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[Denver Broncos]

Scouting the Enemy: Cincinnati Bengals

Week Four of the 2025 NFL season is upon us. The Denver Broncos host the Cincinnati Bengals for their first primetime game of the season on Monday Night Football. The Broncos are hoping to get back to being a .500 ball club, while the Bengals are hoping to stick atop of the AFC North even without Joe Burrow at quarterback. The stakes are high for both teams, but there is no denying it’s a must-win game for Denver. With that said, let’s take a deeper look at the Bengals, some key players, and what the Broncos have to accomplish to secure a primetime victory.

2024 Cincinnati Bengals Season Review

The Bengals finished their 2024 campaign falling just sort of the playoffs with a 9-8 record and a third-place finish in the AFC North. While their offense was efficient scoring the sixth most points and accumulating the ninth most yards in the NFL, their defense ranked 25th in points allowed and yards given up. In order for them to get back to being a playoff team, they are certainly going to have to do much better than they did defensively in ‘24.

2025 Cincinnati Bengals Offseason Additions

Falling just short of the playoffs, the Bengals didn’t make a whole lot of outside splashes in free agency this offseason. However, they did a good job of rewarding their top players who have helped them be successful in recent memory. They gave mega-deals to receivers Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins. Most of their outside additions were on the defensive side of the ball.

The same goes for their endeavors in the 2025 NFL Draft, where they used multiple early selections to improve the defense. They are hopeful first-round pick Shemar Stewart can eventually give them a must needed boost to their pass rush, but rookie linebacker Demetrius Knight Jr. has already hit the ground running. Through three games, he already has 21 tackles and is making a lot of plays on the ball just like he did in college.

Offensive X-Factor: Quarterback Jake Browning

Last season, I had wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase as the obvious choice here as their offensive X-Factor. He’s certainly their most dynamic playmaker. They are certainly going to need him to perform well in order to topple the Broncos on the road.

However, for this year’s game, I’m going to switch it up and focus on a player that certainly has a lot of work to do. I’m talking about quarterback Jake Browning since Joe Burrow is out due to a foot injury for quite some time Browning’s start on the road in Denver will be the fifteen game of his career and his ninth start. Playing in two games this season, he has completed 68-percent of his passes for 381 yards and three touchdowns. However, he has been prone to throwing interceptions (five) in those two appearances and has a quarterback rating of 67.1.

I don’t envision Browning being able to perform like Burrow did in last year’s matchup. In fact, I think this matchup is pretty favorable for Denver’s defense who has the most sacks in the NFL with 12. Keep in mind, the Bengals’ offense has also struggled to run the ball this year. Chase Brown has only 93 yards on 47 carries. That’s a pitiful 2.0 yards per carry and puts enormous pressure on Browning to have to try and put the game on his shoulders.

The Bengals have some good playmakers on offense. Even so, I’m just not convinced the former Washington product is going to be able to take command of the game in the Mile High City. It would be a huge surprise if that happened, but stranger things have happened.

"I don't think the season's over for the Bengals.. I think Jake Browning is better than maybe a third of the starting quarterbacks in the NFL." — Rich Eisen pic.twitter.com/PXvab4A4tk

— Cincinnati (@CincyProblems) September 15, 2025

Defensive X-Factor: Safety Jordan Battle

For their ’24 matchup I had defensive end Trey Hendrickson as the X-Factor for the Bengals defense. This season, I’ll switch gears here and focus on a member of their secondary who has impressed to start the year. That would be safety Jordan Battle.

The third-year pro finally has come into his own as a full-time starter for the team. So far in his ‘25 campaign, he already has 23 tackles, 2 interceptions, and 2 passes defended. If he keeps it up, Battle will certainly put together a career year at the age of 25-years-old and could cement himself as one of the best up-and-coming defensive backs in the NFL.

Overall, the Bengals pass defense has struggled a bit today, but they are tied for third league-wide with four interceptions. Battle has two of them, and the Broncos can’t afford to let his ball-hawking skills and playmaking range to stifle their passing offense. Bo Nix is going to have to be very cognizant of where he is at all times.

Jordan Battle travels a long way to make this stop pic.twitter.com/ghR2bEU3ey

— mike (@bengals_sans) September 8, 2025

How the Broncos can secure a victory over the Bengals

Over the course of the week, the Mile High Report staff and I have authored several pieces on how the Broncos can emerge victorious on Monday night. This is one of those games that could dictate the aura of the rest of the season. Sitting at 1-2, Denver can’t afford to crater into a 1-3 hole with the potential of the Los Angeles Chargers getting to 4-0. That would be a catastrophic scenario and put their divisional and playoff hopes in jeopardy. If the Broncos can be more efficient on offense and generate some turnovers on defense, I have a feeling they will be able to take care of business. All things considered, I expect the coaching staff to have their players poised to perform at a high level in primetime.

