The Broncos’ bye week began Monday around 3 p.m.
Broncos’ players were excused until early next week. The league’s collective bargaining agreement dictates players get Thursday through Sunday off during the bye week.
Head coach said a bye week practice has “kind of gone away. I’m not saying I know what everybody does … You can’t really go out (Monday) and practice (after a game) nor on Tuesday in my opinion. You’re really forfeiting a potential practice on Wednesday and most coaches have come to the conclusion that itap just good to get a full-blown break rather than one (extra) practice.”
While most players scatter throughout the country, injured defensive end DeMarcus Walker and safety will remain in the area to rehabilitate. Both players hope to return against Minnesota on Nov. 17.
Walker sustained a right shoulder injury (AC joint sprain) in practice. He was inactive for Sunday’s 24-19 win over Cleveland.
“I was pretty banged up,” he said. “We tried all week in practice and they asked me, ‘Pain 1-10 (scale)?’ and I gave them a number and they were like, ‘No,’ (to playing). … It got to the point where I couldn’t take off or put on my shirt by myself. Now I have a pretty good range of movement. I just have to keep rehabbing it.”
Walker played in the Broncos’ first eight games and had 18 tackles. His four sacks are tied for second-most on the team. “What I’ve done in the first half of the season is whatap keeping me motivated and in good spirits,” he said.
Parks sustained a broken left hand in the loss to Kansas City and had surgery. A cast continues to protect his hand. “I have to get ready for Minnesota so I’ll stay here and train and come back where I left off, if not 10 times better,” he said.
Parks will have a rubber cast on his hand to play in the game, “but I’ll still be able to play football at my highest level, I’m sure of it.”
Parks, a free agent in March, started the season as the Broncos’ fifth defensive back in their sub-package. But he was benched after the Jaguars game when Fangio decided to keep full time at safety instead of playing nickel cornerback. Duke Dawson took over the nickel duties. Parks’ return could allow Fangio to play more six-defensive back personnel.
Fangio said he wasn’t sure if right tackle Ja’Wuan James (knee) would play against Minnesota and deciding if rookie quarterback Drew Lock’s will begin practice next week is “still up in the air.”
Not many plays. The Broncos have failed to reach 25 points in 18 consecutive games, which ties a franchise record set in 1991-92. During the streak, the Broncos have gone 6-12 and reached 24 points in four games, including Sunday.
A lack of plays contributed to Sunday’s lack of scoring. The Broncos’ 43 plays from scrimmage tied a record low in a win. They also ran 43 plays in a 21-10 win over the Raiders in 1986.
The number of plays were the Broncos’ fewest since 42 in a loss to Jacksonville in 2007.
Allen to Fant. Quarterback Brandon Allen’s 75-yard touchdown to tight end Noah Fant was notable.
It was the first touchdown pass of at least 75 yards by a quarterback in his first start since Robert Griffin III threw an 86-yard touchdown in the Redskins’ 2012 opener at New Orleans, according to the NFL. And Fant is the first rookie tight end with a touchdown catch of at least 75 yards since Tyji Armstrong in 1992 (an 81-yard score for Tampa Bay against the Rams).
Footnotes. Fangio said he received a congratulatory text message from Rockies manager Bud Black. “We’ve struck (up) a little friendship there,” Fangio said. “He had a rough season although he’s a highly-qualified and a good manager. He’s just trying to help me through the rough times. Bud is a (heck of a) good guy and I’m glad I’ve gotten to meet him.” … Former Broncos receiver Brandon Stokley, now a radio host on 104.3 The Fan, is the team’s nominee for the “Salute to Service Award.” Stokely annually hosts retired and wounded military veterans to training camp practices. Each team selects one nominee and the winner be announced Feb. 1 at the NFL Honors awards show.
