3 Broncos with a lot to play for in the last 2 games of the season

If you want something to pay attention to in the last couple of weeks for the Denver Broncos, look no further than the following three players. They all have a lot to prove that could heavily impact their futures with the Broncos or elsewhere.

Left Guard Dalton Risner

Photo by AAron Ontiveroz/MediaNews Group/The Denver Post via Getty Images

It has not been a great season for local favorite, Dalton Risner. He’s heading into the offseason as an unrestricted free agent and it is going to be interesting to see if he has a future with the Broncos.

Good linemen in the NFL are hard to find and any player with 4 years of experience like what Risner brings to the table is going to get paid something. With the Broncos firing Butch Barry, Risner has a chance to show his quality is more than what was season during the rest of the season under poor coaching.

Wide Receiver Courtland Sutton

Photo by Grant Halverson/Getty Images

Ever since Courtland Sutton had his ACL tear, he’s looked like a player who lost something. While he’s listed as our #1 WR, my eyes haven’t seen enough from him this season to make me think he should still be treated as such. He’s not going anywhere with his contract, but if he wants to truly be a #1 guy, he’s going to need to up his game in the last two games of the season.

Let me be clear on this: he’s not going anywhere for at least two seasons just based off his contract. I’m more talking about what our next coach is going to do with him in the offense based on what he’s shown on the field in 2022.

Inside Linebacker Alex Singleton

Photo by G Fiume/Getty Images

Alex Singleton is the one player from 2022 that is somewhat of an oddity from the Broncos defense. Mostly because from this writer’s point of view, he isn’t nearly as good as the stats say he is. With Josey Jewell missing time earlier in the season, he had a great opportunity to step up for the Broncos and has done a great job of it.

But outside of just raw tackle numbers, he doesn’t look like the kind of solid ILB you want to have. A lot of his tackles are made with him playing catch-up. He’s not got a ton of side-to-side maneuverability that you want to see at ILB.

He’s going to be an unrestricted free agent as well and he’s got an opportunity to really make some nice money for himself in 2023 if he can string together a couple of nice games.

Your Turn

What about you, Broncos Country? Who are you going to key in on in the final two games as far as looking to their futures? Hit us up in the comments and let us know what you think.

Broncos News

Broncos remain confident in QB Russell Wilson, believe he can return to previous heights
"He knows he can play better, we know he can play better and we know he’ll do the right work in the offseason to be ready for next year," Broncos Owner & CEO Greg Penner said.

Randy Gregory, Oday Aboushi have suspensions overturned
The discipline for Broncos linebacker Randy Gregory and Rams guard Oday Aboushi, who traded blows after Sunday's game, has been reduced to fines.

Greg Penner makes it clear: The Denver Broncos' new management expects and demands results - DenverFan
There's a new sheriff in Broncos Country. And he's both apologetic for the mess of this season and "impatient" to fix it.

Ten candidates to fill the Denver Broncos' head-coaching vacancy after the firing of Nathaniel Hackett - DenverFan
Denver's list is likely to have more of a focus on coaches with prior head-coaching experience.

‘We’ve got to get this right’: Owner & CEO Greg Penner, GM George Paton share what they are looking for in Broncos’ next head coach
“At the starting point, it’s got to be about culture and leadership, and those characteristics are what we’ve focused on the most,” Penner said.

‘It was time to make a decision’: Why the Broncos made an in-season coaching change
While the Broncos' Week 16 loss to the Rams was not the sole factor in the decision, it was the impetus behind the timing, Owner and CEO Greg Penner said Tuesday.

Other NFL News

Would Andrew Whitworth consider unretiring to join Bengals? 'I'll never say never'
Might Andrew Whitworth consider unretiring to join the Cincinnati Bengals, who have locked up a playoff spot? There’s at least a smidgeon of a possibility.

Steelers HC Mike Tomlin: 'Disrespectful' to label Ravens' Mark Andrews as just 'a tight end'
Pittsburgh head coach Mike Tomlin views Baltimore's Mark Andrews in the same ilk as Travis Kelce and Kyle Pitts -- tight ends by designation, but the top targets on their teams nonetheless.

Offensive Player Rankings, Week 17: Five QBs who could save careers -- and one who can repair legacy
David Carr identifies five quarterbacks who could save their careers over the final two weeks of the season -- in addition to one who can repair his legacy. Plus, Kirk Cousins enters Carr's top 15 offensive player rankings for the first time this season.

DVOA: Year of the Big Seven | Football Outsiders
There's a big gap between our top seven teams (incl. the Ravens!) and the rest of the NFL. Plus: Vikings vs. Pythagoras.

Cardinals' J.J. Watt announces this will be final NFL season
Three-time Defensive Player of the Year J.J. Watt announced Tuesday that this will be his final NFL season.

Chargers cruise past Colts, clinch 1st playoff berth since '18
A 20-3 dismantling of the Colts on Monday night secured the Chargers their first playoff berth since 2018 -- and first postseason appearance for coach Brandon Staley and QB Justin Herbert.