Denver, CO

Broncos’ 2nd-Year CB Emerging as Legit Stud Opposite PS2

Published

1 year ago

September 28, 2024

Broncos’ 2nd-Year CB Emerging as Legit Stud Opposite PS2

The Denver Broncos entered the 2024 season with more questions than answers on the roster. Without a doubt the biggest question that is still far from being answered is figuring out whether rookie Bo Nix is capable of being a long-term franchise quarterback for the organization.

That remains the most important thing for Denver to attempt to figure out this season, perhaps even more important than squeaking into the playoffs with a team feeling the dead-cap ramifications of the Russell Wilson release and so little premium selections on the roster (only five first-round picks on this roster in total).

Finding out whether Nix can become a quality quarterback for the Broncos isn’t the only area George Paton, Sean Payton, and the decision-makers will hope to find answers throughout this season.

Given Denver has so much dead cap, is dealing with the downstream effects of prior trades (trading up in the draft multiple times in 2023, acquiring Wilson, trading for Payton, and is still paying for several bad draft classes toward the end of John Elway’s tenure as the GM), the Broncos have a vast number of relatively inexperienced young players playing key roles on Sundays.

Can a young receiver step up out of Devaughn Vele, Troy Franklin, and Marvin Mims Jr. to help give Nix another weapon to complement the veterans? Can Denver find anything from the tight end position from Greg Dulcich or other young options?

Will Luke Wattenberg grow this season, or will he continue to be one of the worst centers in football, leaving a gaping hole on the expensive offensive line? Can any rookie contract running back do something?

Unfortunately, through three games, the Broncos have not had positive results from most young options on the offensive side of the ball. There is a lot of football to go luckily.

Thankfully, the defense has been on the other end of the spectrum for Denver. Zach Allen is playing at a Pro Bowl level, Jonathon Cooper is so disruptive it might make sense to get him locked up to stay in Denver before free agency, Jonah Elliss and Nik Bonitto also look formidable in the edge room.

Ja’Quan McMillian appears to have recaptured some of his mid-2023 season play after tailing off last year. The one unknown, though, thrust into an incredibly important spot that has emphatically flashed ability and competence through the start of the season is second-year starting boundary cornerback Riley Moss.

After trading up with the Seattle Seahawks to the 83rd overall selection in the 2023 draft, giving up the 108th selection in 2023 and a 2024 third-rounder that would end up as pick 81 overall, Denver selected the sturdy, ball-hawking Moss out of the University of Iowa. While Iowa had produced several solid defensive players over the last decade under defensive coordinator Phil Parker, the boundary cornerback position had been one of misfires.

Josh Jackson, Desmond King, and Michael Ojemudia were all solid cornerbacks for Iowa in college. Still, none seemed to translate to the NFL in large part due to the scheme Iowa had run historically.

Plenty of solid defensive backs from the Hawkeyes had translated to safety or slot such as aforementioned King, Micah Hyde, Geno Stone, Armani Hooker, and Dane Belton. Still, the boundary corner spot has been one spot where Iowa cornerbacks were unable to hang playing in the league.

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Through three games though, it does appear like Moss is set to break that trend. Measuring at 6-foot-2, 193 pounds with tremendous speed at a 4.45-second 40 time, a 1.48-second 10-yard split, a 39-inch vertical jump, and a 127-inch broad jump, Moss tested tremendously in all areas outside of his arm length at a very short (8th percentile) 30 inches.

Perhaps that lack of length has shown itself a few times as Moss had had nearly perfect coverage and positioning, but the ball manages to squirt past him for a hard-fought completion. Overall, the play on the field has matched Moss’ athletic testing numbers.

While Moss may not have good measurable length, he has good mass for a cornerback. That has shown itself on the field as he has been a very solid tackler through three games.

Moss has been credited with 16 tackles so far this year via Pro Football Focus and has missed just two in contrast to five run stops. The Broncos are still awaiting Moss’ first career interception, something he did 11 times for the Hawkeyes, including returning three for touchdowns. He did force his first fumble last this week on an excellent tackle.

The sample size is very small and cornerback can be a very fickle position, but to date, Moss has answered the call on what is one of the hardest tasks in the NFL: playing cornerback opposite arguably the best in football — Patrick Surtain II.

Despite being targeted 16 times this season, Moss has only surrendered 100 yards and just 30 yards after completion. These stats may seem ordinary until you consider the fact that Denver is playing man coverage as much as any team in the NFL outside of Jacksonville and is blitzing at the highest rate in the league.

In other words, Moss is not getting nearly the help in coverage teams utilizing more passive rush and cover schemes are calling, and the ramifications of a missed tackle and allowing YAC are far more dire with more bodies rushing in front of him and fewer bodies providing help in coverage behind him.

