Attendance
Did not practice: Physically Unable to Perform List — S Delarrin Turner-Yell (knee) and LB Drew Sanders (Achilles). Injured reserve — OL Quinn Bailey (ankle/leg). Out — S Brandon Jones (hamstring), LB Nik Bonitto (back), DE Ronnie Perkins (rest), CB Levi Wallace (hamstring), RT Mike McGlinchey (personal reasons), and LB Justin Strnad (groin).
Head coach Sean Payton said McGlinchey missed practice due to the birth of his child. Safety Caden Sterns was waived on Monday, while defensive lineman Eyioma Uwazurike practiced after the NFL reinstated him following a year-long suspension over a violation of the league’s gambling policy.
QB Race Today
The Broncos’ first practice ahead of Sunday’s preseason opener against Indianapolis featured rookie Bo Nix taking snaps with the first team. Nix has had No. 1 reps in five of the last seven practices.
Nix had another solid day at camp, as his connection with Courtland Sutton has grown stronger. During the team period, Nix completed a pair of intermediate passes to the veteran wideout. When the Broncos conducted one-on-one drills between the wide receivers and defensive backs, Nix threw a pass near the goal line, where Sutton contorted his body before securing the catch with cornerback Damarri Mathis in coverage. Nix, once again, showed off his ability to extend plays when he completed a pass to wide receiver Lil’Jordan Humphrey after scrambling away from second-year edge rusher Thomas Incoom.
Jarrett Stidham was efficient with the second team, while Zach Wilson flashed with the third team.
Top Play
Going deep: Jarrett Stidham let the ball fly and was rewarded. During 7-on-7, Stidham completed a deep pass to wide receiver David Sills V, who shook off cornerback Keidron Smith before crossing the goal line.
Thumbs Up
Franklin shows off his big-play ability: Broncos rookie wide receiver Troy Franklin still has much to improve but has shown why he can be a big-play threat. During 7-on-7, Wilson was positioned at midfield when he threw the ball to Franklin, who sprinted past a defender on a go route to make the catch. Later, Stidham found Franklin for a 15-yard completion.
Incoom has been a force on the edge: Thomas Incoom has been one of the best defensive players at camp. Each day, he figures out a way to attack the pocket and create pressure. Incoom made the initial 53-man roster last season and hopes for the same outcome in a few weeks.
Thumbs Down
Depth at safety: With Sterns out of the picture, Denver’s safety room consists of P.J. Locke, Brandon Jones, Delarrin Turner-Yell, JL Skinner and Devon Key. Jones has been sidelined for over a week due to a hamstring injury, while Turner-Yell continues to rehab from his ACL injury. Payton remains optimistic about the group, including Skinner, even though he only played in two games as a rookie.
Odds and Ends
• Payton said the team will decide who starts the first preseason game by Tuesday or Wednesday. That includes the quarterback. “Generally midweek, we will talk about the reps,” he said. “If they are healthy, we will play everyone.”
• Rookie wide receiver Devaughn Vele, a seventh-round selection, had an impressive day. During the one-on-one period, Vele was in the corner of the end zone, where he made a leaping grab over cornerback Quinton Newsome off a pass from Bo Nix. When Zach Wilson was under center during the team period, he quickly fired a pass to Vele for a completion on a slant route.
• With Mike McGlinchey not practicing, second-year offensive lineman Alex Palczewski played right tackle with the first team. Payton has been pleased with Palczewski and thinks he fits best on the right side of the offensive line.
“He’s a guy that welcomes the pads,” Payton said. “There’s some things athletically he might not be as gifted as, but the pads come on, and you get to live reps, you check the box, and he does his job.”
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