Broncos vs. Colts: 5 questions (and answers) ahead of Sunday's game

Ahead of the Denver Broncos‘ preseason opener against the Indianapolis Colts, we asked Paul Bretl of Colts Wire five questions about Indy and Sunday’s matchup. Check out our questions and Paul’s answers below.

1. Should we expect to see Anthony Richardson and Indy’s other starters on Sunday?

Yes, after Friday’s practice, head coach Shane Steichen confirmed that the Colts’ starters, including quarterback Anthony Richardson, will play for a series or two. Steichen would also add that there will be a couple of starters who don’t play. This will be Richardson’s first game since Week 5 of last season. When Steichen was asked what he wanted to see in the first preseason game, he mentioned the importance of getting communication right because if that element is off with even one player, the entire play can go wrong.

2. The Colts have a pair of ex-Broncos WRs in Juwann Winfree and Tyrie Cleveland — do you think they’ll end up on the 53-man roster?

I think both those players will be on the outside looking in. During the draft, the Colts added AD Mitchell and Anthony Gould, making for a more crowded receiver room. Those incoming rookies join Michael Pittman, Josh Downs, and Alec Pierce, already accounting for five roster spots. Returning from injury is Ashton Dulin, who has been a core special teams contributor and someone who has proven to be a reliable presence on offense if the Colts are in a pinch.

3. Who is an intriguing player on Indy’s roster bubble that we should keep an eye on this week?

Perhaps not on the roster bubble, but all eyes in Indianapolis are on the free safety position. This was a position that struggled last season and during the offseason, no outside additions were made to bolster the competition. We’ve seen a heavy rotation so far, with Nick Cross, Rodney Thomas, and even linebacker/strong safety Ronnie Harrison getting some starting snaps in practice. Nearly three weeks into training camp, there doesn’t seem to be any clarity around who will be starting next to Julian Blackmon come Week 1. Many Colts fans would like to see the team sign former Bronco Justin Simmons to provide some stability.

4. If you could steal one player from Denver and gift him to the Colts, who would you pick and why?

Cornerback Pat Surtain. Somewhat similar to safety, this is another position for the Colts that has some question marks coming into the upcoming season–although, unlike at safety, this positional battle is taking shape. The addition of Surtain would provide a massive boost to a position group on the boundary that didn’t make enough plays on the ball in 2023 and surrendered too many big plays.

5. The Broncos and Indy will face off again in Week 15 this fall. Looking way too far ahead, what’s your early prediction for that game?

As of now, I’ll take the Colts. I’m bullish on them this season and a big reason why is because of their offensive and defensive lines. In the trenches on both sides of the ball, I believe there is the potential for the Colts to have top-tier units, and as the old saying goes, if you can control the line of scrimmage, you can control the game. I also like the team that has been built around Anthony Richardson on offense, with the offensive line, Pittman, Downs, Mitchell, and Jonathan Taylor, which as GM Chris Ballard noted before training camp, means that Richardson won’t have to do it all as a still relatively inexperienced player.

To read our answers to Colts Wire’s questions, click here.

Sunday’s game will be nationally televised on NFL Network. After traveling to Indy in Week 1, Denver will host the Green Bay Packers next week. To view the Broncos’ complete preseason schedule, click here.