When the Denver Broncos travel to San Francisco for their first preseason game, their starting lineup will feature a few surprises.

The biggest shocker is wide receiver Brandon Marshall, who has been demoted to the second-team offense for missing all of the offseason workouts and a good majority of training camp due to an injury and holdout.

This move is sure to stir the pot with Marshall, but as a professional, one would expect him to use it as motivation to prove the coaching staff that he is worthy. Josh McDaniels may be hard-nosed, but he is not stupid. Brandon Marshall will play.

The Broncos’ starting running back situation is sure to heat up as the preseason rolls along. For now, the first string back will be Correll Buckhalter, who was acquired earlier this offseason from the Philadelphia Eagles.

Rookie Knowshon Moreno is currently fourth on the Broncos depth chart, but McDaniels and company have hopes for him to be the every-down back in Denver.

Jabar Gaffney, who quietly has had one of the best camps of any player on the team, was rewarded with his hard work and superior knowledge of the offense by being named the starting wide receiver opposite Eddie Royal. Brandon Stokley is the third starting receiver for the Broncos, who opted not to use a fullback in the starting lineup.

The starting defensive line has not changed since OTA’s, as Ryan McBean, Kenny Peterson, and Ronald Fields will anchor the front for Denver.

The starting linebacker group has a surprise on the outside with veteran special-teams ace Mario Haggan getting the nod opposite Elvis Dumervil.

Haggan has great size at 6’3″ and 265 pounds. The fact that he is a special teams ace indicates he has exceptional speed. He will be hard pressed to keep this job for long though, as rookie Robert Ayers is right on his heels.

The Broncos’ starting defensive backfield is, as expected, one of the best in the NFL with Champ Bailey, Brian Dawkins, Renaldo Hill, and training camp MVP Andre’ Goodman.

Here is a look at the official depth chart as it stands right now.

Broncos Offense

WR	19 E. Royal	84 B. Lloyd	11 K. McKinley	12 M. Willis
LT	78 R. Clady	76 T. Polumbus	68 S. Bryant
LG	50 B. Hamilton	70. S. Olsen	60 M. McChesney
C	62 C. Wiegmann	67 K. Lichtensteiger	63 B. Schlueter
RG	73 C. Kuper	61 M. Erickson	72 P. Murray
RT	74 R. Harris	77 B. Gorin	71 C. Oldenburg
TE	89 D. Graham	88 T. Scheffler	81 R. Quinn	87 J. Putzier
				85 M. Branson
WR	14 B. Stokley	83 N. Swift	13 T. Shelton
WR	19 J. Gaffney	15 B. Marshall	16 C. Jackson	17 C.J. Jones
QB	8 K.Orton	2 C. Simms	3 T. Brandstater
RB	28 C. Buckhalter	32 L. Jordan	22 P. Hillis	27 K. Moreno
				42 R. Torain
				34 D. Walker

 

Broncos Defense

DE	98 R. McBean	79 M. Thomas
NT	91 R. Fields	75 C. Baker	97 C. Powell
DE	90 K. Peterson	99 M. Askew	64 E. Pedescleaux	93 N. Clemons
				65 R. Davis
OLB	57 M. Haggan	95 D. Reid	96 T. Crowder
ILB	55 D.J. Williams	59 W. Woodyard	51 L. Robinson
ILB	54 A. Davis	46 S. Larsen	48 B. Kelley
OLB	92 E. Dumervil	56 R. Ayers	94 J. Moss
LCB	24 C. Bailey	33 A. Smith	35 D.J. Johnson	40 R. Moulton
RCB	21 A. Goodman	26 J. Williams	25 J. Bell	37 T. Carter
SS	23 R. Hill	30 D. Bruton	36 J. Barrett
FS	20 B. Dawkins	31 D. McBath	39 V. Fox

 

Broncos Specialists

P	1 B. Kern	4 B. Colquitt
K	5 M. Prater
KO	5 M. Prater	1 B. Kern	4 B. Colquitt
PR	33 A. Smith	12 M. Willis	13 T. Shelton
KR	33 A. Smith	12 M. Willis	13 T. Shelton
PC	66 L. Paxton	73 C. Kuper	88 T. Scheffler
KC	66 L. Paxton	73 C. Kuper	88 T. Scheffler
H	1 B. Kern	4 B. Colquitt	8 K. Orton

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