27 Knowshon Moreno, RB

Broncos running back Ronnie Hillman is out to prove he can be the starter in Denver this season. He knows people knock him because of his size and see him better suited to be just a change-of-pace back.

"You get that when you're a smaller guy," Hillman said, according to NFL.com. "You can't take the pounding, but I just brush it off. Of course you hear things. I'm not going to sit hear and say I don't hear what they say, but you just got to let it go. Obviously, getting 22 carries in negative 13-degree weather against the Ravens (in the divisional playoffs), they shouldn't have much else to say about that if they're paying attention."

The report says Hillman put on 15 pounds of muscle in the offseason and now weighs 200 pounds. He said the Broncos actually want him to drop weight and play in the 190-to-195 range.

Hillman is competing for the starting job with rookie Montee Ball. Knowshon Moreno is also in the mix for playing time now that Willis McGahee has been released.

The Broncos' official website reports Knowshon Moreno continued to work in team drills and hasn't looked limited. He's working his way back from a right knee issue believed to have been suffered in the playoffs in January and was healed using stem cells. On one play he caught a pass from Brock Osweiler and turned upfield for a big gain thanks to his acceleration.