The Denver Broncos defense lost a HUGE piece this offseason when defensive lineman John Franklin-Myers bounced in free agency to the Tennessee Titans, right? That D-line spot has been a hot mess of competition in training camp.
D.J. Jones Just Called His Shot
But get this, veteran D.J. Jones, a guy who knows the trenches, just dropped a bomb. He thinks Malcolm Roach isn’t just *filling* that void, he’s *running* with it! “As far as rotation goes, Roach, I believe he’s going to take that JFM job and he’s run with it,” Jones told reporters after Wednesday’s practice. “He’s doing a great job as we speak.” Talk about a vote of confidence! This isn’t just another dude trying out. Jones thinks Roach is the real deal, a lock. You’ve got Eyioma Uwazurike, Sai’vion Jones, Tyler Onydim, and Jordan Jackson all trying to snag that starting role, but Jones’s words put Roach in a whole different league. What does that say to the other guys?
The Roach Report: Production and Practice Peril
And honestly, Roach deserves that hype! The dude had a monster 2025 campaign, his second year with Denver. He played in 12 regular season games AND both playoff tilts, racking up a career-high 50 total tackles. Seriously, 50 tackles from a D-lineman? That’s insane! Plus six sacks throughout the season. That’s productive as heck, and he was crucial for their playoff pushes. Now in his third season with the Broncos, Roach is one of the defensive line’s more veteran guys. He’s absolutely a top candidate for that open slot. But hold up, Roach has to keep his head on a swivel. He’s reportedly been a little too enthusiastic in practice. If he hits quarterback Bo Nix one more time, he could be in a serious bind. You gotta protect the QB, even in practice, right?
This position battle is going to be straight-up must-watch TV as training camp rolls on and through the preseason. Can Roach lock it down and live up to Jones’s high praise? The Broncos are back at it Friday for Day 7 of practice at Broncos Park Powered by CommonSpirit. You know everyone will be watching to see if Jones’s prediction comes true.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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