Broncos reporter Mike Klis provides news, notes and anecdotes from the team’s training camp today:
MRI for Lepsis
The right knee is fine. It’s the left groin that’s been bothering Matt Lepsis in recent days. The left tackle pulled his groin muscle Tuesday and sat out the morning workout session Wednesday. During the lunch hour, Lepsis went for an MRI exam. “It’s just precautionary,” Lepsis said. “I just pulled it.” He added his right knee, which suffered a torn ACL last season, has recovered nicely.
Position battle
With Lepsis out, the Broncos moved Erik Pears back to left tackle and inserted Adam Meadows at right tackle with the first-string unit. Pears replaced Lepsis at left tackle last season but had been working exclusively at right tackle during training camp.
Fieldwork
Broncos punter Todd Sauerbrun was in holding for kicker Jason Elam, who was in to attempt a mid-range field goal. After taking the snap, Sauerbrun faked the placement and rolled right. He stopped, then threw a perfect spiral across field to a wide open Elam, who had flared off to the left. Elam caught the ball and scooted in for a touchdown, bringing the large Wednesday morning crowd into uproarious applause.
The Broncos then worked extensively on their goal-to-go and red-zone offense with tight ends Teyo Johnson, Stephen Alexander, Daniel Graham and Nate Jackson catching most of the completions.
One of the most interesting plays was near the goal line, where running back Andre Hall (who stands 5-10 in cleats) ran smack into defensive tackle Sam Adams (who weighs 350 after a disciplined diet). Hall bounced back like a rubber ball thrown against a wall.
Linebacker T.J. Hollowell had an end zone interception of Jay Cutler, who also threw touchdowns to Alexander and Jackson. Cutler continued to wear a protective brace on his right wrist.
No. 2 quarterback Patrick Ramsey zipped downfield completions to Brian Clark and Javon Walker. Preston Parsons played well while quarterbacking the No. 3 offense, ahead of Darnell Hackney.
Biography: D.D. Lewis, outside linebacker
Lewis reminded everyone Wednesday the No. 1 requirement to winning a starting job is staying healthy. He played with the first-string defense at strongside linebacker in part because the other candidates at the Sam position — Nate Webster, Louis Green and Warrick Holdman — were on the sidelines nursing injuries.
Lewis has something else no other Bronco linebacker can claim: A Super Bowl start. He started and made four tackles for the Seattle Seahawks in their 2005 Super Bowl loss to Pittsburgh. Any of his stops stand out? “I got Bettis good,” he said, referring to Steelers’ since-retired running back Jerome “Bus” Bettis.
Born in Germany while his father was in the Army, Lewis’ full given name is De’Andre De’ Wayne. And no, he’s never thought of going by anything but D.D. “Well, my wife calls me De’Andre, but that’s about it,” he said. “That’s how I like it.”
With his offseason home in Seattle, Lewis plans on living in a hotel near Dove Valley the whole season. How is he supposed to coexist with his wife and four kids in a hotel room? “”I’m hoping for double rooms,” he said. “The kids like to sleep with us, anyway. Even when we’re home in a big house, everybody’s in one room.”
Quote of the day
“This is the grind but it’s how you deal with that. Some people kind of fade right now and the professionals get stronger and understand that yeah, it’s tough but this is the time when you’ve got to be on your detail more than ever.”
— Broncos safety John Lynch, on Day 11 of training camp.
Thursday camp facts
Two workouts, the first starts at 8:30 a.m., the second is for special teams only at 3:40 p.m.
Admission: Free for parking and to watch the workouts. Gates open an hour before each session.
