Denver, CO
Denver Broncos vs LA Chargers 5 questions: How has Justin Herbert looked?
The Denver Broncos are coming off one of the best wins in a long time.
The Broncos (3-2) are on a three-game winning streak and can improve to 2-0 in the AFC West. Meanwhile, the Los Angeles Chargers (2-2) are coming off their bye and head to Denver with a new head coach Jim Harbaugh and a new culture.
We go “behind enemy lines” to get a feel for the Chargers heading Sunday’s game with Michael Peterson from Bolts from the Blue to preview Sunday’s game.
MHR: How is the Jim Harbaugh tenure fairing through the four games? What has he done to put the franchise on the right track? And what more can he do?
Michael: I believe the biggest thing Jim Harbaugh has done since taking the helm of the Chargers is changing the culture throughout the team. It’s something you can legitimately feel when listening or watching anything involving the team. Everyone truly seems to be on the same page from top to bottom. The way the team won their first two games was exactly the vision we all expected to see. Unfortunately, injuries hit the team at important positions and they dropped the past two games by close decisions. But that plays into the thing I wish he could fix and/or do more for.
The Chargers have always been a very injured team, but that’s not just it. The guys who get injured are always at positions that drastically affect the performance of the entire team. Whether it be the team’s top receivers, their edge rushers, or their best offensive linemen, it’s always at a position that usually makes the difference between a bad team and a successful one. Harbaugh brought strength coach Ben Herbert with him from Michigan, and the dream was that he would finally make the injury bug go away. Unfortunately, that just hasn’t been the case thus far in 2024.
MHR: What is the Chargers defense doing to be so tough? And is this early success sustainable?
Michael: Honestly, similar to what I touched on above, it really is that they’re all playing together and on the same page. Those defenses under Brandon Staley seemed to be so disconnected. Broken plays and numerous missed tackles told the tale of those units. Now? This group is playing some really, really good team-oriented defense. The pass rush may not be getting home as much as the Broncos, but it’s causing enough havoc that opposing quarterbacks are throwing picks.
At the second level, second-year linebacker Daiyan Henley is breaking out before our eyes as a sideline-to-sideline defender who has been tight in coverage. In the secondary, free agent-signing Kristian Fulton has not only been one of the best cornerbacks in football this year but also one of the most improved players overall.
As far as how sustainable it is? Yeah, I’d say it’s been pretty sustainable. The Chargers have been doing this without Joey Bosa for most of three games and without Derwin James and Alohi Gilman for one game apiece. I would honestly say that this unit is playing so synergistically that their results have been better than the sum of their parts if that makes sense.
MHR: How has Justin Herbert looked in his first four games? What he is doing well? Where does he need to improve?
Michael: Justin Herbert has been fairly solid this year so far. Outside of one bad interception he threw against the Panthers, he’s been about as good as expected, given his circumstances. I’ve always believed that Herbert is at his best when he’s allowed to sling it all over the yard. It’s almost as if he gets better after building momentum with each new throw. However, Herbert’s basically been bottled up this year by his team’s own offensive philosophy. They want to run, run, and run the ball some more while mixing in the pass here and there to keep drives extended. But at the end of the day, this is a running team. The Chargers’ receivers are not talented enough to let the passing game do much carrying right now and the way Greg Roman calls games makes that even more apparent.
Herbert’s currently on pace to set a career-low in interceptions. He’s always been safe with the football and has one of the lowest turnover-worthy throw rates in the NFL since he was drafted. He’s also doing one hell of a job at avoiding sacks in the pocket. He’s so dang big that defenders have to work overtime to stop him from trying to attempt a pass before being brought down.
As far as where he needs to improve, that’s a tough one. Honestly, I guess I have to say just simply being better at protecting yourself. Ending last year with an injury and then starting this year with another one is a rough situation for a team that’s trying to compete in a year where many don’t have high expectations for them.
MHR: What is your best bet for Sunday’s game? And what do you think of the current spread?
Michael: I’m actually quite surprised the Chargers three-point favorites on the road. The Chargers offense hasn’t faired well at all into other elite defenses, and I don’t see them looking great this week, even with both starting tackles back. If I was a betting man, I’d probably slam Herbert for under 181 passing yards. He has yet to cross that mark in four games this season, and I doubt he does it against one of the best pass defenses in the NFL.
MHR: What are your expectations and predictions for Sunday’s game?
Michael: My prediction is that the Chargers will keep this game close and competitive similar to their past two against the Steelers and Chiefs. However, I just can’t see the offense consistently moving the ball enough to give the defense the breaks they deserve. In each loss, that unit becomes far too gassed, and it shows in the fourth quarter when they can’t finish as strong as you normally would want to see from your team. The Chargers also have been horrendous at scoring points in the fourth quarter, so that stark contrast in time spent on the field between the two is felt even more.
In the end, I believe the Broncos win a close one 16-13.
