Preseason Week 3 Recap: Three Key Takeaways from the Broncos’ 34-6 Win Over Minnesota

The Denver Broncos couldn’t have asked for a much better way to close out the 2026 preseason.

Denver dominated the Minnesota Vikings from start to finish, cruising to a 34-6 victory and finishing the preseason with a 2-1 record.

With the regular season now just around the corner, the Broncos’ coaching staff has one final opportunity to evaluate the roster before making its cuts to 53 players.

Hardly any of Denver’s starters played in the preseason finale, meaning the spotlight was largely on players fighting for roster spots and others hoping to carve out roles on the team.

Here are three takeaways from Denver’s preseason finale against Minnesota:

1. Cody Schrader May Have Played Himself Onto Another Team’s Roster

Cody Schrader is facing an uphill battle to make the Broncos’ 53-man roster.

But that doesn’t mean Friday night was meaningless for the young running back.

Schrader put together the kind of performance that could attract attention from another team in need of depth at the position, finishing the night with 132 yards from scrimmage and a touchdown. He rushed for 42 yards on 13 carries while adding 90 receiving yards and a touchdown on six receptions.

With J.K. Dobbins, R.J. Harvey and Jonah Coleman seemingly locked into spots on Denver’s 53-man roster, Schrader would likely be competing with Jaleel McLaughlin and Tyler Badie for the final running back spot. And Schrader is not likely to leapfrog McLaughlin or Badie for that final spot on the Broncos’ roster.

That doesn’t mean he won’t have an NFL opportunity elsewhere.

Running back depth can become a necessity quickly once the regular season begins, particularly as injuries begin to pile up. A team looking for another option in its backfield could look at Schrader’s preseason performance and see a player worth bringing in.

That’s what made Friday night so important for Schrader.

He may not have done enough to earn a spot in Denver, but he certainly gave himself something to put on tape for the rest of the NFL.

2. Jonathan Cooper’s Preseason Workload Could Be a Sign of What’s Coming

One of the more interesting developments from the Broncos’ preseason finale was the decision to play Jonathan Cooper.

In fact, Cooper played in all three of Denver’s preseason games, despite the Broncos resting most of their starters against the Vikings. He finished Friday night’s game with two total tackles.

That could be significant.

Cooper could be placed on the Commissioner’s Exempt List in the near future, and his preseason workload may have been designed with that possibility in mind. By getting Cooper as many game reps as possible before the regular season, Denver could be preparing for the possibility that he faces a lengthy layoff to begin the 2026 season.

If Cooper is suspended for multiple games, those preseason reps could prove valuable. Rather than entering the season having barely played, Cooper would at least have three preseason appearances under his belt before potentially missing significant time.

Of course, Cooper’s preseason workload doesn’t guarantee that he’ll be suspended, nor does it tell us how long a potential suspension could last.

But it’s difficult to ignore the timing.

With most of the Broncos’ starters sitting out the preseason finale, the decision to play Cooper for a third consecutive game looks increasingly intentional.

Denver may have simply been trying to get Cooper as much work as possible now, knowing it might not have him available once the games start counting.

3. Could Adam Prentice Become the Broncos’ Short-Yardage Weapon?

Adam Prentice may have found himself a unique role in Denver’s offense.

The fullback punched in a 1-yard touchdown late in the first quarter against Minnesota, giving the Broncos a 10-0 lead. Prentice finished the game with three carries for five yards and the touchdown.

It wasn’t the first time Prentice found the end zone from that distance this preseason.

He also scored on a 1-yard touchdown run during the Broncos’ 27-7 victory over the Atlanta Falcons in the preseason opener.

That raises an interesting question: Could Prentice see some short-yardage and goal-line opportunities once the regular season begins?

Denver has plenty of reasons to be cautious about asking its most important offensive players to absorb unnecessary punishment.

Bo Nix is the team’s franchise quarterback, while J.K. Dobbins is expected to play a major role in the backfield. Both players also have a history of significant injuries, making it even more important for the Broncos to avoid exposing them to unnecessary contact when the situation allows.

Neither player needs to be taking unnecessary hits on plays where Denver simply needs a yard or two.

That’s where Prentice could come in handy.

At 6-foot and 245 pounds, the fullback has the size to serve as a physical option in short-yardage situations. If the Broncos have confidence in his ability to find the end zone from close range, it could give Denver another weapon to deploy near the goal line.

Two 1-yard touchdowns in three preseason games obviously don’t guarantee that Prentice will have a regular role in the Broncos’ offense.

But it’s something worth watching once the games start counting.

And given Denver’s desire to keep Nix and Dobbins healthy for the long haul, don’t be surprised if Prentice gets a few opportunities to do the dirty work himself.