5:20 MST: Less than two hours to kickoff for the Broncos final preseason contest of 2008. Players are starting to migrate out onto the field.
The Denver starters are expected to sit this one out, letting their backups get their most significant action. Arizona, on the other hand, is expected to play their starters for at least a portion of the game.
I’ll keep y’all updated as more and more guys make their way onto the field to warm up. But first, there was already a little bit of interesting action as several Broncos who will not play had a field goal kicking competition. Jay Cutler and Casey Wiegmann both nailed 40-yarders, while Ryan Clady missed. Jay then backed it up to 45, and he boomed it nice and straight, but it fell just a few feet short.
Jake Grilley is heading down onto the field to snap some pregame photos, so I’ll post those on here as soon as we get them. I’ll check back in shortly with more notes.
5:55 MST: Just got back up from the field with some pics from Jake…
5:59 MST: Just got the list of Broncos that will not be playing tonight:
Brandon Marshall, Darrell Jackson, Brandon Stokley, Eddie Royal, Selvin Young, Andre Hall, Jay Cutler, Ryan Harris, Ryan Clady, Chris Kuper, Ben Hamilton, Casey Wiegmann, Tom Nalen, John Engelberger, Ebenezer Ekuban, Dewayne Robertson, Marcus Thomas, Elvis Dumervil, Kenny Peterson, Jamie Winborn, Nate Webster, D.J. Williams, Boss Bailey, Champ Bailey, Marquand Manuel, Marlon McCree, Dre’ Bly and Ryan Torain.
6:20 MST: Though no one on the starting offense or defense is expected to play tonight, all the Broncos are wearing their uniforms and helmets. Cutler just ran out onto the field sporting full uniform and helmet, minus the pads.
Darrell Hackney and Patrick Ramsey will lead the team at quarterback tonight, and both of them are on the field warming up.
Fans have been trickling into the stadium for over an hour now, and there are actually quite a few wearing Broncos gear.
The rest of the Cardinals just ran out of the tunnel to begin warming up.
6:43 MST: The Broncos just left the field to head back into the locker room, and there are even more Bronco fans here now to cheer them as they go back through the tunnel.
And as would be expected of a final preseason game on a holiday weekend where the starters play the least, the stadium is maybe 20% full.
Fans will get to see many of the young players, as well as players on the bubble, put on a good show as they try to hold onto roster spots.
7:59 MST: Just about time for kickoff, and the Broncos just ran out of the tunnel and onto the field. At first I only heard cheers from the Broncos fans in the stadium, but then the Cardinals fans kicked in with a chorus of boos.
8:04 MST: The Cardinals have won the toss and elected to defer to the second half. The Broncos will receiver the opening kickoff. Time for the final preseason game of 2008!
Tags: Adam Zinser, Live Blog, Pregame, Preseason, Uncategorized
I know that Boss is in in the lineup, but will he be ready to go when the season starts?
ramz20, Mike Shanahan was just talking about that on 850 KOA pregame and he said he expects Boss to start practice either Monday or Tuesday. He wonders if Boss will be in football shape by the MNF matchup with Oakland, but thinks the ankle will be good to go by then.
ramz20: Well he did get back onto the practice field early this week, so that is a good sign. We’ll have to wait and see how things progress this week
Thanks guys!