Training Camp Report, Denver Broncos

Photo: Mark J. Rebilas, USA Today Sports

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Summary from the Final Week of Camp

Quarterbacks

Coach Vic Fangio has made it official: Teddy Bridgewater will open the season under center. “I have no doubt Drew will be again a quality starting quarterback in this league,” Fangio said last Wednesday. But at the moment, it appears he’s more comfortable with Bridgewater’s low-risk steadiness than Drew Lock’s occasional cannon-armed flashes. Bridgewater completed 22 of his 30 preseason throws, and while he’s no threat to attack downfield, he better fits the offense’s ball-control objectives. Of course, not everyone is on board with Bridgewater as the long-term solution, and it feels like a foregone conclusion Lock will work his way back toward the lineup. Lou Scataglia of Predominantly Orange still sees upper-tier starter traits in Lock and feels the team has “mishandled” Lock’s young career. “Do I think Teddy will be the long-term answer? No, I don’t,” Scataglia writes. “Cycling through the Keenums and Flaccos and Lynchs never brought me any hope that they could be the ‘guy’. Drew Lock was and is different than those before him, though.”

Running Backs

Rookie Javonte Williams has been a camp darling, with some calling for him to start outright immediately. But Melvin Gordon III returned Saturday from a groin injury and harkened back to his prime days, compiling 39 yards on six touches against the Rams while Williams sat. Perhaps Williams’ assumed promotion was premature – or, maybe, the team wanted to keep Williams in mothballs and push Gordon into an audition of sorts. If the team is looking to make a preseason deal, though, it seems more likely they’d move No. 3 Royce Freeman. Freeman should stick, at least until Mike Boone returns from his quad injury in a few weeks. Williams and Gordon enter Week 1 in a timeshare, with the rookie leading the way on early downs. But DenverChannel’s Troy Renck reminds us not to sleep on Williams as an every-down back.