The Broncos’ injury luck hasn’t turned around yet, though they appear to have avoided serious trouble this time around.
Wide receiver Brandon Johnson and right tackle Mike McGlinchey each dropped out of practice Tuesday with injuries, continuing a run of potentially key contributors to miss time over the first two weeks of Denver’s training camp.
Sources indicated to The Post that neither Johnson (ankle) nor McGlinchey (knee) sustained a serious injury, though an exact timeline for McGlinchey’s return is unclear.
Neither returned to practice, and head coach Sean Payton did not speak with reporters Tuesday.
Johnson went down during a 7-on-7 drill and appeared to be in a lot of pain. Trainers attended to his left ankle and lower leg as teammates Courtland Sutton and Pat Surtain II looked on. Johnson was able eventually to walk off the field gingerly and attempt to jog in place and do some light cutting. Eventually he walked to the locker room on his own with a trainer by his side.
McGlinchey went down about the same time after he was rolled up on from behind during a 9-on-7 drill. He limped off the field during the drill and then walked on his own to the locker room with a trainer
With McGlinchey out and left tackle Garett Bolles on a restricted practice plan so far in camp, the Broncos on Tuesday were rolling with Cam Fleming and Isaiah Prince as their tackles.
“I don’t know what happened with (McGlinchey). I saw him go down,” offensive coordinator Joe Lombardi said. “I think we have some good tackle depth. Isaiah’s played in games and is doing a good job for us. (Demontrey Jacobs) is a rookie but he’s got a lot of talent. The third group, I feel like it’s as good a third group of offensive linemen as I’ve been around.”
Elsewhere, safety Justin Simmons (groin strain) was out Tuesday, Kareem Jackson had an apparent veteran rest day and nickel K’Waun Williams only observed as well. That meant 60% of the Broncos’ nickel group watched from the sideline.
Simmons teaching everyone. Simmons may be out with the groin strain, but he’s still having an impact on practice. He’s teaching younger players, sure — but his own coaches, too.
“He could coach the room right now. He’s having a great camp,” defensive coordinator Vance Joseph said. “He’s actually fixed about three or four things for me in the last four days because I haven’t been in the system and there’s certain calls that I wasn’t used to those guys making last year and he explained it and we kind of came together and made it right for both sides.
“He’s done a good job for me helping with the systems. Itap been special to watch.”
Players and coaches alike have talked extensively about the way Joseph’s allowed his players input in how the defense has come together.
“You want the players to have ownership, especially now,” Joseph said. “The guys who were here last year, they did some good stuff on tape, so I don’t want to dismiss that. Pressures they like — Josey (Jewell) likes this one pressure that we put in yesterday. The guys have idea of whatap been good for them in the past, letap put it in.”
Wilson excited about preseason. Count quarterback Russell Wilson among those excited to get some snaps in the preseason.
“There’s three great things that happen,” Wilson said. “No. 1, as a player, just stepping between the white lines. Every time you step between the white lines itap a gift. Itap a gift to be able to play the game that we all love.”
Wilson said the preseason also gives the Broncos a chance to “figure out who you are as a team in a lot of ways, mentally and emotionally,” and also that it provides moments for young players “that you’ll forever remember” and opportunities to “develop and grow.”
Joseph a “sideline guy.” You won’t find Joseph in the coaches box calling Denver’s defense this fall.
“I’m a sideline guy,” he said, picking up his glasses off a podium and smiling. “I can’t go up in the box. I can’t see anymore. I can’t see from way up there.”
