The Broncos’ players report to the team’s facility on Wednesday for the start of training camp. The first practice is Thursday at 9:15 a.m.

They have a new coach (Vic Fangio), for the third time in four years. They have a new Week 1 quarterback (Joe Flacco) for the third consecutive year. And they enter the year as a projected also-ran in the AFC.

The Broncos Roundtable returns for a second year. The panelists are columnist Mark Kiszla and beat reporters Ryan O’Halloran and Kyle Fredrickson.

1. What is coach Vic Fangio’s biggest challenge during training camp?

Kyle: Other than bearing the summer heat in his gray sweat-suit, Fangio’s toughest task will be sorting out assignments for his versatile defenders. How will Kareem Jackson split time between cornerback and safety? Will rookie Justin Hollins play inside and outside linebacker? Training camp should allow Fangio to tinker with different ideas to decipher what works and what doesn’t.

Kiz: It’s all about the quarterback in the NFL, but that rule applies no place more so than in our dusty old cowtown, where Broncos Country thinks any starting quarterback who doesn’t live up to the platinum and gold standards of John Elway and Peyton Manning should be benched in favor of Tim Tebow or Kyle Sloter or whoever is the QB du jour. Fangio better ensure Joe Flacco is rock solid from the first to the last snap of preseason, or the new coach is going to have a QB controversy on his hands.

Ryan: Survival. Fangio, teaming up his coaching, strength/conditioning and training staffs, should start camp with a plan to give veteran players full practices off or limited reps during a workout. Guys like Flacco, Von Miller and Chris Harris don’t need a ton of work. Building up to Week 1 with everybody fresh and healthy should be Job 1 for Vic.

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2. A big storyline is receiver Emmanuel Sanders, who sustained a torn Achilles last December. Put on your coaching and general managing hats: Should the Broncos still look at him as their No. 1 receiver or as a complementary player?

Kyle: Absolutely a No. 1. Of course, it’s yet to be seen whether the Achilles will be ready, although Sanders has shown impressive recovery progress on daily Instagram posts with high-intensity agility drills and route running. The Broncos have a stable of talented young wide receivers. But even uber-talented Courtland Sutton shouldn’t be considered the No. 1 option until his in-game play warrants it.

Kiz: Without fear, Sanders dives in the social media pool and feels the love or hate of his mentions. So if this opinion reaches him, I swear it’s not meant as a slight. For the Denver offense to average 25 points per game, Courtland Sutton needs to be the No. 1 receiver from Game 1, allowing Sanders to roll back into form as the best complementary receiver in the league.

Ryan: I agree with Kiz on this one. It is Sutton’s time to be given the chance for No. 1 status. Until we see Sanders back on the field, I’ll consider anything he produces as a bonus. Sutton taking the top spot will allow the Broncos to be semi-patient with Sanders and then use him all over the field to work over Nos. 2-3 cornerbacks.

3. During virtually every training camp, a player or two comes from off the radar to make the team. Who is this year’s Phillip Lindsay (undrafted rookie) or Tim Patrick (unheralded non-rookie)?

Kyle: How about another undrafted rookie from Kansas? The Broncos struck gold with former Jayhawk Chris Harris in 2011. I say Joe Dineen is next. He’s a 6-foot-2, 235-pound inside linebacker who led all of major college football in solo tackles (108) last year.

KIz: This is a fun game, a great opportunity to brag to your besties that you were the first to recognize the next great Cinderella story to emerge from Dove Valley headquarters. But you know what? I’m not playing that game this season. Why? For the Broncos to make the playoffs, second-round pick Dalton Risner has to be great on the offensive line. If Risner isn’t great, your favorite Cinderella story will be nothing more than a happy, little footnote.

Ryan: My two-fullback idea last month (Andy Janovich and undrafted free agent George Aston) was met mostly with guffaws. So let’s go with the Unknown Veteran Route and take offensive lineman Nathan Jacobson, who has experience playing for Mike Munchak.

4. The Broncos are going to try and sell a competition for the No. 2 quarterback spot between Kevin Hogan and Drew Lock. What the heck is the case for Lock not being the top back-up?

Kyle: Broncos Country would lose its collective mind if Lock isn’t No. 2. But consider this: We know as much about how Hogan fits in Rich Scangarello’s system as Lock, and through Hogan’s 10 months on Denver’s roster, he has yet to be put in the driver’s seat (or even throw an NFL regular season pass since 2017).

Kiz: Case? Erin Brockovich couldn’t make this case. If Lock isn’t the No. 2 quarterback on opening night, John Elway was a knucklehead for drafting him in the second round.

Ryan: No case. Lock should start the preseason opener against Atlanta and play as long as the second-team offensive line is in the game. Being one snap away when the season starts will heighten his preparation and get him ready to play even if he’s just watching Flacco.

5. The Broncos have used plenty of draft capital recently on tight ends, including first-rounder Noah Fant. How does the tight end depth chart look after the preseason?

Kyle: Consider it a massive disappointment if Fant isn’t the breakout star of the Broncos’ offense in 2019. The first-rounder should get the lion’s share of tight end receptions with Jeff Heuerman viewed as a secondary blocking-focused option. It’s a toss-up for now between Jake Butt and Troy Fumagalli to round out the active tight end roster with both coming back from significant injury. But I expect Fumagalli to be a surprise training camp stud to seal that spot.

KIz: Game knows game, and Broncos vets seem to think Fant has game. Coolio. Let’s go. Since being drafted in 2015, Heuerman has caught 49 more passes in his NFL career than Ryan O’Halloran. So why did the Broncos sign the oft-injured Heuerman to a new two-year contract? Beats me.

Ryan: It’s one of the wrinkles about having free agency before the draft — the Broncos figured they better re-sign Heuerman because they weren’t guaranteed Fant would be on the board and also, Butt/Fumagalli were still rehabilitating. The Week 1 depth chart — Fant, Heuerman, Butt and Fumagalli.

6. Camp is the time for optimism. Why should the Broncos feel confident they can go from 6-10 to, well, relevant?

Kyle: The path toward relevancy begins with improved offensive line play. So the Broncos hired one of the game’s best position coaches in Mike Munchak, made Ja’Wuan James the league’s top-paid right tackle and drafted highly-touted Risner from Kansas State. All of those decisions should help give Flacco the consistently clean pocket he requires to push the ball downfield and potentially vault Denver’s offense among the NFL’s elite. Related Articles Broncos Briefs: Phillip Lindsay doubtful to play Sunday, but progressing from toe injury

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Kiz: The evil genius of Fangio could allow Von Miller and Bradley Chubb to combine for 30-plus sacks, causing quarterbacks from Kansas City to San Diego to cower in fear.

Ryan: The rebuilt secondary, with additions Jackson and Bryce Callahan to join Chris Harris and Justin Simmons, creates a new standard for pass defense, allowing Miller and Chubb to easily top last year’s 26 1/2 combined sacks.