Today was one of the more important practices of training camp.
It was another fully padded practice, but the intensity was ramped up, and they had their longest practice session thus far. Unfortunately, for the third straight day, another Broncos starter left practice early with an injury, and today it was wide receiver Jaylen Waddle. Thankfully, like Wattenberg and Bonitto, it seems like he avoided anything significant, but he was absent for most of the practice. Same with Courtland Sutton, who
received back-to-back veteran rest days, so the Broncos offense was down their top two targets.
For the third straight padded practice, the Denver Broncos defense, specifically their defensive line/ front 7, dominated the practice. DJ Jones, Malcolm Roach, Jonathon Cooper, Uwazurike, and the rest simply created havoc all practice. Sam Ehlinger took QB2 reps again today and looked good, but Payton said there’s no official competition happening there, and we have updates on select players from Sean Payton. Plus, as always, news and notes, injury updates, tweets from camp, quotes, and more!
Defense and front 7 win again
The offense started camp hot and had fans and media excited because we haven’t seen an offense come out firing like this in a long time in training camp. Well, that excitement was short-lived, because when the pads came on, the Denver Broncos front 7 came alive.
Today it was Malcolm Roach, Jonathon Cooper, DJ Jones, and Uwazurike just absolutely dominating the Denver Broncos offensive line and limiting their overall production. It didn’t help that the offense did not have Waddle, Sutton, Wattenberg, and at times, McGlinchey and Powers, but still, the defense dominated.
Roach, Jones, Uwazurike, and the rest of the Denver Broncos defensive line dominated the run game and were also able to get after the quarterbacks. It was a strong performance from three players who will be very important to the success of this team this upcoming season and potentially replacing John Franklin-Myers in this defense.
Speaking of replacing JFM, veteran starting nose tackle DJ Jones believes the competition is already over and thinks Malcolm Roach will run away with the job, and that would make sense. Roach earned the contract extension from the Broncos last season while also flashing his pass rush upside. So, we could see Roach take over that JFM role, but there are a number of other defensive linemen on this team pushing for those reps.
Given that depth, Jones believes the Broncos can break the NFL team sack record. He told reporters, We got what it takes and “We’ve tasted it, and now it’s time to cook the meal, eat it, and take a break”. He added, “We about to eat again” and that they have the numbers, the men, the willpower and the freewill to go out and do that, and he believes they will.
The Broncos pass rush, even without John Franklin-Myers, is deep. Upfront they have Zach Allen, Malcolm Roach, the ascending Eyioma Uwazurike, Sai’vion Jones, rookie Tyler Onyedim, Jordan Jackson, Matt Henningsen, and on the edges you have Bonitto, Cooper, Elliss, Robinson, Tillman, Sanders and so on. The sack potential on this team is immense, and they should lead the NFL in sacks once again and push for that team sack record.
Speaking of Uwazurike, he appears to be taking that next step in his career and becoming a problem for offensive linemen.
Uwazurike taking that next step?
After a not-so-great rookie year followed by a year-long suspension, it appeared Eyioma Uwazurike’s tenure with the Broncos and potentially even his football career could be over. However, he returned in 2024 and not only saved his career, but he became a key rotational player for this top-ranked Denver Broncos defense.
Now, he’s looking at taking that next step and becoming a dominant defensive lineman and someone the team could count on to replace the role and snaps John Franklin Myers had wiith this team the past few seasons.
Jones was asked about Uwazurike’s development; he told reporters that Enyi “cannot be blocked”, he can play every position, and that “he’s scary”.
“His hands and his eyes. This game is fast. It’s physical, which he has. But if you don’t have good eyes on the [defensive] line, then you’ll be lost. The leap he’s taking right now is pretty scary. Like I said, he can play every position, very physical and his eyes are 10 out of 10 now.”
Head Coach Sean Payton also had high praise for the Broncos’ massive defensive lineman. He told reporters that he is proud of Enyi for bouncing back from his year-long suspension, knowing that it can end players’ careers. He also added that he has developed; he’s strong, big, and having a really good start to camp.
“I’m proud of him because, you guys know this, in our sport, any sport really to just be out for a year can be difficult. He’s really come back, developed. He’s strong, he’s big and he’s having a real good start to camp. So I think you have to look at it as one less year than what’s listed because of the year out. Yes, he’s doing really well.”
There’s a lot to like about Uwazurike, especially if he’s putting his entire game together. First, he’s listed at 6’6, 320 pounds (and he might be bigger than that), he’s athletic (played edge rusher at Iowa State), and he can play every position, as Jones stated and apparently cannot be blocked. If Enyi can turn into a really good player on top of the rest of the Broncos defensive line depth, this front seven could be even more dangerous and disruptive than they were last season.
Updates on select players
Sean Payton spoke about several players after today’s practice, so I decided to lump them all together here and give you all the updates in one place.
