Payton’s latest roster drill echoes a Giants camp memory: one decisive play can swing a 53-man cut. Five Broncos heads are on the line this week as they face New Orleans, with Audric Estime, Caleb Lohner, Eyioma Uwazurike, Sam Ehlinger and Damarri Mathis all in the crosshairs. The lesson from Levingston’s kickoff return is simple: a single spark at the right moment can tilt the bubble. Denver’s staff insists the roster isn’t settled after the Saints game, and the depth chart remains fluid across RB, TE, DL, QB and CB spots. The emphasis is on tape, versatility and special-teams value as Payton prioritizes what each player can carry into Week 1. Denver is betting on depth and leverage, not just star power, to shape the final 53.

Estime has shown burst and short-yardage impact, but his current preseason numbers keep him squarely in the fight for one of the last RB spots. Uwazurike and Mathis bring upside but must prove consistency and special-teams worth to survive. Ehlinger has flashed efficiency, yet Denver must decide whether a third signal-caller fits the opening-day roster. Lohner, a draft-era curiosity in this narrative, faces a steep path given the TE room’s competition. Payton’s message is crystal: the Saints game isn’t the end, it’s the test that can flip the bubble in a day’s work.