Hart’s Prediction: Broncos 34, Bengals 13.

Source: https://www.milehighreport.com/denv...ngals-scouting-report-game-preview-nfl-week-4

 

[Denver Broncos]

Thursday Night Football Week 4: Seahawks at Cardinals Open Thread

The Seattle Seahawks are coming off a big win last week. Everything seemed to be firing on all cylinders during their 44-13 blowout win over the New Orleans Saints. However, I think the Arizona Cardinals defense is a bit more impressive. Being at home, I think the Cardinals could give Seattle some problems.

Kickoff is set for Thursday, September 25, 2025 at 6:15 p.m. Mile High time at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona and will air on Prime Video.

My Prediction​

According to FanDuel, the Seahawks are slight road favorites here over Arizona at 1.5-points. I think the Cardinals win straight-up tonight as I am not a big believer in this Seahawks team right now. They’ve had a good start again some inferior opponents and while I’m not all that impressed with the Cardinals either, I’ll give them the nod being at home and under the prime time lights of Thursday Night Football.

Prediction: Cardinals 24, Seahawks 22

Open thread in the comments section below. Discuss the games action there!​

Source: https://www.milehighreport.com/game-day-threads/158698/week-4-seahawks-at-cardinals-tnf

 

[Denver Broncos]

Future Broncos: Finding a playmaker at tight end

In the early installments of Future Broncos, we’ve dove into a handful of prospects on the offensive line, defensive line, and at linebacker. Those were my three biggest preliminary draft needs for Denver leading up to the 2026 NFL Draft. Outside of those three, one could make a strong argument that finding a high-profile prospect at tight end would be in the franchise’s best interest moving forward.

To date, the early returns on free agent addition Evan Engram have been limited. While I’m still optimistic he can become a big part of the offense in 2025, he certainly isn’t a part of the team’s long-term vision at the age of 31—as he signed only a two-year deal. Denver is expected to get second-year tight end Nate Adkins back for their game against the Cincinatti Bengals. I thought the UDFA from last season performed admirable when called upon, but he doesn’t necessarily translate as a legitimate top target at the position.

Keep in mind, veteran Adam Trautman is an unrestricted free agent at year’s end. Additionally, Lucas Krull will be a restricted free agent. Last year’s seventh-round draft selection Caleb Lohner still has a lot of work to do, and his potential shouldn’t preclude Denver from being interested in finding a significant upgrade next April. So, who are some of the top options for the Broncos could consider early on? Let’s discuss a few.

Kenyon Sadiq — Tight End — Oregon

Four-star high school standout Kenyon Sadiq didn’t have to travel far to find his next home to continue his gridiron joruney. The Idaho native trekked Westward a few hundred miles and landed in Eugene, Oregon to become the next big playmaker for Dan Lanning and the Ducks.

As a freshman in 2023, Sadiq saw time in fourteen games serving primarily as a reserve and special teams’ player. He caught only five passes for 24 yards and 1 touchdown. In 2024, Sadiq made some strides in his sophomore year hauling in 24 receptions for 308 yards and 2 touchdowns. His two-touchdown performance against Penn State in the Big Ten Championship game elevated his status in the eyes of talent evaluators and have drawn him first-round grades entering his junior year at Oregon.

At 6’3 and 245 pounds, he possesses similar size to Engram and reminds me a bit of Isaiah Likely who was a standout pass catcher at Coastal Carolina several years ago. The one big difference between them is Sadiq’s tenacity as a run blocker. He’s very active in that regard and a hard-nosed player who has no problems giving it his all to help establish the Ducks’ formidable rushing attack.

Through four games this season, he has 9 catches for 155 yards and 3 touchdowns. That 17.2 yard-per-catch average is one of the best in all of college football. Sadiq plays with great athleticism (4.55 speed), poise, and is a gifted player. There aren’t many holes about his game, but crisping up his routes will bode well for him as he works toward taking his talents to the pros.

Overall, it wouldn’t surprise me in the least if he winds up being a Top 20 pick when Spring comes along. He is definitely someone I’d peg in as a potential first-round selection for the Broncos if they opt to go in that direction. You can see Sadiq in primetime this evening when the sixth-ranked Ducks take on the third-ranked Penn State Nittany Lions this evening.