Will Moss be able to keep up his performances, including being PFF’s highest graded corner in the entire NFL week 3 at 91.1? Maybe, maybe not.

Moss has been healthy so far this season but he missed time in college and much of his rookie season with injury. Injury at the cornerback position can be argued is more detrimental than almost any other sport given the type of quick-twitch open space reactionary athleticism required to play the position (and one reason play at the position tends to fall off a cliff as they age).

The Broncos have question after question on the roster entering this season with more uncertainty than answers at a number of positions through the first three weeks of the season. Finding a cornerback worthy of playing opposite Surtain could have been argued as one of the most important questions on the roster going forward, outside of everything involving Nix and the quarterback position.

There is a lot of football yet to be played this season. Still, the returns on Denver trying to find an additional boundary cornerback on the roster (and one on a rookie contract with control through 2026 at that) appear to be trending very positively for Moss.

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Denver, CO

Purple Row After Dark: Is Denver the best sports town in the US?

Published

7 hours ago

March 29, 2026

Press Room

Purple Row After Dark: Is Denver the best sports town in the US?

In case you missed it, the Denver Summit — the Mile High City’s new NWSL team — made quite a debut today:

The game ended on a 0-0 draw, but what a great day for Denver sports.

And that raises an interesting question: Is Denver the best sports town in the United States?

The sooner the Mile High City gets a WNBA team, the better.

Me, I think you can’t beat Denver for sports. But I’m willing to entertain other perspectives. Let us know in the comments!

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Denver, CO

Every Opening and Closing This Week: Six Spots Debuted

Published

20 hours ago

March 28, 2026

Press Room

Every Opening and Closing This Week: Six Spots Debuted

Paperboy has opened its first location outside of Texas.

Paperboy

Denver is a city that loves to brunch and now, one of Austin’s top daytime spots has opened a location in the West Highland neighborhood. Paperboy’s third outpost is its first outside of its home state of Texas. The concept, which founder Rynan Harms started in a food trailer, has taken over the former home of Rooted Craft American Kitchen (and FNG before that).

“We love this neighborhood because it’s still close to downtown but has its own unique and relaxed vibe,” says Robert Brown, Harms’ longtime business partner, who has lived in Denver for nearly a decade. “People know their neighbors, they show up to community events, they’re invested in this place in a way that feels increasingly rare. That sense of connection is something Paperboy has always tried to foster, and we’re honored to be a part of it here in Denver.”

The menu includes staples such as the chicken and biscuit drizzled with spicy honey; Texas Hash with roasted pork, sweet potato, onion, kale, poached egg and pecan mole; and the Paperboy Pancake, described as “a cake-forward cornmeal pancake that still manages to be impossibly fluffy.”

martini on a table in front of a bar — FiNO’s martini is made with pickled tomato water.

Also now open is FiNO, the restaurant inside the revamped All Inn Hotel on East Colfax. We enjoyed our first meal there; if you’re planning to visit, don’t miss the signature martini, the Medi Nachos and the caper-studded charred cabbage.

On East Sixth Avenue, the powerhouse duo behind the city’s best new barbecue restaurant, Riot BBQ, has debuted Chicken Riot in the former Truffle Cheese Shop space. Meanwhile, the former Whiskey Biscuit in Englewood is now the Barn, a neighborhood eatery from a pair of longtime hospitality pros, including former Brider chef Chase Devitt.

Taqueria Los Gallitos has expanded once again, adding an eighth location in the former Taco John’s near the shuttered Denver Merchandise Mart.

And just in time for the Rockies home opener on Friday, April 3, McGregor Square has opened its revamped food hall. The former Milepost Zero moniker is out. Now, the space is dubbed McGregor Square Food & Drink and includes six food stalls from local eateries: Anthony’s Pizza & Pasta, C Burger, G-Que BBQ, High Point Creamery, TaCo! and Tora Ramen.

There’s just one closure to report this week: Ballyhoo Table & Stage, which actually shuttered last month after an eviction notice was posted.

In other openings and closings news:

chicken club sandwich — A chicken club is one of the sandwiches on off at the Barn.

Here’s the complete list of restaurants and bars that opened and closed this week*:

Openings

The Barn South Broadway, 3299 South Broadway, Englewood
Chicken Riot, 2906 East Sixth Avenue
FiNO, 3015 East Colfax Avenue
McGregor Square Food & Drink, 1601 19th Street
Paperboy, 3940 West 32nd Avenue
Taqueria Los Gallitos, 5810 Logan Street

Closures

Ballyhoo Table & Stage, 3300 Tejon Street

*Or earlier and not previously reported.

Know of something we missed? Email cafe@westword.com.

