If a tight end is a quarterback’s best friend, then Peyton Manning and newly acquired Broncos tight end Vernon Davis will be spending a lot of time together.
“I’ve enjoyed watching him play, playing against him, seeing him play,” Manning said. “I’ve seen him make a lot of plays. (I’m) excited about the opportunity he can have to help us.”
Davis was an active participant in practice Wednesday, but he didn’t catch any passes from Manning, who was limited but didn’t throw. The 6-foot-3, 250 pound athletic tight end should supply a big health in the downfield game with speed and skill to run the seam route effectively.
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Manning isn’t the only one eager to get the connection going, either.
“I’ve been dreaming about Peyton since I left college,” Davis said.
His arrival didn’t go unnoticed in the locker room, either. Several defensive players remembered their battles with Davis in training camp.
“He runs routes better than anyone else. He stops on a dime,” linebacker Brandon Marshall said.
Davis’ addition can only mean improvements for the Broncos’ offense. Tight end Owen Daniels said he wasn’t bothered by the move and welcomed the addition to making the team better.
Davis was happy to be with Manning and the Broncos offense after being stuck in San Francisco. The whole ordeal was a big culture shock.
“I’ve never had this before,” Davis said about the Manning-led Broncos after a short day of meetings. “This is a completely different world.”
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Injury updates
A couple of key Broncos’ role players did not practice out in Dove Valley Wednesday.
Outside linebacker Shaquil Barrett sat out practice with a toe injury. He spent the open period watching the linebackers go through drills.
Barrett said he suffered the injury in the third quarter against Green Bay on a special teams play.
“Something just pushed against it,” Barrett said. “But it’s starting to feel better already. I’ll be good to go.”
Kubiak said he expects him back at practice Thursday.
Lerentee McCray, who had only played 25 snaps going into the game, played 19 snaps at outside linebacker. Barrett played 18.
Receiver Jordan Norwood, who missed Sunday’s game with a hamstring injury, wasn’t on the field for practice Wednesday.
Kubiak said the hamstring would have caused him to miss practice, but he was excused due to the fact that he was about to be a dad. His wife went into labor this morning, so Norwood left to go to the hospital with her.
Kubiak said he expects Norwood back at Dove Valley Thursday.
Norwood suffered the hamstring tweak during Friday’s practice, which caused him to be inactive against the Packers. The injury paved the way for receivers Bennie Fowler and Andre Caldwell to get an increased workload.
Outside linebacker Shane Ray (sprained MCL) was the only other Broncos’ player not to practice.
Cameron Wolfe: cwolfe@denverpost.com or