Watch Kenyon Sadiq blocking. pic.twitter.com/Xsy1nVmy1k

— LegalizeQuack (@Legalize_Quack) September 7, 2025

Max Klare — Tight End — Ohio State (via Purdue)

Over the years, the Broncos have added a lot of prospects from Ohio State to their roster. With a long-term need at tight end, don’t be surprised if Denver’s scouting department is keeping close tabs on another draft eligible Buckeye this cycle. That would be senior tight end Max Klare, who is spending his first year in Columbus after three seasons at Purdue.

At 6’4” and 240 pounds, Klare boasts the physical profile you want for an NFL tight end. He isn’t going to burn you with deep speed (4.7 40-yard dash) but is a fluid mover on tape and is a sure-fire winner on seam routes and concepts targeting the middle of the field. I like his toughness and tenacity. He’s extremely hard to bring down after initial contact and generates quality yardage over the catch. He’s a tried-and-true playmaker that can attack all three levels of the defense.

Last year with the Boilmakers, he embarked upon a special junior season notching 51 catches for 685 yards and four touchdowns. He was a big-time threat for them in the redzone during his time there. In three games with the Buckeyes, Klare hasn’t enjoyed the same success adjusting to a new team. He has just 4 catches for 48 yards and 1 touchdown on the year. Nevertheless, I’m definitely not down on him because of that. I’m confident he will be able to turn things around and notch a productive final season in the collegiate ranks.

How he performs the rest of the way out and his medical checkup at the NFL Combine in Indianapolis will play a big role in his draft stock. On top of that, I’d like to see some of that grit he shows after the catch show up in his run blocking, but as usual, most tight ends in college are a work in progress in that department. All things considered, there is no doubt he is an extremely talented player. You can catch him in action this afternoon when the top-ranked Buckeyes take on the Washington Huskies.

Max Klare on scoring his first touchdown as an Ohio State Buckeye:

“It felt great. I mean, I kind of blacked out,” he told @Dan_Hope. “That's probably one of the coolest touchdowns I've ever scored. Just looking up into the helmet stripe, too, it was pretty sweet.” pic.twitter.com/2oltAvw1Td

— Josh Poloha (@JorshP) September 14, 2025

Other Top Prospects to Watch:

The two aforementioned will likely be the first two tight ends off the board next April, but here are several other prospects to keep in mind as the ‘25 college season progresses. All five of these players could find their way into Top 100 consideration if they perform well over the next few months.

• Eli Stowers — Vanderbilt
• Oscar Delp — Georgia
• Jack Velling — Michigan State
• Joe Royer — Cincinnati
• Marlin Klein – Michigan

Source: https://www.milehighreport.com/denver-broncos-draft/158749/future-broncos-9-27-2025

 

[Denver Broncos]

Broncos vs. Bengals: Saturday practice participation report

The Denver Broncos and the Cincinnati Bengals released their final injury reports ahead of their Monday Night Football matchup. For the Broncos, they are entering the game fairly healthy, but had one of their explosive playmakers pop up on the injury report. As for the Bengals, they will be their first-round pick pass rusher, and a former Denver Broncos first-round pick for this game.

Good news, veteran tight end Evan Engram practiced fully all week and is good to go for Monday Night’s game vs. the Bengals. The bad news is that explosive wide receiver/returner Marvin Mims Jr. was a late add to the injury report with a hip injury and is questionable for the game. If Mims were to miss this game, look for Troy Franklin to see more reps along with rookie wide receiver Pat Bryant.

As for the Bengals, they will be down explosive rookie pass rusher Shemar Stewart due to an ankle injury, as well as former Denver Broncos tight end Noah Fant, who is dealing with a concussion. Stewart’s absence is a blow to the Bengals’ defense that has had its struggles this season, while Fant being out gives backup quarterback Jake Browning one less weapon to rely on during this game.

With all that said, here is your entire Saturday injury report for the Broncos and Bengals ahead of their week 4 matchup on Monday Night Football.

Denver Broncos Injury Report​

Player	Pos.	Injury	Thursday	Friday	Saturday	Game Status
Nate Adkins	TE	Foot	FULL	FULL	FULL
Nik Bonitto	OLB	Wrist	FULL	FULL	FULL
Evan Engram	TE	Back	FULL	FULL	FULL
Alex Singleton	ILB	Thumb	FULL	FULL	FULL
John Franklin-Myers	DE	Hip	LIMITED	FULL	FULL
Marvin Mims Jr.	WR	Hip	– –	– –	LIMITED	QUESTIONABLE

