2 Broncos first-stringers in danger of losing starting jobs ahead of 2026 NFL season

The Denver Broncos entered the 2026 offseason finally clear of the crippling dead-money obligations that had restricted previous roster-building efforts. GM George Paton then added explosive wide receiver Jaylen Waddle. The coaching staff also evolved, with Davis Webb taking over play-calling duties. That ambition carried into training camp in Englewood, where Bo Nix looked completely unencumbered by ankle issues. Denver then carried that energy into its preseason opener against the Atlanta Falcons, where crisp execution from the first unit got them a blowout win. Now, this is where things get interesting. Two established Broncos starters now have challengers generating enough momentum that their Week 1 jobs are no longer as secure as they appeared when camp opened.

RB JK Dobbins

JK Dobbins entered training camp as Denver’s presumed starting running back. The word “presumed” is doing a lot of work, though. Dobbins has the experience and physical résumé to justify his position atop the depth chart. He has also made it clear that he believes he can handle a substantial workload. Head coach Sean Payton, however, has never been interested in awarding touches based solely on seniority. He wants explosiveness and versatility. And, perhaps most importantly, he wants backs who can create problems before a defense has time to settle into its alignment.

That is why RJ Harvey has become such an important figure in this competition. Harvey’s acceleration has consistently stood out during training camp. His ability to turn the corner and immediately threaten the second level gives the Broncos an intriguing element. Then there is Jonah Coleman, who brings a completely different dimension. Coleman’s physical running style has made him particularly intriguing in short-yardage and goal-line situations.

That creates a potentially uncomfortable scenario for Dobbins. He does not necessarily need to lose the starting job outright, of course. If Payton decides that Harvey deserves a larger role on early downs while Coleman becomes the preferred option around the goal line, Dobbins could remain technically listed as the starter while watching his most valuable touches disappear.

Payton has repeatedly shown that he will distribute opportunities to whichever player gives him the best matchup. Dobbins therefore needs to demonstrate that his burst remains intact. If he does, the job is still his to lose. If he doesn’t, Denver has two talented alternatives ready to make the decision for the coaching staff.

CB Riley Moss

The more surprising starting-job battle is developing at cornerback. Riley Moss is under increasing pressure to retain his spot opposite Patrick Surtain II. Moss has legitimate reasons to believe he deserves the role. He played substantial defensive snaps last season and led Denver in passes defensed. That said, there is an obvious problem with the job: playing opposite Surtain means quarterbacks are naturally going to test Moss. That puts every coverage mistake under a microscope.

Moss also needs to eliminate the penalty issues that have occasionally hounded him. Denver cannot afford to give opponents free yardage while waiting for splash plays to arrive.

Enter Jahdae Barron. Barron has rapidly transformed from an intriguing competitor into a genuine threat to Moss’ starting status. His performance against Atlanta provided the loudest evidence yet. After a deflection created an opportunity, Barron returned the interception 97 yards for a defensive touchdown.

Moss, of course, still has time to respond. In fact, he probably will. However, the dynamics have changed. Instead of simply competing against the receiver across from him, Moss is now competing against another defensive back.

If Moss delivers clean coverage and avoids penalties, Denver can maintain its original plan. But if Barron continues producing splash plays, the coaching staff will have a legitimate reason to make a change.

Looking ahead

The Broncos are building a roster capable of competing deep into the season. That requires more than simply identifying the most recognizable names. For Dobbins, that means Harvey and Coleman are legitimate threats to his touch distribution. For Moss, it means Barron’s ability to create turnovers has made the cornerback competition impossible to ignore.

Neither player is necessarily on the verge of being benched tomorrow. But neither can afford a mediocre preseason finale, either. That is precisely why these two starting jobs deserve close attention heading into Week 1. The depth chart may say one thing today. Denver’s next few preseason reps could say something very different.

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