Undeterred by 2025 penalties, Riley Moss will keep playing aggressive

Denver Broncos cornerback Riley Moss is not planning on being any less aggressive in what could be a make-or-break season for the fourth-year defender.

Moss has never been shy about attacking the football during his time with the Broncos. In fact, he's had to do it more out of necessity after starting opposite of 2024 Defensive Player of the Year Pat Surtain. Moss was penalized 10 times in 2025; sometimes it was correct, and sometimes it seemed like Moss was unfairly targeted. After an offseason of intense training, Moss is ready to prove his worth.

"My parents have always told me this, I like to learn the hard way," Moss said in early August. "It actually helps me out in those situations because, yes, they’re going to throw the flag because I’m being too aggressive, but even ‘VJ’ (defensive coordinator Vance Joseph) will tell me, ‘Keep going out there. Keep playing aggressive.’ It happens."

To his credit, Moss has had a tremendous training camp, breaking up passes all over the field. Moss has consistently been listed by Denver media as a standout at practice. In Week 1 of the preseason against the Atlanta Falcons, Moss even picked off a pass, which many see as proof of a big year in the making. "I know I need to do better as a whole this season," Moss admitted. "It’s been a big focus of this camp. I’m still going to play aggressive and not shy away from it."

.@R_moss5 with the pick 👐

📺: 9NEWS pic.twitter.com/EFuIsNT5QB

Coach Sean Payton also doesn't think that Moss should shed the aggressive nature of his play, even with the penalty troubles Moss encountered in 2025. "There were some tough calls against him as well that I think go with the position," Payton said. "He certainly doesn’t back away from that, and I think that’s important, especially at that position.”

As the regular season draws closer, Moss and Co. look to remain as one of the best secondary units in the NFL in 2026. It will remain to be seen if they can keep up their elite play. Broncos fans far and wide hope that this will be the case.

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This article originally appeared on Broncos Wire: Undeterred by 2025 penalties, Riley Moss will keep playing aggressive