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Denver, CO

Preview: Spirit Prepares for First Match Against Denver Summit FC, Another Record Crowd

Published

1 day ago

March 28, 2026

Press Room

Preview: Spirit Prepares for First Match Against Denver Summit FC, Another Record Crowd

Denver, Colo. (03/27/2026) – In front of another expected record-breaking crowd, the Washington Spirit is set to take on Denver Summit FC in the side’s inaugural home match at Empower Field at Mile High. With over 60,000 tickets already distributed, the match is poised to break the NWSL attendance record of 40,091 set last summer when the Spirit visited Bay FC at San Francisco’s Oracle Park. Kicking off at 2 p.m. EDT, the match will broadcast nationally on CBS.

The Spirit

Washington comes into this weekend’s fixture off a difficult 1-1 home draw with Utah Royals FC earlier this week. After scoring in the 18th minute, the Spirit nearly earned its first victory of 2026 but conceded an equalizer late and had to settle for a single point on the table. Washington’s goal was scored by midfielder Rebeca Bernal, the Mexican star’s first since transferring to the NWSL last year.

Saturday afternoon’s match will mark the first-ever meeting between the Spirit, one of the NWSL’s original clubs, and 2026 expansion side Denver Summit FC. Denver will be the 17th different opponent for Washington across its regular season history: the Spirit has played against 13 active clubs (all except expansion sides Denver and Boston) as well as defunct clubs the Boston Breakers, FC Kansas City and the Western New York Flash.

The Spirit has had success against expansion sides as of late, tallying 11 wins in 15 matches against NWSL clubs in their first season of competition since the start of the 2021 campaign. In 2024, the Spirit went a perfect 5-0-0 against Bay FC and Utah Royals FC, outscoring the teams 10-3 with a playoff win to boot. In 2022, Washington earned a 1-3-0 record against Angel City FC and San Diego Wave FC and, in 2021, the eventual NWSL champions went an impressive 5-1-0 against Kansas City and Racing Louisville FC.

This weekend’s matchup at Empower Field at Mile High, home of the NFL’s Denver Broncos, is set to shatter the NWSL’s single match attendance record with over 60,000 tickets already distributed. The Spirit has also been the visiting team for two of the league’s previous three record-setting attendances: 34,130 fans at Seattle’s Lumen Field when the Spirit took on the Reign and 40,091 in the stands at San Francisco’s historic Oracle Park to watch Washington play Bay FC.

Washington is in good standing in several attacking categories through three matches despite two draws and a loss. The Spirit remains first in the league in rate of possession at nearly 62% and top three in both shots and shots on target with 49 and 17, respectively. With just three goals through three matches, look for the Spirit attack to continue getting attempts on frame this weekend.

Following Saturday’s match, the Spirit will hit the road again next weekend for an away match against Bay FC in San Jose on Sunday, April 5. Washington’s next home match will be on Friday, April 24 at 8 p.m. EDT when the side hosts the defending Shield winner Kansas City Current at Audi Field. Information on tickets can be found HERE.

The Opponent

Denver Summit FC opened its inaugural season with three straight away matches, collecting a win, a loss and a draw to carry four points into its home opener this weekend. Summit FC dropped its first match to Bay FC 1-2 before drawing Orlando 1-1 and beating Gotham 2-0.

Summit FC is led in scoring by star German forward Melissa Kössler who has three goals in three matches, scoring once in each contest. With a goal tomorrow, the forward would join Alex Morgan as just the second player in league history to score in each of her first four matches with a club. Look for the Spirit defending third to place an emphasis on limiting chances to Kössler on Saturday afternoon.

Denver has only allowed one goal across its last 240 minutes of action after giving up two in the first 30 minutes of the side’s opener. The strong recent form of Summit FC’s defending third against the Spirit attacking third’s ability to generate chance after chance will be a point to watch this weekend.

Three former Spirit players are currently on the Summit FC roster as midfielders Meg Boade and Jordan Baggett and defender Camryn Biegalski signed with the side ahead of this season. Baggett spent four years with the Spirit after being drafted by the side in 2019 while Biegalski signed with Washington in 2021 and played three seasons, both winning the 2021 NWSL Championship with the team. Boade spent the first half of the 2025 season in DC as a short-term injury replacement, even scoring a goal for the Spirit.

Following tomorrow’s match, Denver will travel to Seattle to face Reign FC on Saturday, April 4.

All-Time Series History

This weekend’s match will be the first-ever meeting between the Spirit and Denver Summit FC.

About The Washington Spirit

The Washington Spirit is the premier professional women’s soccer team based in Washington, D.C. and plays at Audi Field in Buzzard Point. The Spirit was founded on November 21, 2012 and is an inaugural member of the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) the fastest growing sports league in the US. The club is home to some of the best players in the world who have won championships for both club and country. For more information about the Spirit, visit WashingtonSpirit.com and follow the club on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.

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