ARLINGTON, Texas — Recognizable names are about to become unemployed. The Broncos are about to cut some good players.
“Yeah, we will,” said Broncos general manager John Elway. “Without a doubt this was the strongest roster we had in our four years here.”
It wasn’t easy making the Broncos’ roster this year. In what was a final audition for so many players, the Broncos’ reserves whipped the Dallas Cowboys’ bench-warmers 27-3 in a preseason game Thursday night at the spectacular football palace known as AT&T Stadium.
Afterward, roughly 25 players for the Broncos, maybe 35, were left to wonder as they showered and dressed: Was it enough? Did they play well enough to stick?
“Laid it all on the line,” said defensive lineman Mitch Unrein. “Yeah, I played for my job tonight. I believe every one who played tonight played for a job.”
Next time the Broncos play, it will be for keeps. The Broncos open Sept. 7 at home against the Indianapolis Colts in a prime-time Sunday night game.
The Broncos were so good last season, they played in the Super Bowl. Elway then reinforced his roster, especially on defense. Adding DeMarcus Ware, Aqib Talib and T.J. Ward to the top meant many of last season’s key players trickled down to create a deeper layer of reserves.
No two players demonstrate the Broncos’ depth this year more than Duke Ihenacho and Kevin Vickerson.
Ihenacho started 17 games, including all three in the postseason, for the Broncos at strong safety last season. This year, Ihenacho didn’t even start the fourth and final preseason game. Ward took his starting spot, and Quinton Carter’s long-awaited return from injury pushed Ihenacho down to third string.
Ihenacho is a strong special-teams performer, so he can still make the Broncos’ 53-man roster that must be set by 2 p.m. on Saturday. But he didn’t have to sweat like this last year.
“I mentioned that when we started our offseason going into our OTAs and even into camp that it was probably our best roster to date,” Broncos coach John Fox said. “I still feel that. Obviously, there are some very hard decisions we have to make over the next 48 hours.”
Vickerson is a 10-year veteran who through 11 games, all starts, was arguably the Broncos’ best defensive lineman last season. A dislocated hip at New England finished his season Nov. 24, and while his recovery has been on schedule, injuries have a way of putting a player behind.
Vickerson did not join 27 other front-line players such as Peyton Manning and Terrance Knighton in a pregame conditioning workout at the stadium Thursday. It’s the best workout of the year.
In return for their 5 o’clock sweat, participants don’t play in the fourth preseason game and are therefore guaranteed a place on the 53-man roster.
Those who play in preseason game No. 4 are guaranteed nothing. Check that. Brock Osweiler is assured the No. 2 quarterback position. And Osweiler will bring ample confidence back to his job as Manning’s clipboard holder. Osweiler played quite well in leading the Broncos to a 24-3 lead, completing 9-of-13 passes for 190 yards before leaving in the fourth quarter.
“He’s matured so much in our system,” Fox said. “I really like where he is, and I think he showed up pretty well again tonight.”
But Vickerson, Ihenacho and Unrein, an invaluable rotational defensive tackle who played in 52-of-54 possible Broncos games the previous three seasons, were competing deep into the second half Thursday.
Was it enough? Did they play enough to stick?
“Whatever they ask of me, I just go,” Vickerson said. “It’s called fighting for a job, man.”
Unrein played both defensive end and defensive tackle against the Cowboys. He sacked third-string quarterback Dustin Vaughan at the Dallas 1 to set up great field position that eventually led to another Broncos touchdown.
PHOTOS: Broncos 27, Cowboys 3 at AT&T Stadium
Making plays is how a guy sticks around to play some more.
“Hopefully, I made enough of them,” Unrein said.
Besides tough decisions at the deep positions of defensive tackle and safety, Elway and Fox must also make choices among the young. Rookie running backs Juwan Thompson and Kapri Bibbs were competing for the fourth running back position.
Undrafted rookie Isaiah Burse seems to be competing for his own spot as a returner and backup slot receiver. Burse flashed with 28- and 14-yard receptions in a final-minute, first-half drive and also had nice punt returns of 18 and 26 yards.
Did Burse do enough for the Broncos to give a roster spot to a returner/No. 6 receiver?
Five backup offensive linemen — tackles Paul Cornick and Michael Schofield, center Will Montgomery and guards Ben Garland and Vinston Painter — were trying to squeeze into the three or four reserve slots on the 53-man roster.
“We have a lot of guys, young guys who had a great preseason,” Osweiler said. “It will be interesting to see how things shake out. I couldn’t be more proud of the second unit. Guys went out and played hard every week.”
Elway and Fox will start cutting players Friday. More will come Saturday morning.
Mike Klis: mklis@denverpost.com or twitter.com/mikeklis
Broncos 27, Cowboys 3
Key moment
Brock Osweiler completed the preseason with a solid 84.0 quarterback rating, improved by a 57-yard, catch-and-run gain by Cody Latimer that set up the Broncos’ third score.
Key stat
2 Interceptions by cornerback Tony Carter this preseason, which still might not be enough to keep him on the roster be- cause of his inconsistent play.
What you might have missed
Former CSU stars Kapri Bibbs (two touchdowns) and Shaquil Barrett (two sacks) finished the preseason with a flourish.
— Troy E. Renck, The Denver Post