Cincinnati Bengals Injury Report​

Player	Pos.	Injury	Thursday	Friday	Saturday	Game Status
Samaje Perine	HB	Finger	FULL	FULL	FULL
Dalton Risner	G	Calf	FULL	FULL	FULL
Cam Taylor-Britt	CB	Hamstring	LIMITED	LIMITED	FULL
Noah Fant	TE	Concussion	DNP	DNP	DNP	OUT
Shemar Stewart	DE	Ankle	DNP	DNP	DNP	OUT

BOLD – Indicates change in status; NIR- Indicates not injury related; *- Team conducted a walk-through / report is an estimation; UNDERLINE– Player is on Reserve or Exempt List and has returned to practice
STATUS DEFINITIONS: Did not participate (DNP); Limited: means less than 100 percent of a player’s normal repetitions; Full—100 percent of player’s normal repetitions; Out: will not play; Doubtful: Unlikely to play; Questionable: Uncertain to play

Source: https://www.milehighreport.com/denv...engals-saturday-practice-participation-report

 

[Denver Broncos]

Broncos vs. Bengals: 3 players to watch in Week 4 matchup

The Denver Broncos have their backs against the wall after dropping two straight games to the Indianapolis Colts and Los Angeles Chargers. Monday Night Football’s matchup against the Cincinatti Bengals is a must-win game for them in order to salvage their season and get back on the right track. Here are three players I’m looking for to have better games this week to help Denver get back to being a .500 ball cub.

Luke Wattenberg — Center​

When you take a look around to glance at advanced metrics and analytics, outlets like Pro Football Focus, ESPN, and several others speak highly of the Broncos’ offensive line. That’s especially true with respect to pass blocking ability. However, there is one player who has regressed in that regard to start the season and that’s fourth-year center Luke Wattenberg.

Earlier in the week, our in-house offensive line guru Ross Allen broke down the tape from Wattenberg’s performance against the Chargers. It wasn’t a terrible performance, but his inability to diagnose stunts and deal with unique pressures Jesse Minter was dialing up certainly caused a lot of chaos on the interior protecting Bo Nix. That has also been a common theme in other games this season.

The Bengals’ interior defensive line doesn’t feature the premier players some of Denver’s other opponents had. Given such, that gives me some optimism Wattenberg can have a rebound game and be more consistent in the trenches. They will need him to protect Nix and help jumpstart their heavy zone rushing attack to secure a victory on Monday night.

RJ Harvey — Running Back​

The Broncos have had a lot of success running the ball with J.K. Dobbins on first down when they choose to do so. Overall, on 41 rushing attempts, Dobbins has gained 222 yards (5.4 yards per attempt) and 3 touchdowns. That’s quality production from the veteran who has proved to be a solid addition to their backfield to start the season.

Unfortunately, rookie second-round pick RJ Harvey has had a slow start to his season. Harvey had one explosive run for 50 yards against the Tennessee Titans in Week 1. Unfortunately, on 12 other carries to date, he has only amassed 30 yards. That’s certainly not going to cut it if he wants to play even a complimentary role in the offense. Earlier this week, Head Coach Sean Payton fielded questions on Harvey’s share and role in the offense and what to expect moving forward.

One area Payton mentioned that he hopes Harvey can be featured more is as a receiving option for Nix. On six receiving targets, the former UCF standout has just five catches for 30 yards. During his time with the Golden Knights, Harvey demonstrated he was a terrific outside zone runner and a quality pass catcher out the backfield. With Nix’s penchant for short passes and the screen game, perhaps Harvey’s confidence and production could get a much-needed boost featuring him as a primary outlet option out of the backfield against the Bengals.

Jonathon Cooper — Edge Rusher​

Fourth-year edge rusher Nik Bonitto has had a hot start to his ’25 campaign. Though Broncos Country shouldn’t sleep on how well veteran Jonathon Cooper is playing opposite of him. In fact, after last week’s performance, Cooper now boasts a higher pass rush win-rate than Bonitto. With 10 tackles, 3 tackles for loss, and 2 sacks through three games, the former Ohio State standout has continued to build upon his breakout season in ‘24 where he had a career best 10.5 sacks.

In order to help achieve a victory, the Broncos will need Cooper to play at a high level and get after quarterback Jake Browning. Cincinnati’s offensive tackles Orlando Brown Jr. and Amarius Mims have struggled a bit this season in pass protection and have given up multiple sacks. I think watching Cooper go up against both of them is a matchup for fans to keep their eye on.

I’d specifically like to see him be aggressive against Mims. His on the field performance to date simply hasn’t matched up with his athleticism or draft profile. It wouldn’t surprise me to see Cooper notch a few sacks under the bright lights on Monday night to keep Denver’s pass rushing attack atop the NFL in sacks.

Source: https://www.milehighreport.com/denv...als-key-players-matchups-predictions-analysis