The next tentpole moment of the summer is coming up on Friday night at Empower Field at Mile High. The Denver Broncos will host the Green Bay Packers in the second preseason game of the year, and for half of the players, it's one of the last opportunities to make a case for the roster or to win over the coaching staff. Previewing Broncos-Packers, we've laid out the players with the most to gain, five veterans with the most to lose, and which position battles are still unresolved entering Game 2. Today, though, we're focusing on a trio of Broncos who need to prove their performance in the preseason opener was no fluke. Let's start with the most important position on the roster. Jarrett Stidham | QBDenver Broncos quarterback Jarrett Stidham (8) scrambles against the Atlanta Falcons. | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters ConnectAfter a less-than-impressive training camp performance, Stidham looked good in Atlanta last week, passing for 131 yards and a touchdown in two quarters of play. Stidham has been working to fend off Sam Ehlinger this summer, and the steps he took in the preseason opener definitely created some separation. However, Stidham is in no position to rest on his laurels, especially with how Sean Payton talked about seeing "competition" for the QB2 job during the offseason. The Broncos have paid Stidham like a high-level QB2. When they needed him in the AFC championship game, though, he wasn't equal to his opportunity, which may have led to Payton questioning whether Ehlinger could be better suited to backing up Bo Nix. Whatever the reasons were, Payton wanted there to be more competition for the QB2 job this summer, and that's what we've seen. Ehlinger has mostly looked good, and though his performance in the preseason opener was a bit more disjointed, he still finished with an efficient 10-of-14 passing and rushed for 21 yards on six attempts. Stidham looked like the far more polished passer in Atlanta, though he benefitted from playing with most of the first-team offense and all of the second-teamers, while Ehlinger was limted to the third team. Nix will play on Friday night vs. the Packers, and if Stidham can turn in another efficient performance, it may be enough to cement himself as the Broncos' QB2 for the fourth straight season. Red Murdock | LBRed Murdock eyes Jack Strand in Atlanta. | David J. Griffin / IMAGO / Icon SportswireMurdock was the last player selected in the 2026 NFL draft — also known as 'Mr. Irrelevant.' However, an injury played a big part in him falling almost entirely out of the draft; if he'd been able to fully participate in the NFL Combine drills and athletic testing, without injury concerns, he would have likely heard his name called in Round 4 or Round 5. The Broncos recognize Murdock for what he is: an instinctual, physical linebacker with all the requisite football smarts. There's a reason he exited the college ranks as the FBS' all-time leader in forced fumbles, and it's not just because he's opportunistic. Murdock is quite cerebral. A lot of forethought and planning went into his 17 career forced fumbles. “Meticulous intent and being kind of obsessed with it," Murdock explained after he was drafted, in regard to his FBS forced fumble record. "Now I’m just ready to go do that on the field and help us get some wins.”The Broncos have placed a lot on Murdock's plate as a rookie, giving him the green dot on his helmet, which makes him the defensive signal-caller when he's on the field, relaying the plays from the sideline to his teammates. In Game 1, he led the Broncos with eight tackles (four solo) and came close to punching the ball out twice. In the wake of Levelle Bailey's unfortunate injury, the pool of competition has thinned out for those two linebacker spots on the roster behind starters Alex Singleton and Justin Strnad. Karene Reid, as a second-year pro, seems to have one of those spots on lockdown, and if Murdock can turn in another good performance against the Packers, the fourth and final spot will be his to lose. Cameron Ross | WR/PR/KRDenver Broncos wide receiver Cameron Ross (87) returns a kick against the Atlanta Falcons. | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters ConnectThe undrafted rookie has produced one heck of a summer. In the Broncos' first preseason game, Ross was utilized on the first- and second-team offense, showcasing his playmaking ability and hinting that the coaches may already value him. The problem is that Denver has a deep wide receiver depth chart, and the team likes to carry five on the roster out of camp. Those five would seem to be Courtland Sutton, Jaylen Waddle, Pat Bryant, Marvin Mims Jr., and Troy Franklin. Because of what he offers as a returner, there may be an opportunity for Ross to leapfrog Franklin, but it would take a tour-de-force performance in what remains of the preseason. In Game 1, Ross took a jet sweep 28 yards in the second quarter, helping the Broncos set up their second touchdown of the night. Ross was targeted three times in the passing game, while he caught two for just one yard, his usage again showed that he was very front-of-brain for offensive coordinator Davis Webb. On special teams, Ross returned one kick for 21 yards and three punts for seven yards, which is important because the Broncos seem to be looking for additional options behind Mims.I wouldn't say that Ross was a huge standout in last week's game, but he was a big winner. If the Broncos again show a propensity for involving him in multiple phases of the offense, the undrafted rookie has to answer the bell if he wants to be considered for more than just a potential practice squad spot. Sign up for our free Denver Broncos On SI newsletter, and get breaking Broncos news delivered to your inbox daily!Add us as a preferred source on GoogleFollow