When the Broncos drafted Zane Beadles at No. 45 overall last week, they couldn’t have imagined how important the offensive lineman’s versatility would be — immediately.
Beadles, who played tackle at the University of Utah, took repetitions at left tackle and right tackle Friday, the first day of the Broncos’ rookies-only minicamp, and expects to also work at guard throughout the preseason.
Those repetitions at left tackle are important now that starter Ryan Clady will miss at least three months after partially tearing his patellar tendon while playing basketball last week.
“Definitely, that’s not a good thing for the team. You never want to hear someone go down with an injury,” Beadles said. “But for me, it’s not something I need to worry about. I need to come in here, and whether he’s here or not, I’ve got to work hard and learn as much as I can, because it is a huge step up from college.”
Beadles likely will work at both tackle positions during the Broncos’ first full- squad minicamp May 17-19, though Tyler Polumbus probably will see significant repetitions at left tackle as well while Clady heals.
“The big thing is just learning, and I think the best way to learn is by making mistakes,” Beadles said. “I’ll get plenty of chances to do that.”
Limited work.
Neither of the Broncos’ drafted rookie wide receivers, first-round pick Demaryius Thomas and third-round pick Eric Decker, participated in the first minicamp. Both are recovering from foot surgery.
Thomas broke the fifth metatarsal in his left foot just before the scouting combine. He said he hopes to be able to participate in the team camps in mid to late May. Decker suffered a Lisfranc sprain midway through last season at the University of Minnesota, and he might not be ready to practice until the start of training camp in late July.
But both wore their new Broncos practice jerseys and helmets Friday as they joined their teammates on the field for stretching. They also watched the receiver and offensive drills.
“A lot of it is the mental reps, in the film room and on the field, just trying to see the formations and understand what to do out there,” Decker said.
The Broncos had three undrafted wide receivers able to fully participate: Alric Arnett from West Virginia, Landis Williams from Maine and Patrick Honeycutt from Middle Tennessee State.
Two other receivers — Dicky Lyons Jr. from Kentucky and Rockeed McCarter from James Madison — participated on a tryout basis.
Shifting into Geer.
Riar Geer, a former Colorado tight end, was disappointed when the final round of the draft concluded and he wasn’t selected.
The Broncos helped alleviate some of the sting when they offered him a contract as a free agent.
“This is my dream team,” said Geer, who grew up in Fruita. “It makes me want to make the team even more.”
Footnote.
The only nonrookies to participate in the minicamp were punters A.J. Trapasso and Britton Colquitt. Both came out of college in 2009 and are competing for the Broncos’ punting job.
Lindsay H. Jones, The Denver Post
