While the Denver Broncos are one of the most inexperienced teams in the league, they might get even younger regarding their impact players. This was something that head coach Sean Payton emphasized in a press conference following their loss to the Los Angeles Chargers, hinting at greater roles to come for multiple rookies.

“We have to see these guys. We are a young team,” Payton said. “We are not waiting to redshirt these guys. We will continue to see each week their involvement in the plan and how they fit. That is how you get confidence and get experience.”

Who are these rookies the Broncos plan to get more involved offensively? I’ll break each one down to determine why Payton is so confident in this crop of rookies impacting the game.

While Franklin has had a rookie season to forget early on, he might have turned the corner in the Week 6 matchup against the Chargers. While fourth-round rookie only had 31 receiving yards, he did haul in his first touchdown on a two-yard pass late in the fourth quarter from his old college quarterback, Bo Nix.

Broncos Country hopes this can snap Franklin into form and show the league why he and Nix connected for 23 touchdowns during their two seasons together at Oregon.

Vele came out of the gates hot to start his season. While he only had 39 receiving yards in the season opener against the Seattle Seahawks, he was targeted nine times and hauled in eight receptions.

Unfortunately, Vele suffered a rib injury that sidelined him in Week 2. Only last week did the Broncos finally get the seventh-round rookie back, and he did not disappoint, snagging four receptions on six targets for 78 yards, leading the team vs. the Chargers.

With the Broncos backfield showing some flashes here and there, they’ve ultimately disappointed, especially lead back Javonte Williams. With Estime returning from injured reserve, look for him to get every chance to secure the starting role and spell the ultimate end for Williams’ time in Denver.

The only thing that seems to be in the way of the fifth-round rookie getting the starting spot is Estime himself and his ability (or lack thereof) to hold on to the ball. If he can find a way to eliminate the fumbles, Payton has made it well known he intends to give him some playing time.

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Denver’s season has started relatively well at 3-3, considering the relative youth of the roster. The Broncos will need to continue to grow on the offensive side of the ball.

“I want to see this runner as well. I want to see Estime,” Payton said. “We are going to see Vele and we are going to see Franklin.”

Of the three players, Vele has shown the highest floor of the bunch, frequently being targeted in the games he’s appeared in thus far. Estime seems to have the most coaching support behind him to get significant playing time, and it will be up to him to hold on to the ball, which will decide his place on the depth chart.

Franklin is the most intriguing of the bunch. If he can continue to get comfortable with the NFL speed, he has the lightning quickness to impact the game like Desean Jackson once did. If not, Franklin will be joining the rest of the bench-warmers.

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Sean Payton is glad for the short week.

Not only does the Broncos head coach have less time to dwell on an ugly, 23-16 loss Sunday to the Los Angeles Chargers, but there’s also less time for considering all of the emotion and history that will come with his return to New Orleans when Denver plays there Thursday night.

“It will be unique. One of the things we talk about with our players is trying to handle all this stuff ahead of time,” Payton told reporters Monday. “I have a great wife — (the) tickets are done with, family, my children. I think those around us know how challenging the short week is as compared to as if it was a full week.

“Certainly, there will be emotions going back there. … The amount of time I was there, I understand it.”

The history, of course, barely needs to be revisited. Payton spent 2006-21 coaching the Saints, won a Super Bowl in 2009 and paired with Drew Brees to form one of the most prolific coach-quarterback duos in NFL history.

Thursday night, naturally, includes a celebration of Brees, who is being inducted into the team’s Hall of Fame.

Payton acknowledges all of that but figures most of the adulation will be for the retired quarterback rather than the head coach standing on the visiting sideline.

“I don’t think there’s going to be a lot of flowers and warm fuzzies for yours truly, and I get it,” he said. “Listen, I can’t stand losing. It’s about our team and me as the head coach of the Broncos getting ready to play on an early week and trying to play one of our better games.”

Payton knows that challenge well. The Superdome is one of the louder venues in football. Both Denver and New Orleans are coming off losses and need to win to get back on track.

Then there’s, well, everything else.

“Fortunately it’s a short week because I haven’t had the chance to dive into all the other stuff,” he said. “Drew is going into their Hall of Fame. They also have a ring of honor, so that’s a separate event — (and soon he’ll be inducted to) the Pro Football Hall of Fame. I have already reached out to him, congratulated him and said, ‘This is the first of many.’

“I say this, but it’s about the game. It’s about the win. The significance of us playing our best football on a short week. It’s about our team. I’ll address that with them tomorrow morning. ‘Hey, let’s understand the significance of getting our fourth win.’ I think that’s the No. 1 thing and then go from there.”

This story will be updated. 

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