The Broncos open the 2021 preseason Saturday against the Vikings at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis. Here are highlights and observations throughout the game. (This page will be refreshed.)
3:10 p.m. — Teddy Bridgewater came on for his Broncos preseason debut at the 9:04 mark of the second quarter, and connected with tight end Eric Saubert for six yards on his first play. Bridgewater, the Vikings’ former first-round pick out of Louisville in 2014, got an ovation from the Minnesota crowd when he took the field.
2:59 p.m. — Pat Surtain II is having himself an explosive debut. The rookie and No. 9 overall pick this year jumped Jake Bronwing’s pass to Ihmir Smith-Marsette on an out-route, intercepting it at the Vikings’ 30-yard line and strolling to the end zone for his first (unofficial) NFL touchdown. The pick-six put the Broncos up 23-3 with 11:49 to play in the half.
PS2 with the PICK-6 🎮
Not a bad debut, @PatSurtainll!
📺: @nflnetwork pic.twitter.com/fg5QBr7jKD
— Denver Broncos (@Broncos) August 14, 2021
2:56 p.m. — Trey Marshall, hurt on the opening kickoff, has been downgraded to out with an ankle injury.
2:53 p.m. — Adding to his already-strong performance, Lock rolled out to his right after a play-action and found Trinity Benson for a 4-yard touchdown pass to cap a 10-play, 85-yard drive. That gave the Broncos a 16-3 lead with 12:59 left in the half and put Lock’s line at 5-of-7 for 151 yards with two touchdowns and a 153.3 rating.
2:51 p.m. — On 3rd-and-4, Lock patiently stood in the pocket for 3.64 seconds, went through his progression and eventually found Jeudy for a 32-yard catch-and-run. From a read standpoint, it was Lock’s best play of the day thus far. Jeudy, meanwhile, looked electric in the open field, turning a sliver of open space into a footrace with the Vikings’ secondary.
.@jerryjeudy in space >>>
📺: @nflnetwork pic.twitter.com/cEYwvsQVkr
— Denver Broncos (@Broncos) August 14, 2021
2:41 p.m. — Rookie cornerback Pat Surtain II made the first flashy play of his Broncos career. With Minnesota facing 3rd-&-5 from the Broncos’ 15, Surtain recognized Ihmir Smith-Marsette’s in-route and perfectly timed a pass break-up to force the Vikings to kick a field goal.
PS2 said, “Nah.”@PatSurtainll | 📺: @nflnetwork pic.twitter.com/KEjxY6hOU3
— Denver Broncos (@Broncos) August 14, 2021
2:37 p.m. — Second-year cornerback Michael Ojemudia, who is battling for a backup role in the secondary amid all the new arrivals at cornerback, looked overmatched at times throughout the first couple series and was flagged for a pass interference call while in coverage on tight end Brandon Dillon.
2:28 p.m. — Lock came out on the first play of the Broncos’ second possession and connected with Hamler on an 80-yard touchdown pass. Lock had plenty of time off play-action and hit Hamler in stride on a post route as the second-year wideout had blown past the Minnesota secondary. Hamler caught it at around the Vikings 33-yard line and somersaulted after crossing the goal-line.
You absolutely love to see it. 💣@DrewLock23 x @Kj_hamler
📺: @nflnetwork pic.twitter.com/syovmzeXfy
— Denver Broncos (@Broncos) August 14, 2021
2:23 p.m. — The Broncos struck first… with a safety thanks to a holding call on Vikings right guard Dakota Dozier. Shemar Stephen provided the pressure and was in the backfield threatening for a sack, forcing Dozier to hold as the Broncos went up 2-0 with 8:45 left in the opening quarter.
2:19 p.m. — Javonte Williams appeared to have his first exhibition TD in the NFL, bouncing the ball outside for a 4-yard run to pay-dirt, but a holding call on Jerry Jeudy negated the score. On 4th and 2 from the 3-yard-line, the Broncos went for it after Vic Fangio called timeout to regroup. But Lock’s slant pass to Jeudy was easily broken up by Kris Boyd.
2:12 p.m. — Drew Lock, getting the start in the opener over Teddy Bridgewater, connected with KJ Hamler for a 25-yard strike off play-action on his first throw. An ideal start for Lock, who needs to capitalize on every chance he gets to show that he’s moved past the error-prone quarterbacking of last season.
First pass of the season!@DrewLock23 ➡️ @Kj_hamler
📺: #DENvsMIN on @nflnetwork pic.twitter.com/RSZAiFULfi
— Denver Broncos (@Broncos) August 14, 2021
2:11 p.m. — On the Broncos’ opening offensive snap, Javonte Williams had a cutback run for a first down. He ran for a first down the next play, too, getting to the edge and showing off his speed turning upfield. The rookie… did not look like a rookie.
2:09 p.m. — DeShawn Williams, who has been getting increased reps with the No. 1 defense during training camp because of Mike Purcell’s ankle injury, had the first impressive defensive play of the day with a pass deflection on the opening series.
2:05 p.m. — Trey Marshall, who is competing for a backup safety/special teams spot, got injured on the opening kickoff. The trainers were examining Marshall’s lower right leg before they helped him hobble off the field.
2:04 p.m. MT — A number of Broncos players didn’t take stretch for the game. That list includes WR/KR Diontae Spencer (knee injury), RB Melvin Gordon, RB Mike Boone (quad), ILB Josey Jewell (groin), CB Mac McCain III (hamstring), OLB Pita Taumoepenu, DE Marquiss Spencer (ankle), LG Dalton Risner, WR Tim Patrick (groin), WR DeVontres Dukes, DT Deyon Sizer (ankle) and DL McTelvin Agim (groin).
