DENVER , CO - SEPTEMBER 27: Malcolm Roach (97) of the Denver Broncos catches his breath after a pick six by Talanoa Hufanga (9) on a pass by Matthew Stafford (9) of the Los Angeles Rams during the fourth quarter of the Broncos' 30-26 win at Empower Field at Mile High in Denver, Colorado on Sunday, September 27, 2026. (Photo by AAron Ontiveroz/The Denver Post) | Denver Post via Getty Images
Christopher Hart·SB Nation
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2 min read
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Good morning, Broncos Country.
The Denver Broncos entered the 2026 regular season with a lot of question marks. A big one was wondering how they would replace John Franklin-Myers. A key player in Denver's trenches the past several seasons, Franklin-Myers earned a well-deserved payday in free agency from the Tennessee Titans.
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That left a pretty big void in Denver's defense. Thankfully, the Broncos had several players in house ready to help replace his productivity. This season, the Broncos have rotated lineman a bit more than you have seen in past seasons. That's helped keep players fresh and their efforts strong to date.
One player that has really stood out is seventh-year defensive tackle Malcolm Roach. Yesterday after practice, Head Coach Sean Payton talked about his improvement and what he means to the team's defense.
"I think I would say this: he does a lot of things well. The other thing as an NFL player, you know exactly what you're getting that's very helpful then when you're putting a gameplan together," stated Payton.
INGLEWOOD, CALIFORNIA - OCTOBER 11: Malcolm Roach #97 of the Denver Broncos celebrates after a sack against the Los Angeles Chargers during the fourth quarter at SoFi Stadium on October 11, 2026 in Inglewood, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images) | Getty Images
"Then all the other things with his personality and you guys have been around him, he's consistent. I think that's important to find those type of players in your front."
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Known primarily for his run stopping ability, Roach is arguably having thebest seasonof his NFL career. In seven games, Roach already has 20 tackles. On top of that, there have been great strides made as a pass rusher.
He boasts 2.5 sacks and a new a career-high with 11 quarterback hits. A few years ago, he was playing only 40-percent of the team's defensive snaps. This season? 55-percent. His development and high level of play is a big reason why Denver's defense has been strong to start the season.
The Broncos will need him and his teammates to play at a high level to find a way to topple the Kansas City Chiefs in their Week 8 rematch on Sunday.
As always, thank you for reading. Here is today's slate of articles forHorse Tracks.
