The Denver Broncos take on the Arizona Cardinals for their Week 7 matchup of the 2026 regular season. Both teams came away with victories due to good defensive play. However, each has a lot to work out on offense. Here are three storylines I’ll be following closely on Sunday.
The return of edge rusher Jonathon Cooper
The Broncos have been the top team in the NFL over the past two seasons when it comes to sacking opposing quarterbacks. However, there has been a slight dip in production so far this season. One of them is the departure of defensive lineman John Franklin-Myers in free agency. Edge rusher Jonathon Cooper being on the Commisioner’s Exempt List for the first six games of the season is another.
While Cooper and the Broncos likely won’t get finality on his ongoing legal situation until next year, we do know he’ll be ready to make his regular season debut this weekend against the Cardinals. And the timing couldn’t be better.
Third-year edge rusher Jonah Elliss, who replaced Cooper as the starter, hobbled off the field in the Broncos’ thrilling overtime victory over the Seattle Seahawks. Elliss was seen in a boot and crutches at Utah vs. Colorado collegiate game last weekend. It’s safe to say he will miss a few games.
With Cooper back in the fold, that will help bolster their pass rush. His productivity dipped toward the end of last season, but he still boasts some of the best rush speed and pressure among edge rushers. I think Denver’s run defense will also be better with him in the mix. I’m looking forward to seeing him play.
What version of Bo Nix will be out on Sunday?
To say that quarterback Bo Nix is experiencing some comebacks this season would be an understatement. A few days ago, Head Coach Sean Payton was asked whether or not he would consider moving the position. Payton stood behind his third-year signal caller and pointed out that there are a bunch of issues on offense that need to be fixed.
“No. He’s going to be a byproduct of all the finer things that get improved. The improved play from our offensive line, we’re better on balance, running the football. That’s our jobs as coaches here. We talked after the game that we were excited to get that win, but at the same time we saw the progress we needed in all areas. So, it started with Payton in all of us.
Though it’s clear Nix needs to improve a lot moving forward in order for the Broncos to be a contender. I try to stay optimistic. He struggled early in his first two seasons, but got better in the second half. That gives me some hope moving forward.
Maybe the Cardinals game will provide a chance to see the old Bo Nix. The Cardinals had a good defensive performance against the Rams in Week 6, but that unit hasn’t been strong for most of the season. They currently rank 22nd in the NFL in pass yards allowed per game. Also, is one of the worst in the NFL at stopping opponents on third down.
Will Nix finally start to show some promise and help guide Denver to a win? That’s something I’ll keep an eye on.
Who steps up to lead the Broncos backfield?
As Payton noted, the offense’s struggles aren’t all Bo Nix. When you look at Denver’s running game to start their 2026 gridiron campaign compared to where they were last season at the same stage—it’s a huge difference. The Broncos boasted one of the top rushing attacks in the NFL early last season. This year, they are one of the worst.
That’s not an excuse for Nix’s issues, but everyone knows he would run a little better with a better ground game. All quarterbacks do. As I wrote earlier, Denver needs to run the ball with authority. That means the offensive line has to do a better job with their run blocks. Additionally, the running backs need to perform better as well.
JK Dobbins really struggled. Last season, he averaged five yards per carry. So far this year, he is posting a 3.3 yards per carry average. Second-year running back RJ Harvey has shown some flashes, but the long runs and explosive plays haven’t been there yet. Rookie running back Jonah Coleman is eligible to come off short-term injured reserve this week. If healthy, he could provide a spark for Denver’s rushing attack and help them grind out another victory.
