JACKSONVILLE – Team reporter Kainani Stevens each week during the 2026 regular season will speak with a media member covering the Jaguars' opponent.
Up this week:
Mile High Sports Broncos reporter and host of Locked On Broncos Cody Roarke checks in. He recaps Denver's loss to the Kansas City Chiefs on Monday Night Football and previews the Week 2 matchup against the Jaguars at Empower Field at Mile High.
Q: Week 1 can be weird, and the Broncos had a tough time with the Chiefs. Were you surprised with what you saw in Week 1?
A: I was very surprised to see the outcome. I would even say just the effort or the mistakes that the Broncos made to open the season. There was a lot of hype surrounding the team. I felt like the Broncos had found some of the missing pieces that they were looking for last year. Then they just came out and they laid an egg on Monday Night Football against Kansas City. It kind of snowballed. One mistake led to another, and it transferred from the offense to the defense, and it was out of control. It's a short week for Denver and they have to find a way to learn from that. They need to prepare for a Jaguars team that gave them probably more fits last year than anybody. The Broncos can't feel sorry for themselves. They have to get right back at it and prepare for another tough test.
Q: What was the offseason like in Denver? Quarterback Bo Nix got hurt in the playoffs, but he has worked his way back. Denver has a new play-caller as Head Coach Sean Payton gave up those duties.
A: Payton doesn't like the term "running it back," but they brought back 94 percent of the roster that was here last year. They had two departures in safety P.J. Locke, who went to the Dallas Cowboys, and John Franklin-Myers who ended up with the Tennessee Titans. Denver's only real new addition was wide receiver Jaylen Waddle via trade from the Miami Dolphins. What we've seen from him in practice and this summer was exciting. On Monday Night Football, Waddle only had three targets. We'll see how that changes going into this week's matchup against Jacksonville. The Broncos felt like they had everybody that they needed to make a Super Bowl run last year. They found themselves one game shy. Bo Nix hurts his ankle, and they felt if Nix played in the AFC Championship Game, then they were going to go to the Super Bowl. But now you have to forget about last year and focus on now. The Broncos' offense just came out flat Monday. I don't know if it's the lack of preseason reps specifically, but that must play a little bit of a part of it with the rustiness that we've seen from them so far.
Q: This game last December was a marquee win for the Jaguars, who were able to go on the road and win in a tough environment. Are the Broncos hoping they can get some home cooking and use that to get back on track?
A: Quarterback Trevor Lawrence and the Jaguars came in last year when the Broncos had just won 11 straight games. Lawrence put on a spectacular show in that game. He can hurt the Broncos with his legs. That is something they're going to have to account for because they're coming off a very bad tackling experience. Mahomes didn't have to do much in that game. He had to just hand the football off. Lawrence can hurt you with his legs and his arm, so it presents a different test to Denver this week. Denver has their backs against the wall after an 0-1 start, and the Jaguars look red hot after their season opener.
Q: Is Nix completely healthy in your mind, ready to go? Is it just rust at this point, or do you think with the different play calling, kind of figuring things out still?
A: He's 100 percent cleared from the ankle injury. He had a cleanup procedure right before the NFL Draft in April. He was full go all training camp and looked good using his mobility. I think so much of it was in fact rust. They probably should have invested a little bit more stock in the starters playing in the preseason, but I also understand the concerns that come with that. Nix and the offensive line must find a way to communicate better. Nix was pressured by the Chiefs on 45.5 percent of his drop backs, and they weren't sending a lot of exotic looks. They were sending four players, sometimes with three and still getting home. They will need to account better for the Jaguars' defense this upcoming weekend.
Q: Any X-factor players for you in this game?
A: Waddle has to be more involved because three targets are simply not enough for a guy you invested a first-round pick in. He's too talented of a playmaker. Someone to keep an eye on is Pat Bryant, the second-year wide receiver. He ended up leaving the game last year against the Jags with a scary injury, but he has had a terrific offseason. He was featured heavily early on in Monday Night Football. He can be an X-factor not only as a blocker but also as a pass-catcher. Also, the Broncos have to try to run the football. They didn't do it on Monday Night Football. They only had six rushing attempts in the first half and only a few in the second half. That is not going to be a formula for success. If the Jaguars can come out and stifle the run, it puts the Broncos in a tough position that they have yet to successfully respond.
