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), OLB Ronnie Perkins. Out —CB Art Green (concussion), CB Levi Wallace (hamstring).
Several players returned to practice or moved toward getting back. OLB Nik Bonitto (back) was involved, as was S Brandon Jones (hamstring) for the first time since the opening days of camp. LG Ben Powers (ribs) and TE Lucas Krull (toe) were dressed for practice but mostly did conditioning work after getting hurt during Sunday’s game at Indianapolis.
QB Race Today
Head coach Sean Payton said he liked the way all three of his quarterbacks played Sunday against the Cots and had particular praise for Zach Wilson.
Expect to see a lot of rookie Bo Nix with the top offense this week. Nix is starting the second preseason game Sunday at home against Green Bay.
“It kind of falls in line with what we’ve been doing all camp,” Payton said of the plan for this week. “Last week ‘Stiddy’ got the week’s worth of 1s, so following that same process.”
“All three of these guys are going to get a ton of work vs. GB.”
Stidham and Nix actually rotated days with the No. 1s early last week, but Denver also had more days of true camp practice before tailoring a plan for Indianapolis. Stidham had Monday, Wednesday, Friday and presumably Saturday’s walkthrough work last week. This week the Broncos practice again Thursday, go against Green Bay on Friday and then have a walkthrough Saturday before Sunday’s game.
Top Play
It was not the most explosive day of camp for the Broncos’ offense, but Wilson made a good read on a scramble to his right during a team period. He had a running back available in the flat but turned him down, anticipating that receiver Michael Bandy would turn his route up the sideline. Wilson hit him with a good ball for a big gain.
Thumbs Up
Bailey’s sticky hands. Undrafted rookie inside linebacker Levelle Bailey made a pair of interceptions in one-on-ones Wednesday. The first one was particularly impressive — a one-handed stab along the sideline. Then he later undercut a throw with good timing. The former Fresno State linebacker has had a nice camp and could make a real push toward the 53-man roster with another strong week.
Thumbs Down
Franklin’s shaky hands: Rookie wide receiver Troy Franklin, on the other hand — no pun intended — continued what’s been a tough stretch of camp on Wednesday. The good: He absolutely toasted newcomer Kaleb Hayes deep in a team period. The bad: Wilson put a perfect rainbow on him for a touchdown and Franklin dropped it. Not every rookie develops at the same pace and it’s been clear most of the summer that the former Oregon star is far from a finished product. All the same, the Broncos would clearly love to see some signs of breaking through the rookie preseason malaise between now and the start of the regular season.
Odds and Ends
• The top offensive line had a different look Wednesday with Ben Powers limited to side-field work. Sam Mustipher got a day at center and fellow veteran free agent addition Calvin Throckmorton worked in Powers’ spot. Each are in competition for roster spots but far from sure bets.
• Luke Wattenberg and Alex Forsyth, the centers most consider to be in contention for the starting job, drew strong praise from Payton after practice Wednesday.
“(Wattenberg) is playing well and I would also say Alex is as well. And Alex took snaps at guard, so those guys got a lot of work,” Payton said. “I’m encouraged with both of those players. The tape for both of those guys was really good.”
• Payton said he and Green Bay coach Matt LaFleur had talked multiple times about Friday’s joint practice and that they’ve got the structure of the day sketched out. “It starts with just the periods (of practice) and, ‘OK, what do we want to get accomplished?’ … There are just some nuances within the periods and then just logistically, where is their sideline? We put them in the middle — the neutral ground, as they would say in the South.”
• The Broncos were in shells Wednesday on a “ramp up” day after having Tuesday off. Then they’ll be in pads Thursday before a heavy workday against Green Bay on Friday and a Saturday walkthrough.
• The Broncos waived OLB Jaylon Allen with an injury designation and re-signed ILB Alec Mock.
Thursday schedule
Parking lots open at 8 a.m., gates at 9 a.m. and practice runs 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
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