Factors such as declining birth rates and families moving out of the city are contributing to declining enrollment at Denver Public Schools. In turn, it’s reshaping the district’s future.
“I think we’re in a good position, but it’s responsible for us to always be looking in the future and knowing we have to make some adjustments,” said Chuck Carpenter, the district’s CFO.
In a two-year span between this past school year and next, DPS expects a decline in enrollment of around 1,700 students.
“We haven’t really seen anything like this,” said Carpenter in response to the consistent decline.
Because of this trend, the district is facing a $28 million structural deficit over the next five years.
“We have a balanced budget now, and we’re not predicting that we’ll have an unbalanced budget in three years,” said Carpenter. “We’re saying we need to make adjustments over the next three, four years, so that our budgets are balanced.”
DPS’s Director of Campus Planning, Andrew Huber, told CBS Colorado in an interview last month that those adjustments will likely include closing down more schools.
“Additional school closures will be necessary in the upcoming years. When exactly that would be is hard to forecast right now,” said Huber.
The district’s CFO says his biggest takeaway from a recent round of closures is to make sure to give families options for what’s next.
“No one wants their school closed, but the second-best option isn’t going to be the same for every family,” said Carpenter.
This issue could be one Denver faces for years to come.
“We sort of say, how many kids are born here? Because in five years, those kids will be kindergartners,” Carpenter added.
The city’s birth rate peaked in 2005, meaning those babies have already graduated high school. And, according to the Colorado Department of Local Affairs, more young families move out of Denver and into surrounding counties than move into the city.
“I think school consolidation is very — I understand why people want to talk about it, but I think it’s more about, like, how do we make sure that the programs that are offered are rich programs,” said Carpenter.
Carpenter also says the district is closely monitoring some potential cuts to federal grants for students of poverty and language learners. He says those decisions will be made by October for the start of the new fiscal year, and cuts would have a “terrible” impact.
The Denver Broncos hosted eight tryout players at mandatory minicamp this week, including quarterback Sawyer Robertson. It sounds like the team has made decisions on those tryout players, and Robertson won’t be signed (at least not right now).
Instead, the Broncos are signing offensive lineman Reid Holskey (according to ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler) and cornerback Blake Cotton (according to the Denver Post‘s Parker Gabriel). Holskey (6-6, 306 pounds) spent time on the Houston Texans’ practice squad in 2025 before joining the New York Giants in January. He was cut by New York last month. Cotton (6-2, 195 pounds) is a rookie who spent last fall at Utah, totaling 30 tackles and seven pass breakups in 13 games.
The two moves came one day after Denver wrapped up minicamp. The 91-man offseason roster was already full, so the Broncos will need to make corresponding moves to make room for Holskey and Cotton on the roster.
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Sean Payton has seen enough. The Denver Broncos’ third practice of mandatory minicamp, which was set to happen on Thursday, has been canceled.
“Just schedule-wise, today will be our last day,” Payton said after Wednesday’s practice. “I just finished telling them that. It’s unusual because there’s a lot of packing, a little bit more than normal when you’re moving into another facility. So when we’re back here, we’ll be in the new building.”
The Broncos are moving into their new state-of-the-art facility, but the decision to cancel the final practice of the offseason was motivated primarily by what Payton has seen thus far and how the team is shaping up.
Thus concludes the Broncos’ offseason training program, which featured eight total practices as a team, four of which were open to the media. There was more on-field activity than that, including walkthrough practices unseen by the press, but in essence, we’re talking about eight sessions.
Some players have already begun to separate themselves in their respective competitions. Others have really popped, while some have failed to really stand out in any meaningful way.
By way of a Broncos stock report, let’s get to the biggest winners and losers of mandatory minicamp.
Winner: Bo Nix | QB
Nix finally returned to the practice field on Tuesday, the first day of minicamp. He was limited to individual drills only, but it was still great to see him out there.
On Day 2, though, Nix took another big step forward, participating in a 7-on-7 drill that included a highlight-reel touchdown pass to RJ Harvey. Just getting Nix back on the field was a big win for the Broncos, but seeing him progress over two days and look overall very sharp was more than a little encouraging.
Winner: Jaylen Waddle | WR
Waddle has been a lightning rod since the practices were opened to the media. He just looks different. That speed and explosiveness really add an element to the Broncos’ offense that has been lacking.
It’s been palpable. But arguably just as exciting is what Waddle’s teammates and coaches have been saying about him. Payton has called him a “force multiplier,” which is another way of saying that he makes everyone around him better.
Not that we really had reason to doubt it, but Waddle has been as advertised thus far, and then some.
Loser: Marvin Mims Jr. | WR
Mims is not listed as a loser because of any specific negative plays, like a dropped pass or a mental miscue. It’s just that, with other receivers, including Waddle, shining, generating buzz, and earning plaudits from Payton, Mims didn’t really.
