With the Broncos short of playmakers heading into Week 1’s matchup against the Las Vegas Raiders, there was a glimmer of hope on Wednesday.
Wide receiver Jerry Jeudy returned to practice after being sidelined for the last two weeks due to a right hamstring injury. Jeudy was in uniform, stretching and participating in individual drills during the media viewing portion of practice. Head coach Sean Payton said he had “limited” participation.
Although Jeudy suited up, second-year tight end Greg Dulcich missed practice due to a family matter, Payton said.
The Broncos looked like they would be without their top receiver for an extended period when Jeudy was carted off during a joint practice with the Los Angeles Rams on Aug. 24. A source later confirmed to The Denver Post that Jeudy would likely miss several weeks.
Denver, however, did not put Jeudy on the injured reserve list, which would have kept him sidelined for at least the first four games of the regular season. Before Wednesday, Jeudy was seen on the adjacent practice field, stretching and jogging with trainers.
The Broncos battled injuries within their wide receiver room during training camp. Tim Patrick tore his left Achilles in team drills, while speedster KJ Hamler was waived with a non-football illness designation due to pericarditis, a mild heart irritation. Meanwhile, Brandon Johnson missed some time during camp with an ankle sprain.
Jeudy’s status for Sunday’s game is still uncertain, but his return is big news for Denver’s offense with quarterback Russell Wilson in need of playmakers. Last season, Jeudy caught 67 passes for 972 yards and six touchdowns. The 24-year-old wideout ended the 2023 campaign on a high note, totaling 37 receptions for 523 yards and three touchdowns in his final six games.
Simmons nears 100%: Broncos starting safety Justin Simmons said he is slowly getting back to feeling fully healthy after dealing with a groin injury during camp.
Simmons, who didn’t play in Denver’s three preseason games, got hurt in early August and didn’t practice until Aug. 22. He spent most of the time working with trainers on the side field.
It will be interesting to see how Denver utilizes Simmons since he missed a good amount of time during camp. While he was sidelined, Caden Sterns and Kareem Jackson were Denver’s starting safeties. Sterns and Jackson were listed as co-starters alongside Simmons on the unofficial depth chart.
Team captains announced: Payton announced that Simmons, Jackson, wide receiver Courtland Sutton, right tackle Mike McGlinchey, quarterback Russell Wilson and punter Riley Dixon were voted captains by the team.
Wilson, Simmons, Jackson and Sutton were captains during the 2022 season. Jackson received the honor after Bradley Chubb was traded to the Miami Dolphins. Simmons said he takes pride in being a team captain but understands it comes with a heavy burden.
“A lot goes into that,” Payton said. “Generally, your (best) teams are player-led teams. Your average teams are coach-led teams and your poor teams have no leadership. I think itap important.”
Payton said Wilson leads by example with his work ethic. He praised the 34-year-old quarterback for being upbeat and positive. “He has a lot of good traits that I like,” Payton added.
Injury report: In addition to Jeudy and Dulcich, rookie cornerback Riley Moss (abdomen) and tight end Chris Manhertz (chest) appeared on the team’s first injury update as limited participants.
For the Raiders, wide receiver DeAndre Carter (knee) was limited while reserve cornerback Brand Facyson and starting defensive Chandler Jones (personal) did not practice Wednesday. Jones made news on Tuesday when he blasted head coach Josh McDaniels and the organization on Instagram for not allowing him to work out at the team’s facility over the weekend. Jones’ social media posts have been deleted.
McDaniels told reporters that Jones’ absence is a “private matter” and the team is taking it day by day.
