Three must-watch Broncos in final preseason game

The Denver Broncos host the Los Angeles Rams in their final preseason game of 2023 on Saturday at 9 p.m. ET. Here are three must-watch players for Denver.

Marvin Mims Jr., wide receiver

The injury bug chomped the Broncos WR room again when Jerry Jeudy suffered a hamstring injury during a joint practice against the Rams on Thursday. It's not season-ending, but he's expected to miss several weeks and it's unlikely he'll play in Week 1, per NFL Network's Ian Rapoport and Tom Pelissero.

Denver already lost wideout Tim Patrick to a season-ending Achilles tear and waived K.J. Hamler due to mild heart irritation. Can Mims Jr., the 63rd overall pick of the 2023 NFL Draft, step up?

The former Oklahoma Sooner has yet to wow in the preseason, only catching one reception for eight yards in one game. However, his elite speed (4.38-second, 40-yard dash) provides upside. The 21-year-old will "play a lot" against Los Angeles, per Broncos head coach Sean Payton, determining if he's the answer to the WR woes.

Jaleel McLaughlin, running back

McLaughlin — an undrafted rookie out of Youngstown State — mitigated concerns about his size (5-foot-7, 187 pounds) in Denver's first two preseason contests. The 22-year-old rushed for 65 yards on 11 carries and scored three TDs.

"He's got a little bit [of] burst and toughness to him," Payton recently said of the rookie, per ESPN's Jeff Legwold. "He's the first one here. I don't know what time he gets here. It's pretty early. I'm talking 5 a.m. [arrival]."

McLaughlin is on the roster bubble since the Broncos already have RBs Javonte Williams and Samaje Perine. That said, Payton used multiple backs throughout his 15-year tenure in New Orleans, so the rookie could secure a spot with an excellent preseason finale.  

Drew Sanders, linebacker

Sanders stood out in Denver's second preseason game against San Francisco, recording a team-high seven tackles in the 21-20 loss. Throughout the offseason, he impressed defensive coordinator Vance Joseph, who recently indicated he will increase his role in the regular season.

"We've got some things that's he going to do in the fall that we won't show right now," Joseph recently said of the rookie, per Nick Kosmider of The Athletic.

It's unclear if the Broncos will move the former Arkansas Razorback from inside to outside linebacker because he's a good pass-rusher. Regardless, expect him to shine against the Rams as he continues to become an impact player.