1. August is about the training camp stars and cornerback Lorenzo Doss has definitely established himself as one this summer. He intercepted a pass in Thursday’s preseason game at Chicago and followed up by getting a pick-six off a Mark Sanchez pass in Saturday’s practice.
Doss, the Broncos’ 2015 fifth-round pick, made his name at Tulane with 15 interceptions in three seasons. He’s beginning to create the same name for himself in Denver. Doss has taken advantage of first-team reps in games and practices where starters Chris Harris and Aqib Talib have sat out.
He appears ready for a bigger role on defense after he played in six games as a rookie.
2. Speaking of cornerbacks, Talib looks ready to play. He nearly picked off Sanchez in seven-on-sevens and easily broke up a pass intended for Emmanuel Sanders on a later play. He practiced for 90 minutes Saturday, but coach Gary Kubiak said they still wanted to hold him out of contact drills.
“He’s doing great. You all saw him today making a lot of plays,” Kubiak said. “We are making up a lot of ground.”
The Broncos are still easing him back from that gunshot wound he suffered in early June. Kubiak has previously said he could see Talib back for the Broncos’ third preseason game, August 27 vs. the Los Angeles Rams.
3. The Broncos had a long list of players missing practice Saturday because of injuries: receiver Bennie Fowler, offensive linemen Ty Sambrailo and Robert Myers, tight ends Garrett Graham and John Phillips, defensive linemen Vance Walker and Darius Kilgo and cornerback Taurean Nixon.
4. Fowler will be out for a bit and opens up the door for receivers Cody Latimer, Jordan Taylor, Jordan Norwood, DeVier Posey, Kalif Raymond, Bralon Addison and the rest of their college free agents.
Increased reps for the second- and third-team receivers will give a clearer view on which five or six receivers are the best fit on the Broncos final roster.
5. Kubiak expects Kilgo to be return early next week from his shoulder injury suffered during Thursday’s game. For Walker, they are trying to limit his practice reps to get his back injury to heal 100-percent before the season.
College free-agent nose tackle Kyle Peko and veteran defensive end Billy Winn have been the immediate beneficiaries with an increase in practice reps.
6. Sambrailo is still out of action with that large brace on his right elbow injury. The Broncos are calling him week-to-week. He doesn’t appear nearing a return to game action.
Darrion Weems and Michael Schofield have got the bulk of reps in his place. Both saw time with the first team at guard and tackle. Rookie guard Connor McGovern is also getting increased snaps. Depth is a concern on the offensive line, but this is the time to see what they’ve got.
Sunday’s camp facts: Broncos are off. They’ll return Monday.
