Musgrave: “Training wheels” coming off rookie RBs
Include Broncos offensive coordinator Bill Musgrave on the list of individuals who want more carries for rookie running backs Royce Freeman and Phillip Lindsay.
Lindsay has 45 carries for 267 yards and Freeman 44 carries for 219 yards. Monday, coach Vance Joseph said he wanted Freeman in particular to get more work.
“Both he and Phillip are running really well,” Musgrave said after Thursday’s practice. “We need to get them more turns. Take the training wheels off those two young guys and let them go (and) when I talk about that, I’m talking to myself (about) taking the training wheels off.”
Freeman gained 8.4 yards on his eight attempts (67 yards) against the Chiefs, but was limited to only 16 snaps.
Had the Broncos gotten Freeman more involved, they could have closed out the Kansas City game. Instead, their lastminute drive down the field resulted in a failed fourth down and a 2723 loss.
“We put ourselves in position to have a shot,” Musgrave said. “But, shoot, that game, in reality, shouldn’t have come down to that series — as we know. We can do a better job throughout the game to not be in such nipandtuck situations at the end. We’ll keep working on those tough, clutch situations.”
King sits again.
Broncos punter Marquette King missed a second consecutive day of practice because of a thigh injury.
“We’ll see how he comes along as the week goes,” Joseph said.
The Broncos would have to make a roster move if King is not healthy enough to face the New York Jets on Sunday. Colby Wadman is on the practice squad.
“He’s been good (in practice),” Joseph said of Wadman. “He’s obviously a young guy but he has talent. If he had to go for us, I would be comfortable with Colby.”
Footnotes.
Right tackle Jared Veldheer (knee bone bruise) and inside linebacker Todd Davis (shoulder) also missed practice again. Billy Turner would start for Veldheer and Josey Jewell for Davis if they are unable to play. Defensive end Adam Gotsis (knee) and linebacker Von Miller (thigh) were limited participants. … Defensive coordinator Joe Woods on losing a 10point lead in the fourth quarter to Kansas City: “We pressured (quarterback Patrick Mahomes) and moved him around, but just couldn’t get him on the ground. We were literally yards away from making a gamechanging play.”