Before each Broncos game during preseason, we will provide a quick note on the storyline of the week along with a rookie to watch that week. Below are the notes for the Hall of Fame Game on Thursday evening.
Davis goes down: Broncos fans are buzzing about rookie QB Drew Lock but he’s merely competing for the backup job. There should probably be more chatter about who will step up in the place of ILB Todd Davis, who suffered a calf injury on the first day of camp. Davis may be back in time for the season opener (Sept. 9 against the Raiders) but Denver won’t rush him back into his starting role right away. The Broncos will have to rely on an inexperienced backup (ILB Alexander Johnson seems to be the favorite) to start next to second-year ILB Josey Jewell until Davis fully recovers.
Rookie watch: Broncos coach Vic Fangio described undrafted rookie WR Trinity Benson as “fast, quick and elusive,” making him an ideal candidate to return punts. He’ll need to improve as a receiver to make the team, though. Veteran WR Emmanuel Sanders has been coaching up the rookie: “I tell him, ‘You’re a white belt right now, but you are trying to be a black belt,” Sanders said. “‘You’re trying to master the art of route running, you’re trying to master the art of being a receiver.’ That’s what he has to do.”
