CB Riley Moss, ILB Cody Barton start again as Broncos’ depth chart takes shape

While the quarterback competition seems like it’s nearing an end, so do the starting inside linebacker and cornerback competitions.

In Sunday’s 27-2 victory over the Green Bay Packers, inside linebacker Cody Barton and cornerback Riley Moss earned the starting nod for the second straight preseason game. Neither did anything to show they weren’t ready for the moment.

Payton said after the game that the competition is still pretty tight.

“All of those guys are still getting reps,” Payton said. “We’ll look at tonight’s tape and see how we will roll with it next week, relative to those specific positions.”

In last week’s win over the Colts, Moss started alongside third-year cornerback Damarri Mathis. On Sunday, Moss and Pat Surtain II were with the first team to start the game.

During training camp, Moss has split first-team reps with Mathis and veteran Levi Wallace before the former Steelers cornerback suffered a hamstring injury.

As for Barton, he has been in a neck-in-neck battle with Jonas Griffith for the chance to start next to Alex Singleton in the Broncos’ Week 1 matchup against Seattle.

The way Payton organizes his rotations for next week’s game against the Arizona Cardinals might provide a glimpse into who wins both position battles.

Vele held out: Broncos rookie wide receiver Devaughn Vele — a training camp standout — did not play against the Packers.

On Thursday, Vele went into the locker room after having his leg stretched out by a trainer and didn’t return to practice. It appeared the trainer also examined an area around Vele’s knee.