Before the 11-on-11 becomes real, here are 11 things worth noting

The Broncos had Monday off, so let’s take this time to look back on 11 things worth noting from the first 11 days of training camp:

1. Through eight practices, the Broncos have lost 35 “man days” to injuries or rest. Receiver Philly Brown (concussion) has missed seven consecutive workouts, followed by tight end Jeff Heuerman (knee, six), cornerback Tramaine Brock (hamstring, five) and safety Su’a Cravens (four, knee).

2. The Broncos have practiced five consecutive times, including Friday-Saturday-Sunday. Good on coach Vance Joseph for that. Padded practices test the players and allow the coaches to evaluate them. All players have done a nice job protecting one another — I have not seen a player get rolled up on during 11-on-11 or run-game work. Joseph said the Broncos will remain in “camp mode” on Tuesday, so the guess is full pads.

3. The Broncos ran 75 snaps in 11-on-11 on Saturday, but only 37 snaps Sunday.

4. If receiver Courtland Sutton has been the most impressive offensive player, who has been the most impressive defensive player? Let’s eliminate any linemen since the one-on-one matchups are out of the media’s sight (maybe a diehard Broncos fan/Denver Post reader can start

charting the results for me). I like what cornerback Bradley Roby is doing. Does he give up completions? Sure. But he’s battling and winning his share of plays, too.

5. Cravens’ injury has created an opportunity for Will Parks. I thought Cravens would emerge as the safety in the dime package, but Parks took the first snap during the initial practice and hasn’t budged. Brock’s injury has made the No.3 cornerback spot wide open. My rankings would be: A) rookie Isaac Yiadom; B) C.J. Smith; and C) Brendan Langley. Yiadom is making the team. Smith is covering the slot receiver for the first time but has been around the football. Langley is fighting things. Of Langley, veteran cornerback Chris Harris said: “It has to click for him. Right now, it’s been up and down so we just have to get him (to be) consistent.”

6. It’s possible seven of the Broncos’ 10 draft picks could make the initial 53man roster. Yiadom, Sutton, linebackers Bradley Chubb and Josey Jewell, tailback Royce Freeman, tight end Troy Fumagalli and receiver DaeSean Hamilton should be locked in. That leaves linebacker Kieshawn Bierria, guard/ center Sam Jones and tailback David Williams on the outside.

7. If I’m the coaches, I give Phillip Lindsay the first shot on punt and kick returns Saturday against Minnesota. They have a year’s worth of Isaiah McKenzie’s NFL video to assess. See if Lindsay can do it and then circle back to McKenzie if needed.

8. The tight end plot thickens with each day Heuerman sits out. Heuerman last practiced on July 29, but Joseph said on Saturday that a return is upcoming. Austin Traylor and Jake Butt have both taken advantage of the first-team reps. Traylor appears to have blocked well or at least knows how to get in the way of his opponent. Butt will be an immediate option in the passing game. He runs fluidly for a 250-pound man and the Broncos should feel comfortable lining him up wide in an attempt to match him up against a linebacker.

9. Not needing a true backup center creates a roster spot to use elsewhere. Starting right guard Connor McGovern would play center if Matt Paradis (who hasn’t missed a snap in three years) is unavailable. That will allow the Broncos to carry only eight linemen (a risk) and an extra tailback or tight end. Or they could opt to keep two backup tackles ( Billy Turner and Cyrus Kouandjio) and guards (Menelik Watson and Max Garcia), apiece.

10. The running back picture won’t begin to develop until Saturday night in the exhibition game. Joseph mentioned how the backs are doing well in pass protection. “I’ve been really impressed,” he said. “I watched (Freeman) block (safety) Justin Simmons in the A-gap. I watched (Phillip Lindsay) take on (linebacker) Todd Davis and he’s a tough matchup for his body type. … That speaks to their maturity as football players. That’s the last part most young backs get.”

11. OK, the backup quarterback situation. Yes, I must, only because the current No. 2 quarterback is a former first-round pick. It is time to see Chad Kelly play behind the second-team offensive line and against defensive backs such as Yiadom and Parks. Ask Joseph about Lynch and he talks about his fundamentals. Ask Vance about Kelly and he gushes about him being a “playmaker.” The only time Lynch has looked comfortable is when he rolls out, which cuts the field in half and he probably has a high read and low read and throws quickly.