ENGLEWOOD, Colo. -- Denver Broncos executive vice president of football operations/general manager John Elway has said the team needs its draft classes to be "our foundation," and to that end the Broncos kept seven rookies when they made their initial roster cut to 53 players.

And some in that first-year class have already had an impact a week into the regular season. So, with that in mind, here's the first of what will be a weekly look at the Broncos' rookie class.

Cornerback Bradley Roby: With cornerback Chris Harris Jr. limited some as he continues to work back from ACL surgery and Kayvon Webster having been a game-day inactive, Roby was among the busiest Broncos in the win against the Indianapolis Colts. He played 63 snaps on defense to go with eight more on special teams. He knocked down three passes, including the game-clincher in the closing minutes, made seven tackles and spent much of the night locked up on Reggie Wayne. All in all a quality opening effort that will also likely earn him more playing time moving forward. In what Broncos coach John Fox routinely calls "a production-based business," Roby produced.

Wide receiver Cody Latimer: Latimer continues to get the coaches' attention with his physical skills and his work ethic in practice. His time for some playing time will come in the offense, but when that happens, he's still a work in progress. The Broncos have Latimer, like all of their receivers, learning all of the spots in the scheme and that means all of the audibles that go with them. It's an arduous process for a young receiver and why the list of players at the position the Broncos would have been willing to draft this past May was a fairly short one despite a deep class overall. Latimer played 10 plays on special teams against the Colts.

Tackle Michael Schofield: Schofield has worked as the backup at right tackle for the most part and the Broncos like his progress. He was a game-day inactive against the Colts.

Linebacker Lamin Barrow: He pushed hard for playing time at middle linebacker in training camp, but Nate Irving lifted his game and held off the rookie. Still, Barrow has the versatility to play in the Broncos' specialty packages as well and his speed is welcome on special teams. Only veterans Jacob Tamme, Quinton Carter and Steven Johnson, with 20, 24 and 24 snaps on special teams Sunday, played more than Barrow's 18 plays on special teams. Barrow finished with one special teams tackle.

Linebacker Corey Nelson: Nelson, too, made the roster by showing he was a quick study to go with his athleticism. He's worked plenty in a backup spot at weak-side linebacker so with Danny Trevathan's injury, Nelson was active Sunday. He played 15 snaps on special teams, but the starter at weak-side linebacker in place of Trevathan, Brandon Marshall, played every snap on defense.

Wide receiver Isaiah Burse: Burse rallied late in the preseason and showed a little more consistency handling the ball in the kicking game. He was their primary punt returner Sunday night and showed some inconsistency again. He fumbled one -- Roby recovered -- and averaged 1.3 yards on his three returns.

Running back Juwan Thompson: With Ronnie Hillman a game-day inactive, Thompson was in uniform for the game. He finished with one snap on offense, but the former Duke special teams standout finished with 11 plays on special teams against the Colts.