Quinn Meinerz left no doubt about what is driving the Denver Broncos during camp: the work in the trenches. After practice on Day 10 of Broncos Camp, the two-time All-Pro guard said the team’s offensive and defensive lines are pushing each other at a level that forces everyone to show up ready.
Meinerz described the matchup as “iron sharpening iron,” a phrase that fits the way the Broncos have built momentum up front. Denver won 14 regular-season games in 2025 and finished with the NFL’s best pass rushing defense and top-ranked pass blocking unit, so the standard entering 2026 is already clear.
Why the front matters
The Broncos are not just leaning on veteran strength. They are also using camp reps to test younger players against a defensive front that Meinerz said makes practice difficult every day. That includes D.J., Roach, Zach Allen and Enyi, all of whom were singled out by Meinerz for the different problems they create.
Meinerz said D.J. has been a consistent and solid nose tackle, while Roach brings power and speed. He also pointed to Zach Allen’s impact and said Enyi has been maturing and improving. The broader point was simple: Denver’s offensive line cannot afford a casual rep when the other side is playing at that level.
What it means going forward
That daily challenge is part of the appeal for a team that expects its trenches to remain a strength in 2026. Meinerz said the setup helps the young players on both sides of the ball, since the offensive line gets to see how practice should look while the defense gets the same benefit.
The Broncos have had Zach Strief with Sean Payton for four years, and the continuity shows in the way the team works through camp. Sai’vion Jones and Tyler Onyedim, both drafted in the third round over the past two seasons, are among the young defenders getting valuable reps in that environment. For Denver, the message from Day 10 was straightforward: if the line play stays at this level, the Broncos should have another strong foundation in 2026.
