Day two of Broncos camp is in the books, and it is the last one before a day off on Sunday. When they return to practice on Monday, they will have their first fully padded practice of camp, which are the most important practice of camp.

Today, we have linebacker Drew Sanders being carted off and undergoing an MRI. Bo Nix speaks with the media, and we’ll have more updates on Monday’s padded practice. We’ll also cover injury updates, news and notes, notable tweets from camp, quotes, and more!

Drew Sanders is getting an MRI

Late in practice, linebacker Drew Sanders needed to be carted to the locker room after suffering a lower leg injury. After practice, Sean Payton told the media that Sanders did not hurt his Achilles, which he injured last year, but will be receiving an MRI.

This would be a major blow to Sanders, who missed the majority of last season due to an achilles injury. He worked his way back from that injury and was on the field for the final few games of last season. Sanders made it through the offseason without any setbacks and was even a standout player during these first few training camp practices, but now he’s dealing with this injury.

“We don’t have any update. We don’t have any information yet, so we’ll give it to you. It’s not his Achilles, but I want to wait and see once the doctors do the MRI.”

The Broncos’ linebacker room was already a question mark with Dre Greenlaw and Alex Singleton coming off major injuries. Losing Sanders for an extended time would be a blow to their depth at that position. On the other hand, it does give the Broncos’ linebackers lower on the depth chart an opportunity to make the team. Second-year linebacker Levelle Bailey has been having a strong start to camp and could benefit from Sanders’ unfortunate injury if he is sidelined for an extended period of time.

Hopefully, Sanders avoided a major injury, but either way, this opens up an opportunity for someone else to potentially make the team.

Bo Nix speaks

Bo Nix met with the media today and had a lot to say. I won’t touch on it all in here (more coming on Nix’s comments later), but it’s hard not to be fired up after listening to our Franchise QB speak.

Nix was asked about his teammates’ calling him the leader of the team, and he downplayed it a bit. He said it comes with the territory of being the quarterback and that he just wants to continue to show the guys that he is willing to work and always trying to find a way to get better. He continued and said, “Being the quarterback of a team like this, it’s what you live for.”.

“I think most of it is the position, and then I guess it’s what’s done after you get the position. For me I just want to continue to show these guys that I’m willing to work, and find every which way we can to find wins and find every which way for me to get better. I know I have a lot of growth left, a lot to be done, but these guys are going to help me get there. We’re just out here just kind of sharpening each other, going best-on-best and just finding ways to make each other better. It’s fun. Being the quarterback of a team like this, it’s what you live for. It’s what you practice for, work for your whole time. Literally when I started lifting and training and getting ready for this football journey back in the sixth, seventh grade, it was really fun.”

He was then asked about being named the 64th best player in the league last season according to the NFL’s Top 100 list. He told reporters that he’s honored his peers think of him like that, but that he’s always working to be better and wants to be higher on the list next time.

“I want to be the best quarterback in the world”.

“I’m kind of on both sides with it. I think it’s obviously a cool honor because that’s [what] your peers think, guys you play. At the same time, just the way I think, the way I am motivated, I want to continue to get higher. Not even for the ranking. It doesn’t really matter what you’re ranked, it’s just an internal standard that I have that I want to be the best in the world. I know there are a lot of guys that I’m competing for that with. I’m not going to stop until I at least give it my best try.”

I know these are just words, but Nix backs them up with his actions. His dedication to being better is obvious on and off the field, and we have seen him make big strides since being drafted by the team. He is already more comfortable and confident as a quarterback than he was last season and will look to have an even better year this upcoming season.

Moss and Abrams-Draine impress

Two of the Broncos’ younger corners had impressive practices today. Riley Moss and second-year corner Kris Abrams-Draine made a number of plays during today’s practice and received some hype from Head Coach Sean Payton.

During today’s practice, starter Riley Moss showcased sticky coverage and had multiple PBU’s throughout the drills. He was out there looking like his pre-injury self and getting some love from his Head Coach.

Payton told reporters that Moss had a good season last year and praised his ability to have sticky coverage. He would also say that he likes Moss’s length and ability to mirror and shadow receivers and that he has come back in really good shape.

“He had a good season last year. Look, he’s sticky. Obviously, he’s going to get a lot of traffic and a lot of balls thrown his way. I like his length and his ability to mirror and shadow. He’s a good tackler, and he does a lot of things well. He’s come back in really good shape, and I think we saw it in training camp last year.”

As Payton mentioned, Moss is going to see a lot of ball thrown his way due to Pat Surtain II locking down half the field. So, the fact that he’s having a strong start to camp is promising and has earned some hype from the Head Coach.

Second-year corner Kris Abrams-Draine also had a strong practice. He had a near INT early in practice when Bo Nix and Devaughn Vele had a miscommunication, and a ball hit KAD right in the chest. Later in practice, he had a touchdown-saving PBU on a Bo Nix pass that was intended for rookie Pat Bryant.

After practice, Head Coach Sean Payton believes the starts and snaps KAD had at the end of last season have helped him in year two. He said the second-year corner is getting stronger and added some weight, and that he’s very smart and has good ball skills.

When you come out of your rookie year and you can come out on a high note like that—I’m talking about those last five or six weeks—I think that goes a long way. He’s getting stronger, and he’s putting weight on. He’s very smart and has good ball skills. So I think that last quarter pull for him was really important.”

Abrams-Draine is buried a bit on the depth chart behind PS2, Moss, Barron, and McMillian, but continuing to have a strong summer could have him moving up the depth chart. I thought he played really well last season, and I am excited to see that he is having a good start to camp in year two.

