normal schedule after two contests away from L.A.

www.therams.com

Quotes & Notes 8/20: Rams looking forward to more routine week

After each media session, Quotes and Notes will bring you what was said, who said it, and what it means for your Los Angeles Rams. Here’s what you should know from Tuesday, Aug. 20.

“I think it will be good, really, to get the next couple of weeks where you’re not having to travel. That’s always good thing, to try to get some normalcy and to try to get into what would be equivalent to a weekly rhythm.”
– HC Sean McVay

• After traveling to Oakland for the preseason opener Aug. 10 and Hawaii last weekend for its week 2 matchup against Dallas, Los Angeles is back at home this week and able to settle into a more normal routine.
• While the unusual travel schedule led to different approaches, such as leaving the majority of the starters at home and having working out at the facility instead of making the trip to Hawaii, McVay said overall the last two weeks have worked out favorably for the Rams.
• McVay said those workouts went well and that he’s looking forward to having three good practices this week while continuing to evaluate who can carve out a role over the next two weeks ahead of roster cutdowns.

“Sat at the house for two days straight. Can’t get better than that.”
– RB Todd Gurley

• One of several starters who stayed back in Los Angeles last weekend, Gurley was able to relax at home while the rest of the Rams headed to Honolulu.
• Gurley said he had to come up to the facility during one of the days the rest of the team was gone, but otherwise spent the majority of his time at home.
• Gurley, who has been on a plan to maintain his health heading into the regular season, believes he benefitted from the down time.

“There’s no timetable on that. It was a pretty significant injury, though, so he’s going to be out for awhile.”
– HC Sean McVay

• Following up on Sunday’s announcement regarding Micah Kiser’s indefinite absence due to a left pectoral injury, McVay reiterated the same to assembled media Tuesday afternoon.
• According to McVay, it is too soon to put a timetable on Kiser’s return due to the seriousness of the injury and that “it’s going to be awhile” before that sort of determination can be made. Kiser was scheduled to undergo surgery today.
• Asked if it’s possible Kiser could return at some point during the season, McVay said it’s dependent upon how Kiser responds to treatment and recovery for the injury.

"In this league as a backup, you have to treat yourself as a starter."
– LB Bryce Hager

• With Kiser out indefinitely due to injury, Hager is slated to start in his place.
• Asked if there was any adjustment going from being a backup to a starter, Hager's mindset is to always be prepared because anything could happen on any play.
• Hager said he had been rotating with Kiser since the beginning of OTAs, further solidifying his comfort in stepping into a starter's role if called upon.

 

[RamDino]

Rams second string O-Line better be prepared or Denver's first team D-Line will manhandle them, and then get Allen and Wolford killed! Look what happened to the 49ers and Jimmy G... 1 for 6, 0 yards, 0.0 QB rating (LOL-classic!).

 

[bubbaramfan]

Bradley Chubb and Broncos' D is going to bring it. Rams 2nd string OL is going to have their hands full. If Waldren is going to be calling plays , he better have Bortles rolling out, there's not going to be a pocket.

This game will be a big test for Rams OL.

 

[Jacobarch]

I love how Denver is playing like these games mean something. I know their D is gonna be pretty good but after watching the 9er game they were definitely game planning. Love preseason champs

 

[shovelpass]

 

[bubbaramfan]

Good news for Bortles.

 

[rams1fan]

Lets see what Hendersons pass blocking is like