Denver’s defense has played well so far this season, though on Monday night it was hampered substantially by penalties.
Ejiro Evero’s group committed eight for a total of 137 yards in the 19-16 overtime loss to the Chargers.
A big chunk of that — four and 87, respectively — came on pass interference penalties against rookie Damarri Mathis in his first career start.
But the Broncos also had personal fouls called against Dre’Mont Jones (facemask), Mike Purcell (unnecessary roughness) and Bradley Chubb (roughing the quarterback). The last was an off-sides against Baron Browning.
“Some penalties I’m not going to over-coach just because the game is so fast and bodies are moving around and there’s so much reactionary stuff going on that itap just part of the game,” Evero said. “I don’t think you want to sacrifice the speed players play with.”
Evero called offsides penalties among, “the ones that drive you crazy. … Those type of penalties. Maybe some of the late hits and stuff. The ones that we can control. The ones that take no really slowing you down in terms of your play. Those are the ones we have to continue to work on.”
Browning, in particular, is fast off the ball but also plays on the edge of jumping into the neutral zone.
“You have to do a good job of looking at the ball, keying the ball and not guessing,” Evero said. “He’s working on it, getting better, but for all our guys thatap the key. Can’t listen to the cadence, can’t guess. You have to see the ball and go.”
Wilson limited again. Quarterback Russell Wilson was limited for a second straight day due to a hamstring injury he suffered in the fourth quarter Monday night in Los Angeles.
Wilson took part in individual work but didn’t make all of the same movements that Brett Rypien and Josh Johnson did. He threw some passes and jogged around, but clearly was not at full speed or doing everything.
Head coach Nathaniel Hackett didn’t want to say exactly how the repetitions had broken down between Wilson and Rypien, the No. 2 quarterback, so far this week, but he did say Wednesday that Rypien had seen more reps recently due to Wilson’s right shoulder issue.
Injury update. In positive developments on the injury front for Denver, inside linebacker Josey Jewell (knee), defensive tackle D.J. Jones (ankle) and right guard Quinn Meinerz (foot) returned to practice in limited capacities on Thursday.
Jewell didn’t play against the Chargers because of a knee sprain.
Cooper thrilled to be back. Denver got deeper at outside linebacker when Jonathon Cooper returned from injury against the Chargers.
He ended up playing 26 defensive snaps plus 25 more on special teams and hit quarterback Justin Herbert twice.
“Oh man, it was amazing,” said Cooper, who missed most of camp with a finger injury, played in two games, then missed three more with a hamstring issue. “… Itap been a process, but being out there finally, it was awesome. It was amazing, just being out there with my brothers and trying to help them win.”
