The offseason came and went with little more than a few contract whinnies from Bronco ringleaders.
John Franklin-Myers . Nik Bonitto . Twitter fingers got a bit antsy.
But there was nary a peep of dissent in Dove Valley on the Broncos’ first ramp-up day of training camp Wednesday, even as negotiation season intensifies in the NFL. Cowboys extension hopeful Micah Parsons didn’t participate at Dallas’s camp Tuesday and held an . Washington wideout Terry McLaurin . Cincinnati defensive end Trey Hendrickson .
But there’s no unapproved PTO in Denver. Courtland Sutton, Bonitto, Franklin-Myers and Zach Allen — the Broncos’ core four angling for extensions this offseason — were all present and active at camp Wednesday, even as Sutton took limited reps.
Head coach Sean Payton was predictably prickly about any notion of contract discussions. But he acknowledged, at least, they were happening.
“You’re going to ask me about a few contracts, they’re all being worked on,” Payton said when asked about Sutton’s participation Wednesday. “Something we really would never discuss with you … so yeah, there’s been good communication, and I’m just going to leave it that.”
Amid those ongoing negotiations — Bonitto said Sunday he feels he’s in a “good position” relative to the market — the Broncos have had a remarkably drama-free start of camp. Save for reserve receiver A.T. Perry, who’s been placed on the PUP list, every single Bronco on the team’s roster was present and healthy Wednesday.
“This is one of the cleaner report dates that I can recall,” Payton said.
Second-year receiver Devaughn Vele was back after missing all of minicamp with a knee injury. Free-agent signee Dre Greenlaw went through linebacker drills and 11-on-11 work, his first reps in a Broncos uniform. Safety P.J. Locke even looked spry just six or so months after offseason spinal fusion surgery.
Payton clarified, however, that the team will have a “calendar” during camp where veterans coming off injury won’t participate on specific days. So expect Locke and Greenlaw to miss a practice or two.
“It’s the recently injured, itap the injury history, and then itap the veteran group of players that we’ll put together a little bit of a load-management program,” Payton said. “I don’t want to call it that, but itap us looking ahead over the next four weeks and getting ahead of the practice schedule.”
Defense dominates: There was no hint of rust on Bo Nix’s right arm Wednesday, after an offseason spent working with throwing-mechanic guru Tom House.
In an early seven-on-seven period, he ripped a throw up the seam to tight end Adam Trautman, who reached up to snare the perfectly-placed ball in traffic. It was easily the play of the day.
When 11-on-11 work began, though, Nix — or backups Jarrett Stidham and Sam Ehlinger — couldn’t move the ball much against Vance Joseph’s defense, the coordinator barking repeatedly throughout the team period. Levelle Bailey and Que Robinson made some great reads to swallow up dump-offs and outside runs. Outside linebacker Andrew Farmer displayed great get-off on one would-be sack.
Other notables
• As conversation rages over Jahdae Barron’s versatility, the rookie first-rounder trotted out with Denver’s first-team defense at outside corner for initial 11-on-11 reps Wednesday, opposite Pat Surtain II.
• In the first true taste of Denver’s new-look backfield, rookie RB RJ Harvey continued to get looks flashing out of the backfield as a pass-catcher, with J.K. Dobbins taking a couple of handoffs in team periods.
• Rookie tight end Caleb Lohner made a couple of nice grabs in 7-on-7 and 11-on-11 work.
