Player attendance
Did not practice: WR Philly Brown (concussion, sixth consecutive practice),TE Jeff Heuerman (knee, fifth), CB Tramaine Brock (hamstring, fourth) and S Su’a Cravens (knee, third). Brown went through individual drills while wearing a helmet (no pads).
Physically unable to perform: WR Jordan Taylor (hips).
Did not report list: WR Carlos Henderson and WR Jimmy Williams.
Returned to practice: LB Josey Jewell (hamstring) went through 11-on-11 work for the first time in camp. LB Brandon Marshall (wrist) took 11-on-11 snaps for the first time since Monday.
New injuries: DE Adam Gotsis (ankle) was not at the afternoon walk-through.
Top play
In a backed-up situation, WR Courtland Sutton ran a ‘go’ route against CB Bradley Roby, caught QB Case Keenum’s pass around midfield and would have scored a 90-yard touchdown. Roby appeared to stumble and then tried to dive to break up the pass, but couldn’t.
Thumbs up
WR Demaryius Thomas: He is quietly having a very good camp. He lined up all over the formation on Saturday and caught everything thrown to him.
S Trey Marshall: A roster long-shot, but he does have two interceptions in camp. That could be the start of him earning a practice squad nod.
Thumbs down
The tempo: The dog days of training camp arrived Saturday for the offense. Penalties. Fumbled snaps. Dropped passes.
LB Zaire Alexander: He won’t ever get an interception chance as easy as he got one from Lynch, but he dropped it.
Odds and ends
- Coach Vance Joseph said the defense lacked fire on Friday and the offense on Saturday. “We’ve got to start faster in my opinion,” he said. “(Saturday) wasn’t a good enough start for the offense. (Friday), it was the defense. We can’t pick and choose our times to come out and be focused. Thatap a problem. We don’t want to start out games down 14-0. That starts out here (on the practice field).”
- Asked how he and the coaching staff can change the opening-practice energy, Joseph said: “The players have to change it. They have to come out of the locker room ready to play. The coaches are ready to go. I’m ready to go every day. Itap on the players to come out with the attitude of, ‘Letap start fast.’ Thatap a mindset.”
- Pointing out to the media — or rather confirming it — that practice was choppy shows Joseph’s sense of urgency. A bad practice is a wasted opportunity.
- Joseph said the Broncos prioritized several situations on Saturday to change up practice. “As a coach, you try to structure practice to keep it exciting. (Saturday), we started out with third-and-10-plus. We went into a pressure period. We went to an all-empty (backfield). Thatap my job. It can’t be the same, old every day and itap not. If itap Groundhog Day, the players will get bored.”
- Injury updates: Joseph said WR Jordan Taylor is “getting better, but not close right now,” and said TE Jeff Heuerman is “getting close. Hopefully next week he’s back on the field.”
- Joseph is pleased with how OLB Von Miller is practicing during camp. “I get it with Von, he goes hard but he understands if he goes really, really hard, he can wreck practice,” Joseph said. “He had a couple of plays (Saturday) where he got upset and it looked like game-day. He’s right where he has to be for the season.”
- The Broncos’ first-unit defense used a four-safety, two-cornerback package to start 11-on-11 work. Dymonte Thomas received a chance to work with the starters.
- Joseph is correct in saying the practice started poorly for the offense. QB Paxton Lynch’s first four snaps: Pass to RB Royce Freeman, batted-down pass by DE Adam Gotsis, aborted play and pass to WR River Cracraft. QB Chad Kelly’s first four plays: Aborted play, pass to RB David Williams, S Jordan Moore pass break-up and a near interception by Moore.
- The second set of 11-on-11: QB Case Keenum — false start, keeper, batted pass by DE Derek Wolfe, pass to RB Devontae Booker and aborted play. Lynch — fumbled snap, pass to WR Tim Patrick and three carries. Kelly — fumbled snap.
- During receiver vs. defensive back 1-on-1s, CB Bradley Roby broke up a pass intended for WR Demaryius Thomas, S Trey Marshall intercepted Kelly on an overthrow, Patrick dropped a pass and CB Isaac Yiadom had the trifecta – he gave up a completion to WR Courtland Sutton, was called for a penalty and the flag hit him in the helmet.
- Keenum completed his first red zone period with a touchdown pass to TE Jake Butt. Lynch completed all four of his passes in the red zone, but none appeared to be for a touchdown. Keenum and Lynch threw touchdowns to TE Austin Taylor and Patrick, respectively.
- The Broncos will scrimmage on Sunday – – first team vs. first team, second team vs. second team and third team vs. third team. “It won’t be long but it will be intense,” Joseph said. “You want guys to improve (in a scrimmage setting). We’ve got some young guys who are doing some good things but still making a lot of mental mistakes.”
Sunday’s schedule: Practice 9:30 a.m.-12 p.m. (open to the public).
