Learning curve: Installing offense is rough on rookies.
Player attendance
Did not practice. LB Josey Jewell (hamstring), WR Philly Brown (head) and WR Kenny Bell (hamstring). Jewell and Bell missed their third consecutive day. Brown missed his second straight day and is in the concussion protocol.
Physically unable to perform. WR Jordan Taylor (hips).
Did not report list. WR Carlos Henderson and WR Jimmy Williams.
Returned to practice. None.
New injuries
• TE Jeff Heuerman (knee). First missed practice.
• CB Marcus Rios (hip). First missed practice.
• LT Garett Bolles (head). Coach Vance Joseph said Bolles “took a shot to the chin” during 11-on-11 work and did not return.
• ILB Brandon Marshall (wrist). Also did not finish practice. Joseph said Marshall is “OK.”
Top play
During a red-zone period, OLB Bradley Chubb ran with TE Brian Parker in man coverage down the left seam and broke up a pass by QB Chad Kelly.
Thumbs up
C Matt Paradis. He won all four of his one-on-one matchups during a pass protection drill, beating DE Paul Boyette and NT Domata Peko. DE Von Miller vs. RT Jared Veldheer. They split two one-onone plays, and it will be fun to watch the two veterans match wits throughout camp.
QB Chad Kelly. His comfort level seems to be growing every day, and there is no question he can escape trouble when the play breaks down. “He’s a playmaker,” Joseph said. “If it’s a dirty play, he makes it look clean. That’s what he does.”
Thumbs down
Pass rushers. They were slow out of the gate against the offensive linemen in one-on-one drills. Not one defensive player had a twoplay sweep.
Odds and ends
• The Broncos wore shells (a type
of shoulder pads), allowing for more contact. “Obviously, football is played in pads, so putting pads on and watching the guys bang a little bit is always fun,” coach Vance Joseph said. “For our running game and stopping the run, the pads are critical.”
• Joseph, on the Broncos wearing full pads Tuesday and Wednesday: “It’s no different. We’re still going to be smart. We’re not taking guys to the ground, but still being physical.”
• Joseph said the Broncos have installed about “35-40 percent” of the offense and Monday was an uneven practice. “It’s tough on rookies,” he said. “We had a rough day. We had some guys who struggled with their assignments. … We put everything in (during) the spring on both sides of the ball. In my opinion, the spring is for guys to stretch their minds so we give it all to them even though it doesn’t look pretty at times. That way, during the fall in Week 8 or 9, you’re not reinventing the wheel
for players. You may not call those plays until then, but at least they’ve heard them (in camp). If they’ve heard them, they can get it during the week. If they haven’t heard it, it creates anxiety for the players.”
• During team work, TE Austin Traylor replaced Heuerman, and the coaches have started to spread around the snaps with the first two units. WR River Cracraft played with the first team, and WR Mark Chapman was with the second team. Cracraft has been the first player on the practice field each morning. “Very consistent — he’s in that puntreturn mix,” Joseph said. “He’s a great route runner. He has good ball skills. And he’s good on (special) teams. He has a chance. He’s competing.”
• RG Connor McGovern has worked with the first unit in all three practices after rotating with Menelik Watson during the offseason program.
• P Marquette King attempted several rugby-style punts, in which he catches the snap and
takes several steps to the right before kicking.
• Wearing shells allowed for oneon-one pass-rush/protection drills for the first time. Among the players who went 2-0 against their opponent were C Matt Paradis, LT Cyrus Kouandjio (against DE Antonio Simmons) and RT Billy Turner (over OLB Jeff Holland). On the defensive side, DE Shelby Harris pushed down C J.J. Dielman after getting into his pads.
• Toward the end of practice, QB Paxton Lynch lofted a fine pass into the back corner of the end zone that was caught by TE Jake Butt (LB Zaire Anderson in coverage). Of Lynch so far, Joseph said: “Paxton’s doing a good job with his footwork. He did a good job (Sunday) of going through his progression. That’s improvement for Paxton.”
• The entire roster ran 50-yard wind sprints after practice.
9:30 a.m.-noon practice (open to the public).