Several players sit, Joseph talks about playcalling

“Worst” feeling for Harris

There was a reason Broncos cornerback Chris Harris was absent for three snaps against Kansas City.

“That was the worst I’ve felt, really,” Harris said. “I had a fullbody cramp. I had to go inside, get two IVs and I was still cramping in both feet the whole fourth quarter. I was just fighting through it.”

Harris played 75 of 78 defensive snaps, much of it spent chasing around the Chiefs receivers as quarterback Patrick Mahomes extended the play.

“I pride myself on being in great shape, being able to finish the game and get stronger in the fourth quarter,” Harris said. “This game, I couldn’t. I was just done. All my energy was gone and I was still cramping.” Helping call the shots

Joseph was asked after Wednesday’s practice if he was involved in the firsthalf defensive playcalling against Kansas City.

“I always do; I share it with (defensive coordinator) Joe (Woods),” Joseph said. “That’s been happening for two years. I call some of the third downs. I’m in every (defensive) meeting. We game plan together, we call the game together and honestly, some of the run downs, it’s (linebackers coach) Reggie (Herring). Some of the third down (pass) rushes, it’s (defensive line coach) Bill (Kollar) calling. It’s not one guy calling the defenses, it’s really all of us. I have called some this year and last year.”

Joseph said the Chiefs’ game was a “normal deal for Joe and I.”

After Thursday’s practice, Woods said: “Gameplan wise, we all sit together, our whole defensive staff. I want input. VJ sits in there with us and we go over what we’re trying to do.”

A few thoughts on that …

Maybe the Broncos would be better served if Joseph took over all of the playcalling or be handsoff during the game except for crucial situations and let the coordinator coordinate. Joseph’s answer has a feel of too many cooks in the kitchen. Gameplanning for empty backfields

The Broncos’ laboring pass rush (four sacks in the last three games) will have an opportunity against the Jets if New York has the same third down plan as last week at Jacksonville.

On nine of the Jets’ first 10 third downs against the Jaguars, quarterback Sam Darnold operated with an empty backfield. That will mean five pass protectors against the Broncos’ pressure.

“There are things offenses do to make it easy (for a young quarterback) to recognize if it’s man or zone (coverage),” Woods said. “A lot of the things they’re doing, they’re making it easier for (Darnold) to process what the defense is doing and that’s’ why you’re seeing the ‘empty.’”

The gamble for the Broncos against an empty backfield is if they rush five, it means six defenders for the five eligible receivers.

Of Darnold, the third overall pick in this year’s draft, Woods said: “We’ve faced young quarterbacks before. You can see he has talent. He’s doing a good job.” Moving forward

After overthrowing open receiver Demaryius Thomas for the potential gamewinning touchdown Monday, Broncos quarterback Case Keenum said he was not going to lose sleep over the incompletion.

Keenum has moved his focus to Sunday’s game at the New York Jets.

“It was a great play call by (offensive coordinator) Bill (Musgrave), trying to take a shot at the end zone,” he said. “They played two high safeties and I threw where I wanted it to (go) — just a little high. Would I like to have that one back? Heck, yeah. But I know we’re going to make a lot more of those than we don’t.

“I can’t lose any more sleep over it. We have a lot more games to play and we have a tough test this week. I’ve squashed it, learned from it, moved on.”

The all22 tape confirmed how the play was there for the Broncos. Kansas City had two safeties lined up at the 10yard line. Safety Ron Parker darted into the middle of the field to account for tight end Matt LaCosse. That provided the opening Keenum needed to connect with Thomas, but the pass was incomplete.