HC Sean Payton on CB Kris Abrams-Draine
“One thing about him is he’s smart. We felt that right away his rookie year. He’s one of those players, the ball kind of finds him too with his instincts. I would say he has tremendous hands. So he’s gotten stronger since his first year. He has real good key and diagnose, and a lot of traits that with his ball skills that serve him well at corner.”
HC Sean Payton on EDGE Que Robinson
“There were certain traits you saw on film. He’s a real good technician, and he’s one of those guys that we know has been coached hard. We felt coming into this defense from what he was playing in, there were some similarities to what we were going to ask him to do. I think that’s a help.”
“I think it’s going well. He’s certainly competing for those reps in the line of scrimmage. I think it’s going really well, and again, we’ve had pads on for two days now.”
HC Sean Payton on WR Lil’Jordan Humphrey
“Good. It’s unusual for someone his age. We do all the metrics and they wear the chips, but his weight’s down. His movement on the field, acceleration, top-end speed is higher last season and now than it was when he was here earlier. They’re able to measure that with the Catapult. So he’s extremely smart, that’s probably one of his superpowers. He can play all three positions, and he’s a big target.
HC Sean Payton on rookie TE Justin Joly
“Yes, he’s coming. It’s a big jump for all those young tight ends. He’s certainly someone we feel like is better with ball in hand. He’s pretty powerful. So there’s a lot of developmental still for his game, but this is one you want to see this accelerated period. I think a week from now, I’m anxious to get the same question just to see where he’s at, but he’s doing well.”
HC Sean Payton on OL Matt Peart
“I think he’s tough. We’re looking for that type of player. His experience helps certainly. It’s a position group that we’ve just been fortunate either through the draft or even after the draft, our numbers there and the competition there is pretty strong. I like how that room has developed.”
HC Sean Payton on QB Sam Ehlinger
“His comfort level with what we’re doing offensively. The spaghetti sauce is the other stuff that’s one of his superpowers, that he gets in and out of some plays maybe. He can move. I like how he’s looked. You don’t get to appreciate a quarterback like him until you’re out there, and everyone’s on the sideline and then the ball moves. Sometimes it’s harder to appreciate that when you’re scripting plays, but he has a great pedigree. I know he likes it here. I think he’s done a lot of good things. I just saw him in college [at Texas] win a lot of games, beat Georgia in New Orleans. He’s fitting right in.”
HC Sean Payton on rookie RB Jonah Coleman
“I think the young runner, you don’t feel a rookie with [RB] Jonah [Coleman]. He’s playing. It’s been harder with some of the linemen because we haven’t been in pads in fairness to them. Then a couple of these young linebackers, we’re getting to see them move around, make the calls. There’s a lot to that position, a lot of it is key and diagnose. That’s been good.”
HC Sean Payton on WR Troy Franklin
“His understanding of the formations, the details. Maybe in a different offense where he’s lining up outside right, now all of the sudden he’s getting used to the different roles that he’s playing and the alignments on the field. He has really good burst. That would be the one thing: he’s comfortable within the framework. It’s so much different than the system he had in college.”
HC Sean Payton on WR Pat Bryant
“[I’m] really pleased with how he’s doing. He’s just one of those congested ball catchers. His feet stay on the ground. So when receivers catch the ball with their feet on the ground, they’re usually pretty good run after the catch. You don’t see him skipping in the air or jumping. That means he has a lot of confidence in catching this thing the right way. I think in college in that final year [at Illinois], I think he had three walk-off touchdowns. Like literally last play of the game in-cuts where he caught it and didn’t… He was full stride when he caught it. If you’re breaking stride for a catch, there’s that tick of a second everyone gets a little bit of leverage on you. He’s extremely smart. He’s doing really well.”
Jaylen Waddle injury update (He’s fine)
For a third straight practice, the Broncos had an injury scare to one of their key starters. First, starting center Luke Wattenberg went down clutching his arm, and the following day, star pass rusher Nik Bonitto left the practice field with a limp. Thankfully, both players ended up being fine, and while they have not practiced, they were out there and looked fine overall.
Today, they had another injury scare when star wide receiver Jaylen Waddle walked off the practice field early and never returned.
According to reports, he came up lame early in practice and immediately went inside with the trainers to get worked on. After practice, head coach Sean Payton told reporters that he was dealing with muscle tightness and would be fine. DNVR’s Zac Stevens also talked to sources close to the situation and was told that Waddle would be “good”.
Whew.
Waddle was the Broncos’ big offseason addition and is expected to be the centerpiece of their offense this upcoming season. They cannot afford him to suffer a significant injury during training camp. Thankfully, it sounds like a minor injury, and he can take some time off and rest up before the start of the season.
