DENVER — On Saturday afternoon, the Denver Broncos conducted their ninth practice of training camp in front of just over 21,234 fans at Broncos Stadium at Mile High.

The practice, which lasted just over two hours, marked the midway point for the team in camp, as they inch closer to Week 1, and before that, the dreaded Aug. 31 cut day.

By 4 p.m. (EST) on the 31st, all NFL teams must cut their rosters from 90 to 53.

Using the nine practices we’ve seen as a frame of reference, here is our very-early prediction for what that Broncos roster will look like some Sept. 1.

OFFENSE (25)

QUARTERBACK (3)

• Joe Flacco
• Drew Lock
• Kevin Hogan

Darkhorse to steal a spot: Brett Rypien

We very much wanted to put Rypien into the third quarterback slot, but we couldn’t get past the fact that Hogan now has nine practices under his belt as the No. 2 quarterback while Rypien is still fighting for scraps rep-wise. If the Broncos were to cut Hogan after all this, it would be a colossal waste of those reps.

Even if he isn’t on the 53, the Broncos will do their best to keep Rypien one way or another.

RUNNING BACK/FULLBACK (4)

• Phillip Lindsay
• Royce Freeman
• Devontae Booker
• Andy Janovich

Darkhorse to steal a spot: Khalfani Muhammad and Devontae Jackson

Despite his veteran status, Booker isn’t a lock to make this team, and both Muhammad and Jackson have been flashing in camp. With that being said, both will have to prove during the preseason that they can pick up a blitz and contribute on special teams to steal Booker’s spot.

WIDE RECEIVER (6)

• Emmanuel Sanders
• Courtland Sutton
• DaeSean Hamilton
• Juwann Winfree
• Tim Patrick
• Kelvin McKnight

Darkhorse to steal a spot: Trinity Benson, Nick Williams, Brendan Langley

With Hamilton out, it’s been McKnight who has received the lion’s share of first-team reps as his replacement, but Nick Williams has also received a look or two with the ones from the slot despite only arriving mid-week.

Benson has flashed great speed and great hands, and Langley’s straight-line speed and special-teams prowess are intriguing.

TIGHT END (3)

• Jeff Heuerman
• Troy Fumagalli
• Noah Fant

Darkhorse to steal a spot: Austin Fort, Jake Butt

You’d be hard-pressed to find anyone in Denver that isn’t rooting for Jake Butt, but the combination of injuries and breakout players at this position are going to make it hard for him to get a spot.

If he gets healthy and on the field, all bets are off, but as it stands, it’s Austin Fort who has the better chance of making the team.

OFFENSIVE LINE (9)

• Connor McGovern
• Ron Leary
• Dalton Risner
• Garett Bolles
• Ja’Wuan James
• Elijah Wilkinson
• Sam Jones
• Jake Brendel
• Chaz Green

Darkhorse to steal a spot: Don Barclay

Barclay has received time with the first team when Ron Leary has been out, but so has Brendel. This was a coin-flip between the two of them, but we liked what we’ve seen out of Brendel more.

DEFENSE (25)

DEFENSIVE LINE (7)

• Zach Kerr
• Dre’Mont Jones
• Derek Wolfe
• Shelby Harris
• Adam Gotsis
• Billy Winn
• DeMarcus Walker

Darkhorse to steal a spot: Mike Purcell

Purcell is simply solid and has worked in this system before. Also, other than Zach Kerr, he is the only player around 330 pounds.

OUTSIDE LINEBACKER (4)

• Von Miller
• Bradley Chubb
• Dekoda Watson
• Jeff Holland

Darkhorse to steal a spot: Malik Reed

Reed has been making a lot of plays with the second and third-team defenses. The Broncos will likely try to keep him around one way or another.

HYBRID LINEBACKER (1)

• Justin Hollins

(Hollins has been working in both places, so he gets his own position)

INSIDE LINEBACKER (4)

• Josey Jewell
• Todd Davis
• Joseph Jones
• Josh Watson

Darkhorse to steal a spot: Alexander Johnson

Johnson obviously is liked by the front office, and he was given the first chance to fill in for Davis when he went out with injury, but it’s been Watson who has earned slightly more time with the ones since then and made quite a few plays in those opportunities.

CORNERBACK (4)

• Chris Harris Jr.
• Issac Yiadom
• Bryce Callahan
• De’Vante Bausby

Darkhorse to steal a spot: Horace Richardson, Alijah Holder

When looking to find out which undrafted rookie will make the roster, the general rule is to follow the money. While Brett Rypien was given the most guaranteed money, it was Holder, who has held his own, who got the largest signing bonus.

As for Richardson, he’s a guy who has really stood out to us making plays with the reserve units.

SAFETY (5)

• Kareem Jackson
• Justin Simmons
• Will Parks
• Trey Marshall
• Dymonte Thomas

Darkhorse to steal a spot: Su’a Cravens, Shamarko Thomas, Jamal Carter

Safety is one of the deepest positions on this team, and all of the tree guys listed here have NFL-caliber talent, but to this point, Marshall has stood out the most and is getting the all-important reps with the first punt unit.

SPECIAL TEAMS (3)

KICKER

• Brandon McManus

PUNTER

• Colby Wadman

LONG SNAPPER

• Casey Kreiter