The Broncos on Thursday formally began their preparations for Sunday’s preseason opener at Cincinnati by watching film of the Bengals and practicing against a scout team to simulate the Bengals’ starters.
The Broncos’ starters, though, are likely to see limited work in their first game.
Coach Josh McDaniels said he expects starters, including quarterback Kyle Orton, to play between 20 and 25 plays. Some players who are coming off injuries could play less, and younger starters, such as rookie offensive linemen J.D. Walton and Zane Beadles, will play more.
“We’ll have a list of players that we’re going to remove at a certain point, but at this point we’re getting everybody ready to play,” McDaniels said.
With Orton expected to be out by the second quarter, Brady Quinn and Tim Tebow will get their turns to run the Broncos’ offense.
Tebow said Thursday he’ll have to work to control his emotions before his first pro game, even though he knows this one doesn’t count.
“I’m a pretty amped-up person and get hyped pretty easily, so I’ve always had to really try to stay calm before the storm and not get overhyped or too excited,” Tebow said. “Most people listen to some type of music to get them going. I honestly listen to either soft country, Frank Sinatra, Christian, (Christian artist) Chris Tomlin, something like that. Usually calm music, just to try to relax. It’s hard for me, but I try.”
Walkoff field goal.
With the wind at his back and about 70 teammates screaming in his face, kicker Matt Prater ended practice by nailing a 61-yard field goal.
Because Prater made the field goal, players who won offseason awards were allowed to have no curfew Thursday night. Had he missed, every player would have been required to be back at the team hotel for bed checks.
Prater previously had missed two attempts and said he was relieved to make the important kick in the pressure situation, even though he wasn’t among the players who would benefit from it.
“I should see if I can get an extra hour,” Prater said.
Roster move.
The Broncos signed free-agent linebacker Johnny Williams and released veteran linebacker Nick Griesen.
McDaniels said Griesen had slipped on the depth chart on defense and special teams, so the team decided to add a young player who could learn and potentially make the eight-man practice squad.
Williams, a college teammate of Broncos linebacker Wesley Woodyard at Kentucky, spent part of 2009 on Pittsburgh’s practice squad.
Footnotes.
Wide receiver Jabar Gaffney returned to practice, although he took limited reps in team work. He left Wednesday morning’s practice early with an undisclosed injury and did not practice Wednesday afternoon. . . . Wide receiver Eddie Royal did not practice for the first time in camp. . . . Former Bronco Haven Moses is holding a free stroke prevention seminar at the Holly Creek Retirement Community in Centennial on Aug. 27, from 1:30-3 p.m. Moses will also sign autographs.
Lindsay H. Jones, The Denver Post
