Shurmur says team needs better run- game production early on

Part of Broncos offensive coordinator Pat Shurmur’s plan to kick- start the team’s dormant first- half production: More from Phillip Lindsay and Melvin Gordon.

“I think it’s fair to say we need to get more out of our running game early,” Shurmur said before practice Thursday. “I think that will help us.”

Better run- game production will lead to manageable secondand third- down situations. In the first half of last week’s loss to Atlanta, the Broncos had firstdown rushes of three, minus- 5, three and two yards.

“To score early in the game, we just have to be on- point and be better,” Shurmur said.

As for quarterback Drew Lock, Shurmur said: “Whether it’s the TV broadcast or fans, you point to negative things throughout — that’s an easy thing to do when you have a guy learning how to play this game at this level. Throughout the game, he did some really good things and then were some mistakes that you just keep cleaning up. … I’ve seen steady improvement from him each week.”

Shurmur said Lock should have thrown the football away on his second- half interception when he tried to throw deep middle off his backfoot.

“He’ll learn that, but that’s the basketball player in his driveway trying to make a fade- away,” Shurmur said.

Jeudy

limited in practice. Rookie receiver Jerry Jeudy ( shoulder) returned to limited practice work Thursday after sitting out Wednesday.

Coach Vic Fangio said Jeudy sustained a “shoulder contusion” in the loss to Atlanta.

“We’re hoping he’ll be able to go ( Sunday),” Fangio said.

Right tackle Demar Dotson ( groin/ hand), inside linebacker Joe Jones ( calf) and right tackle Jake Rodgers ( shoulder) did not practice. Jones and Rodgers were limited Wednesday.

Safety Justin Simmons ( noninjury) returned and three players — tight end Noah Fant ( ankle), guard Austin Schlottmann ( ribs) and cornerbacks A. J. Bouye ( concussion) and Bryce Callahan ( ankle) — were upgraded to full duty after being limited Wednesday.

Bouye has been to limited to three games because of a shoulder injury and the concussion.

“We’ve just got to get A. J. back in the swing,” Fangio said. “He’s got to do a good job of really focusing on getting back into it because of all the practice and playing time he’s missed.”

Bouye was the victim of friendly fire against the Chargers — a hit by safety Kareem Jackson.

Did he see Jackson coming?

“No, I was too busy trying to tackle my guy,” Bouye said. “All I know is I got hit on the side of the head. I haven’t even seen the play. I just know somebody had hit me and they told me it was ( Jackson).”

Non- field goal recap. The Broncos called timeout on their first possession against Atlanta and Fangio contemplated a field goal attempt of 58- 59 yards for Brandon McManus. Fangio said after the game he was talked out of kicking it by special teams coordinator Tom McMahon.

“What I do is give my advice to Vic on where Brandon is during pregame with distance and ( Fangio) makes that decision from there,” McMahon said. “My biggest job is, when I see a situation like that where I have to get involved, I give my advice. In that case, ( Fangio) thought about it and made the decision to punt the ball.”

Footnotes. McMahon said Diontae Spencer, who has missed the last three games with a shoulder injury, will return to his punt return duties Sunday at Las Vegas. … Right tackle Elijah Wilkinson ( leg injury in Week 3) returned to practice this week, but Fangio said he isn’t an option to return against the Raiders if Dotson is inactive. Because Rodgers also did not practice, Calvin Anderson took the first- team snaps.