Mims is a similar receiver type as Waddle, but the newcomer made it clear how much separation exists between them in practice. Now, Mims is still important to the Broncos, especially as a returner, and Payton did compliment his clutch gene and contributions in big games, but you have to wonder how he fits into the game plan on offense. That question still hasn’t been answered.
Winner: J.K. Dobbins | RB
Dobbins was his usually talkative self at minicamp, but the fact that he was healthy and out there doing his thing is a major win for the Broncos. It’s good to have him part of the daily process at Broncos HQ again because he’s one of those veterans that takes players under his wing, and elevates them.
Winner: Que Robinson | OLB
With the recent off-the-field drama the Broncos have dealt with, some extra attention was paid to the Broncos’ outside linebackers. Robinson, in particular, separated himself during minicamp.
His get-off is something else, and he was dispruptive during the Broncos’ team periods. Vance Joseph has said he views Robinson as a “future starter.” Pending Cooper’s situation, the future could be now, though Elliss will also have something to say about that.
Robinson had one heck of an offseason. I’m really looking forward to his second year.
Loser: Jonathon Cooper | OLB
After being arrested twice in the span of a week, the Broncos excused Cooper from mandatory minicamp. It would seem the Broncos want to create some distance from Cooper until his legal troubles are resolved, one way or another.
It’s a shame, in more ways than one. Beyond what legal ramifications might await Cooper, he’s very likely to be suspended by the NFL, and the Broncos releasing him at some point is not outside the bounds of the plausible. It’s a good thing that rush linebacker room is stacked.
Winner: Matt Henningsen | DL
None of these winners has been quite as surprising as Henningsen. He made a huge play on Day 1 of minicamp, tipping a Sam Ehlinger pass and returning it to the house.
Henningsen followed that up with another disruptive Day 2. He’s gone from being an after thought in the Broncos’ defensive line conversation to establishing himself as a bona fide threat for the roster.
Loser: Jahdae Barron | CB
Like Mims, Barron wasn’t bad during the offseason; he just didn’t pop, really, in any way. He broke up one pass on Day 2 of minicamp, but beyond that, there wasn’t much to see.
It will be interesting to see how Barron performs in training camp. We know the Broncos have high expectations for him, and a role on defense, even if as a depth piece, will be created for him, but I was hoping to see more signs of a Year-2 leap by now.
Winner: Jonah Coleman | RB
Another as-advertised player. Coleman has proven he’s ready for the NFL, which was partly what attracted the Broncos to him in the draft.
Coleman stood out in a major way at minicamp and made it clear that the Broncos have more than just a J.K. Dobbins insurance policy on their hands. Coleman is a force to be reckoned with.
Winner: Tyler Onyedim | DL
Like Coleman the Broncos’ first pick in the 2026 draft has looked NFL-ready. The Broncos still haven’t signed Onyedim, but that didn’t stop him from participating in the offseason program, which is a good harbinger.
Rocking the No. 98 jersey, it’s easy to mistake Onyedim for the guy he was drafted to replace: John Franklin-Myers. That’s especially true when the rookie is out there making plays like JFM. Onyedim has earned praise from his teammates, including the All-Pro Zach Allen.
Winner: Evan Engram | TE
Engram looked very good in minicamp this week. He looked like a big, athletic, smooth, explosive receiver, which is what he’s been in the NFL.
Engram wasn’t really all those things in his first year with the Broncos, but I’m hopeful that Year 2 will be different for the two-time Pro Bowler. He’s had a good summer.
Winner: Troy Franklin | WR
Franklin seems like the obvious No. 3 receiver in the pecking order. That doesn’t mean he’ll get the No. 3 snaps on an exclusive basis, though.
As the Broncos’ No. 2 last year, Franklin wasn’t able to fully live up to that, although he took some big steps forward in his second year. As the No. 3, it’s more his natural spot and that should allow him to continue to thrive in the offense, especially with the connection he has with Bo Nix dating back to Oregon.
Winner: Sam Ehlinger | QB
Ehlinger had a great offseason. He looked way more comfortable and far sharper in the offense in what is his second go-around in Payton’s offense.
Ehlinger was sharp this summer, and if he can continue to build on the foundation he’s created, it could create some uncomfortable conversations at Broncos HQ.
Loser: Jarrett Stidham | QB
Stidham has been less noteworthy this summer, but that doesn’t mean he’s been bad. In comparison to Ehlinger, though, Stidham wasn’t as good, which is curious, considering his standing as the team’s primary backup since 2023.
If Ehlinger ends up leapfrogging Stidham, what do the Broncos do? They’re holding a competition for QB2, and they have to be prepared for the possibility of Ehlinger winning it, especially after his strong summer.
If Ehlinger forces this issue, Stidham could become expendable. Stidham is very unlikely to be a cut candidate because of his contract, but as a trade piece? There’s a reason the rumor mill has been active on the Stidham topic this offseason. It’s something to watch.
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