Injury report
- OL Nick Gargiulo did not practice today and remains on the PUP and is expected to stay there through the start of the season
- LB Jordan Turner did not practice and remained on the NFI
- Starting center Luke Wattenberg missed his second straight practice
- Wide receiver Courtland Sutton did not practice for a second straight day – He had a vet day yesterday but is expected to practice tomorrow per Payton
- UDFA edge rusher Dasan McCullough did not practice today
- Star pass rusher Nik Bonitto did not practice after leaving yesterday’s practice early with trainers, but is out there in a jersey and cleats, which is a good sign
- CB Jaden Robinson did not practice again today
- TE Caleb Lohner continued to miss practice after undergoing offseason knee surgery
- WR Jaylen Waddle pulled up on a route early in practice and went into the locker room, followed by the head trainer, and did not return to the practice field – After practice, Sean Payton said he was dealing with muscle tightness but that he should be fine – DNVR’s Zac Stevens heard from sources that Waddle will be “good” so it appears they dodged a bullet here
News and Notes
- Today’s practice will be two and a half hours, fully padded, and referees were in attendance as well
- QB Sam Ehlinger was getting the QB2 reps today ahead of QB Jarrett Stidham
- Undrafted rookie OL Gavin Ortega and veteran Calvin Throckmorton were getting snaps at center during today’s practice
- Veteran RT Mike McGlinchey was getting limited team work today (non-injury related), and Alex Palczewski was getting plenty of reps at RT
- QB Bo Nix threw an INT to CB Kris Abrams-Draine
- WRs Lil’Jordan Humphrey and Michael Bandy were heavily targeted in practice and performed well
- Troy Franklin caught a 20-yard pass from Bo Nix, and Pat Bryant followed that up with a 30-yarder
- Roach and Uzi combined for a sack on Nix
- Taurean York was leading the 3rd team defense communication
- Jonathon Cooper had a series with a TFL and a sack
- RB RJ Harvey showcased his receiving skills throughout practice
Tweets from Camp
Quotes
HC Sean Payton on the level of command he wants QB Bo Nix to have within the offense
“I feel like we see that already. You don’t feel a young player in the huddle or at the line. Then it’s, within each gameplan, those are things that have come very quickly for him. Part of it’s his playing time, experience in college. I think he’s handled that transition each year really well.”
HC Sean Payton on how sports science has changed how they handle load management
“Well, that’s the [WR] Courtland Sutton… [Vice President of Player Health & Performance] Beau [Lowrey] and I… There are three groups. There’s the veteran player who we just recognize there’s going to be days where it’d be good to get them off their feet. There’s the player who’s just coming off an injury, and then there’s the player who came off an injury a year ago. So all of those guys are discussed, how we want to handle their week. Those three groups are different, and yet I do think it’s very intentional and I think it’s a good thing.”
HC Sean Payton on his philosophy of playing the first-team offense and defense against each other
“Well a long time ago, this coming weekend, the [Pro Football] Hall of Fame Game weekend, a lot of times we’d have a big scrimmage. Then it would be ones versus twos, twos versus ones. Now we’ll have a scripted practice Saturday that’ll be… It’ll start with maybe three punts, then first offense, first defense. That happened a lot when you had that first big scrimmage, and it was always Hall of Fame weekend. We can create that sometimes, but I’m more interested in, even if we call it the ones are out there, I want to see different players in that group, if that makes sense. It’s not just the same 11 versus the same 11. So we discuss those reps, who’s getting what in some of the positions where there’s a rotation. But yes, it’s changed a little.”
HC Sean Payton on the competition at outside linebacker with LB Drew Sanders healthy
“It will sort itself out. It always does. That’s a lot better question than, ‘Who’s going to take the three reps?’ It’s an important position in this defense. Those edge positions, they’re hard to find. It’s a big reason why we’re staying with the positions these guys played a year ago. I think it’s one of the strong suits of our front.”
HC Sean Payton on how valuable players who bring energy are, like DT Malcolm Roach, S Talanoa Hufanga and RB J.K. Dobbins
“There are a number of them, those compound multipliers that I think are essential on any good team. This group moves in a direction, and in general those types of people are the ones in charge of which direction. So he [DT Malcolm Roach] has a lot of juice. I don’t remember that as much when he was younger in New Orleans and when he got here. He doesn’t have many bad days, and that’s a great trait really.”
WR Troy Franklin on what Wide Receivers Coach Ronald Curry has brought to the room
“‘RC’ (Wide Receivers Coach Ronald Curry) has been great for us. I think he’s bringing a lot of new options on how we can get open. He’s taking a really good time in meeting rooms and making sure we know everything we need to do [with] our spots. Same thing with ‘Johnny Mo’ (Offensive Pass Game Coordinator John Morton), too. All those guys are helping us—[Offensive Quality Control Coach] Willie Snead [IV]. They’ve been a great addition for sure.”
