Baron Browning stays off social media for the most part.
That’s good for sanity’s sake any time of the year, but maybe particularly when the NFL trade deadline is on the horizon — to say nothing of the fact that it happens to fall on Election Day.
Browning, the fourth-year Broncos outside linebacker, has been mentioned as a potential trade target by NFL Network and ESPN over the past week. The rationale: He’s in the final year of his contract, Denver may not be able to keep both him and Jonathon Cooper long-term and the Broncos’ production at outside linebacker held up for the most part even when Browning missed four games due to a foot injury.
Browning’s aware his name is out there but told The Post he doesn’t spend much time thinking about what-ifs and will try not to between now and the Nov. 5 deadline.
“I really don’t try to stress myself with stuff I can’t control,” he said. “Worrying about that won’t do me no good. I just try to stay in the moment and stay where my feet are.”
The 2021 third-round pick said he’ll be happy if the deadline comes and goes without anything happening.
“I love it here,” Browning said. “I love my teammates. This is where I was drafted. And I hate moving.”
Browning also said he hadn’t heard anything about talks regarding a potential contract extension — “my agent handles that stuff,” he said — and that his focus is just on getting back in a groove after the foot injury.
Browning played 46 snaps in Denver’s opener at Seattle and then was hurt 12 snaps into a Week 2 game against Pittsburgh. He avoided structural damage to his foot but landed on short-term injured reserve and returned Week 7 at New Orleans.
Browning was able to jump right back into playing about 50% of Denver’s defensive snaps, logging 31 snaps against the Saints and 33 against Carolina.
“The Saints week, it was me just kind of trying to feel it back out. I obviously didn’t practice that week,” Browning said. “It’s one thing to do rehab exercises and field work on Field 3 vs. actually playing. So New Orleans week was me feeling my foot out and my foot getting used to the workload.
Related Articles
Broncos podcast: What’s powered Denver’s 5-3 start and previewing a big game vs. Baltimore on Sunday
Mike Shanahan joins list of coaching semifinalists for Pro Football Hall of Fame class
Broncos QB Bo Nix named NFL Offensive Rookie of the Month
Broncos’ playoff roadmap: What Denver must do to break drought, including Bo Nix taking (and completing) shots downfield
Broncos rookie Bo Nix on two-time MVP, Baltimore QB Lamar Jackson: “I definitely don’t want to be compared to him”
“Then each week it’s been feeling better and better.”
Locke remains out. Broncos safety P.J. Locke (thumb) was the only active player who didn’t practice at all Thursday. He’s been out since Oct. 23.
RT Mike McGlinchey (knee) and FB Mike Burton (foot) were limited while S Delarrin Turner-Yell (knee) bumped up to full participation along with CB Pat Surtain (ankle) and RT Alex Palczewski (ankle).
Linebacker Alex Singleton (knee) is back in Denver, too, and watched practice Thursday. He had ACL surgery performed by Dr. Neal ElAttrache on Oct. 15 in Los Angeles and spent the first two weeks after the operation in California. Now he’s back to continue his rehab in Denver and be around the team.
Want more Broncos news? Sign up for the Broncos Insider to get all our NFL analysis.