Broncos Rout Vikings in Preseason Finale; Ehlinger and Schrader Impress

The Broncos cruised to a 34-6 victory over the Vikings in their final preseason game. Sam Ehlinger threw for 233 yards and three touchdowns, while Cody Schrader rushed for 42 yards and caught six passes for 90 yards and a score. Cornerback Jahdae Barron struggled, but several backups made strong cases for roster spots.

Ehlinger's stat line of 15-of-20 for 233 yards and three touchdowns came after an early interception, showing resilience. His 88-yard scoring strike to Justin Joly exploited a defensive breakdown, while his touchdown pass to Schrader was a difficult cross-body throw. Schrader's versatility was on display with 42 rushing yards and 90 receiving yards on six catches, though both players appear destined for the practice squad given Stidham's starting role ahead of Ehlinger throughout the preseason.

Barron's struggles continued with missed tackles and poor body language, raising questions about his standing versus Kris Abrams-Draine. Mims left with a foot bruise after landing awkwardly on a sideline pass, and while Payton called it minor, Mims missed significant training camp time. The roster cutdown deadline arrives Sunday at 2 pm MDT, with undrafted rookie Kolbe Katsis also making a late push as a returner.