Denver Broncos training camp is underway.
The Broncos will have a two-day acclimation period leading up to their first official training camp practice of the summer on Friday. Players hit the field for the first time on Wednesday,
Payton “It’s good to be back. Of course, these early first few practices are more of a ramp-up stage that we’re in relative to time and what we can do with pads. It was pretty uneventful relative to yesterday [with] everyone’s arrival. [The] meeting schedule has been good. Obviously, it’s a little different just with the construction. We’re fortunate to still be open for business, if you will, for our fans, and that’s a good thing.”
Here are five quick takeaways following Wednesday’s light session.
1. Broncos injury report
There’s mostly good news across the board on the injury front. As previously reported, wide receiver A.T. Perry (ankle) is on the physically unable to perform list and not practicing at the start of camp. Other than Perry, though, Denver’s roster is in great health.
Broncos wide receiver Devaughn Vele (leg), linebacker Dre Greenlaw (quad), long snapper Mitchell Fraboni (back), pass rusher Jonah Elliss (shoulder), linebacker Alex Singleton (ACL) and safety P.J. Locke (back) all practiced in some capacity on Wednesday. Payton said after practice that Greenlaw “looked good” and Locke is “healthy.” He also noted that the team will be cautious with select players.
“Look, this was one of the cleaner report dates that I can recall relative to just really one player that’s still got some work to do,” Payton said. “Now, these players we’re discussing, whether it’s Dre or any of these guys coming back off of injury, we’re going to monitor the snaps. We’re going to have a calendar where some days they’re not going to practice.
“I’m telling you now because you’ll ask me then. It’s three groups all the time. It’s the recently injured, it’s the injury history and then it’s the veteran group of players that will put together a little bit of a load management program. I don’t want to call it that, but it’s us looking ahead over the next four weeks and getting ahead of the practice schedule. Those guys would all fall into that.”
2. Broncos have no holdouts at camp
Washington Commanders wide receiver Terry McLaurin and Cincinnati Bengals defensive end Trey Hendrickson are holding out from their respective camps in hopes of contract extensions. Meanwhile, in Denver, the Broncos have several key players in line for extensions, but none of them are skipping camp.
Denver receiver Courtland Sutton, pass rusher Nik Bonitto and defensive linemen Zach Allen and John Franklin-Myers were also present for the first day of acclimation on Wednesday, and we know the team has already started negotiations with at least Bonitto and Sutton. It’s unclear if the Broncos will be able to re-sign all four, but it’s a good sign that none of the players are engaging in a public contract dispute with the team (unlike Hendrickson).
“Look, there are a number of guys you’re going to ask me about a few contracts,” Payton said. “They’re all being worked on. [It’s] something we really would never discuss with you, and those guys are getting work done. There’s been good communication, and I’m just going to leave it at that relative to the specific players.”
Good health and no holdouts are a great way to start camp. Fans in Denver will hope that continues.
3. Bo Nix worked with Drew Brees this offseason
Broncos coach Sean Payton revealed after Wednesday’s session that second-year quarterback Bo Nix spent four to five days with Drew Brees in San Diego this offseason.
“Drew lives in San Diego and he spent some time going there,” Payton said of Nix’s trip to California. “[It was about] the schedule and wanting to know more about the offense. I don’t even know when he went but I just know he went. It was him doing more research at the position.”
Nix has also received guidance from Peyton Manning, and he’s being coached by a QB guru in Payton. Entering his second year in the NFL, Nix has a great support group setting him up for success.
4. J.K. Dobbins up to speed
Dobbins signed with the Broncos late in free agency, but he joined in time for the end of mandatory minicamp. “I think it was important,” Payton said of the timing of the Dobbins signing. “He’s got the playbook for the five weeks he’s not here. He’s a quick study. He’s been in two offenses, and he’s someone who’s smart. So it was good to get him in here. I think it was important.” Dobbins will likely split time with rookie RJ Harvey in the backfield this fall.
5. Jeremy Crawshaw’s got the leg. Now for the accuracy
Crawshaw, the team’s sixth-round pick in this year’s NFL draft, is not facing any competition at punter going into training camp. There’s no denying that he has a powerful leg, but there have been some hiccups.
“I would say it’s kind of like right now the fireworks,” Payton said. “There are some booms and then every once in a while, there’s one of those we have to work on the ones that just go right. We have to get those handled. He certainly has the leg talent, you can see that. It’s exciting.”
The Broncos will have another light acclimation session on Thursday ahead of Day 1 on Friday.
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This article originally appeared on Broncos Wire: Denver Broncos: 5 takeaways after first training camp acclimation day