Broncos Facing Big Questions Going Into Second Half Of Season

The Denver Broncos are currently enjoying their bye week, but they still have a lot to do. They’re 7-2, but it hasn’t been an easy road to get to that record, and Parker Gabriel of the Denver Post tried to clarify their issues by turning them into four questions. 

How can the Broncos get their top weapons more involved?

The Broncos traded for Jaylen Waddle to go with a promising group of wide receivers with the expectation that it would put the offense over the top, but it hasn’t quite gone that way. Waddle is currently on pace for 636 yards, while Courtland Sutton is tracking for 502. Tight end Evan Engram is on track for 319, and all of those numbers would be career lows for the respective players. 

Part of this is about the slow start from quarterback Bo Nix, but beyond that the Broncos haven’t been able to find answers. They’re scoring more, but the consistency still isn’t there, and that’s what the Waddle trade was supposed to solve. 

Will Denver regret the cancelling the Daiyan Henley trade?

The Broncos one move at the deadline was trading for linebacker Daiyan Henley from the Los Angeles Chargers, but it hasn’t gone well. The back-and-forth about Henley’s medicals cost Denver a player who could be important to their depth, and it remains to be seen if that will be costly. 

Are changes coming on the offensive line?

This is probably the biggest question right now and going forward. The blame has shifted from running back J.K. Dobbins to the interior of the offensive line, and coach Sean Payton has all but said directly that changes are coming. The candidates to be swapped out are left guard Ben Powers and center Luke Wattenberg, with Alex Palczewski possibly being subbed in for Powers. It would be an important move for a well-paid group that’s been consistently excellent, but this year the production just hasn’t been there. 

Can Bo Nix become more efficient and consistent?

This isn’t a new question, but the quarterback hasn’t been able to answer it yet. He was awful early on, possibly due to the aftereffects of a broken ankle, but Nix still looks like a player who can’t put together four quarters of quality football. The fourth-quarter comebacks are fun, but this isn’t the way the Broncos want to win, and Nix’s ability to get paid is at stake.