Day off tomorrow, but pads on Monday

After having four practices this week, the Broncos will have tomorrow off. However, when they return to the practice field again on Monday, they will be in full pads for the first time this summer.

This is when things get real.

When pads come on during training camp, those are the most important camp practices of the summer. Football is played in pads and not shorts, and no pads, so who stands out in these practices is noteworthy.

There are times when the pads are off, certain players are making a ton of plays, but disappear once the pads do come on. So, we have to see if that is the case this time around or if we truly are seeing some young players having a breakout performance during camp.

Injury Report

  • Veteran RT Mike McGlinchey did not practice for a third straight practice but was present for the practice with a sleeve on his right leg – Source
  • WR A.T. Perry, who remains on the PUP list to start training camp, did not practice today
  • LB Drew Sanders was carted to the Broncos locker room – Source
  • According to Head Coach Sean Payton, Drew Sanders did not suffer an achilles injury but will undergo an MRI – Source

News and Notes

  • UDFA WR Kyrese Rowan (was Kyrese White) was the star of the 7-on-7 period. He had two touchdown receptions, including a leaping 20-yard touchdown reception from QB Sam Ehlinger – Source
  • WR Troy Franklin had a touchdown reception during 7-on-7s from QB Jarrett Stidham – Source
  • CB Kris Abrams-Draine nearly had an INT of QB Bo Nix after he and WR Devaughn Vele had a miscommunication during the play – Source
  • CB Riley Moss had a nice PBU of rookie WR Pat Bryant – Source
  • Rookie IDL Sai’vion Jones would have had a sack of QB Sam Ehlinger – Source
  • CB Kris Abrams-Draine had a TD-saving PBU while covering rookie WR Pat Bryant during team red zone at the end of practice – Source
  • Rookie EDGE Que Robinson continued to impress and had another sack during today’s practice – Source
  • WR/KR Marvin Mims appears to have expanded his route tree – Source

Tweets From Camp

Notable Quotes

HC Sean Payton on how much he weighs early training camp practices compared to others

“Well they all mean something. I think a lot is you’re just slowly building up a resume of what you’re doing technique-wise. When you get into full pads, guys will play differently or step up a little differently and you get maybe a cleaner evaluation. It’s probably more relative to the interior lines, but it all goes into the process.”

HC Sean Payton on DL Eyioma Uwazurike’s return to a full season

“It’s good to have him. It’s hard to be gone a year, and he was a young player. So to have him now—this is an important camp, training camp and season for him. I thought he stood out a little bit today, it’s hard to obviously without the pads on. His size hits you, his athleticism. How he plays is infectious. So him having a full year heading into this season will serve him well. He was a young prospect. It’s hard for any player who sits a season, so he’s done a good job bouncing back.”

HC Sean Payton on if LB Dre Greenlaw has shown strong mobility

“I do. He’s another one of those guys that’s on a pitch count. We’re being smart. He’s impressive when you put the tape on. Monday will come with the pads and there are certain players that really express themselves in the full gear, and he’ll be one of them.”

HC Sean Payton on the addition of WR Trent Sherfield Sr.

“He’s tough, and he can run. The other thing he can do is block, and so we’ve always had a handful of receivers that can run and stretch the field and when you get one that can do that and then block also, you can set up play action, marries well to the run game. He’s pretty competitive.”

QB Bo Nix on getting involved in the Denver community this offseason and why it was important to him

“We finally had time this offseason to experience what Denver has to offer. It’s a great city. My wife and I love being here, love to call it home. [We] always love being back when we’re off somewhere else, getting to come back home. So that’s just what it feels like. It’s starting to feel more and more like home, and we’re making this our place. With that, I don’t want to just sit at the house all day. I want to get out and about and go enjoy what Denver has to offer. We have a great sports culture. We have great teams, great experiences other places, too. We just enjoyed hanging out with the guys that were here this offseason training. Denver’s a great spot. I’m very fortunate to be here.”

QB Bo Nix on what makes this locker room unique

“One is we have probably the most [players] in the NFL back, just guys that have returned. I feel like I’m playing with a similar team as we did last year. Not a lot of turnover. Then we added some special guys that were good locker room guys, good teammates, have that history of working hard, being experienced. They’re going to make a big difference for us. We’re all just trying to compete to get better. We’re all trying to make each other better. I think that’s just kind of showing in the locker room, out on the field, in the cafeteria. We just have a close team. I think it starts with honestly the type of people we have in the locker room. We don’t have any clowns. We don’t have any guys that are hard to get along with. We just have good people, good dudes that are all here for one reason, and that’s one team goal and just to get better. We don’t really have a lot of prima donnas which is good.”

S Brandon Jones on S Talanoa Hufanga

“That’s my dog, man. I know it hasn’t been that long, but like I said last time, it seems like we have kind of had a brotherhood for a long time. He’s not only super smart—we’re not even in pads [yet]—and you can tell he has a lot of aggression and plays the game very physically. Just an overall teammate, and it goes without saying, obviously, he’s a great human being, great person. He brings a lot to the table and definitely think he can be captain-worthy this year. Bring some vet mentalities to the defense room, so it’s been a great addition.”

S Brandon Jones on what he has noticed from CB Jahdae Barron

“Jahdae, he’s been really, really good. I might’ve said this last time, it’s hard to realize he’s a rookie just because of his mindset and how smart and intelligent he is. He flies around, and he always asks a lot of good questions. Which goes back to the other thing, I wish I had asked a lot more questions, and good questions at that. He’s always asking the right questions, super athletic, and he’s always around the ball. He’s been a super great addition.”