How the Broncos fared in Tuesday’s training camp practice at Dove Valley:
Highlight of the day:
Sometimes, with so many Pro Bowl selections for Brian Dawkins and Champ Bailey, it can be easy to lose track of safety Renaldo Hill. But in team drills, Hill had back-to-back plays that showed why he’s routinely praised by his teammates. He knocked away a pass Kyle Orton tried to fit into Brandon Lloyd, and on the following play would have had a sack on a blitz in a third-down situation.
Lowlight of the day:
Injury rehab is slow and arduous and from the looks of things it could still be a while before rookie wide receiver Demaryius Thomas is ready to go. Thomas suffered a left foot injury Aug. 7 in the Broncos’ practice at Invesco Field and has not practiced since. Thomas is still limited in his running to straight-line drills and is not yet cutting. The left foot is the foot he fractured in a pre-draft workout.
Quote:
“Long foul balls, you know, really don’t help anybody. We’re always about taking what the defense is giving us and that includes deep balls if that’s what they to give us.”
— Broncos quarterback Kyle Orton on throwing deep.
Position battle:
With Champ Bailey and Andre Goodman getting the morning practice off, Nate Jones and Alphonso Smith worked at the cornerback spots in the starting defense.
The Broncos certainly like Jones as a potential utility guy in their secondary, having already lined him up for extended periods at both cornerback and safety against the Bengals Sunday night.
He has played the nickel, lined up outside and played at safety. Add that to his special-teams duties, that’s a lock for the 53-man roster.
Smith, however, is in a heated competition for any significant playing time. He’s the guy the Broncos traded a first-round pick for to move up and get in the 2009 draft.
And Smith is going to have to distance himself from rookie Perrish Cox to get some playing time in the defense. Because with Cox already being the team’s top returner, his gameday value goes up when only 45 players are in uniform to play, other than the No. 3 quarterback.
Cox, with his quickness and confidence, has the look of a player likely make a serious push to be the Broncos’ nickel corner before the season gets too old.
Quarterback watch:
Orton — Hit Eddie Royal on a big play down the field in team drills; found Royal and Gaffney in the back on the end zone for two plays as the offense worked inside the 20.
Brady Quinn — After a tough night in Cincinnati, was composed in team drills and didn’t take too many risks.
Tim Tebow — Hit in the endzone must have had an effect. He did practice Tuesday morning, but did not participate in post-practice sprints.
Camp facts:
The Broncos were scheduled to practice twice at their Dove Valley complex Tuesday. Wednesday they will practice once — 2:30-4:30 p.m. — and the practice will be open to the public. Wednesday’s practice and Thursday morning’s practice will be the last ones open to fans.
Jeff Legwold: 303-954-2359 or jlegwold@denverpost.com
