Six months ago, George Paton went to the NFL owners’ meetings in Florida and spoke of the organizational plan for “getting tough” down the middle of the Broncos’ defense, a plan that informed much of Denver’s movement in free agency.

Two games into the 2025 season, though, nothing’s changed. Still, coverage over the middle of the field is the fontanelle of Vance Joseph’s newborn unit , the soft spot that’s yet to harden. Still, the Broncos have yet to see free-agent ILB Dre Greenlaw, the signee who could fix this. Still, the Broncos’ returning linebacker corps was ineffective against hybrid pass-game weapons Sunday.

“Early in the game, we’ve got the runner coming out of the backfield uncovered,” head coach Sean Payton said Monday, referring to a late first-quarter 43-yard catch-and-run

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