The Broncos depth chart is starting to come into focus as training camp nears its end, and Friday night’s 27-7 preseason win over the Atlanta Falcons may have done plenty to clarify one of the biggest questions. Jarrett Stidham’s performance lifted his stock, while Sam Ehlinger’s fell slightly, and that could be enough to settle the backup QB discussion behind Bo Nix.
That matters because the Broncos are now moving toward Week 1, with Bo Nix set to make his preseason debut this week after recovering from offseason ankle surgery and moving around and running well during camp. The team has been working through a 90-man roster, so every snap in the preseason carries added weight as decisions get closer.
Stidham edges ahead
During training camp, Jarrett Stidham and Sam Ehlinger split second-team reps, which meant the backup job was still very much open. But after the Friday night game, Stidham’s stock rose enough to make him look like the clearer option at QB2.
That does not make the decision final on paper, but it does change the tone around the competition. In a preseason setting, the quarterback who handles the offense more cleanly and produces the stronger outing usually gains the edge, and that is the position Stidham appears to have created for himself.
What the depth chart still has to solve
The Broncos are not only evaluating quarterbacks. The running back situation is also part of the wider roster picture, with JK Dobbins needing to be 100% for Week 1 vs. the Chiefs. That makes every update from camp and preseason important, especially with roles still being sorted across the roster.
RJ Harvey, Jaleel McLaughlin, Tyler Badie, Cody Schrader and Jonah Coleman all sit somewhere in that broader competition for jobs and opportunities, but the main takeaway from Friday is that Stidham helped himself most. When the team turns the page toward Week 1, the Broncos depth chart may already have its clearest answer at backup quarterback.
Bo Nix’s preseason debut this week will add another layer to the evaluation, but the biggest swing from the Falcons game was simple: Stidham moved up, Ehlinger slipped back, and the Broncos look closer to settling one of camp’s most important battles.
