Attendance
Did not practice: Physically Unable to Perform list — WR A.T. Perry (foot/ankle). Out — ILB Alex Singleton (thumb), ILB Drew Sanders (foot), ILB Dre Greenlaw (quad), OLB Que Robinson (knee).
It’s the same list as Saturday, pretty much. Greenlaw again wasn’t in shells. Singleton was back in shells, but he didn’t do any teamwork. Robinson, meanwhile, was still sporting his leg brace, even as head coach Sean Payton said last week he anticipated getting Robinson “back into the fold” Monday. Fullback Michael Burton was also back in shells and participating after a Saturday absence.
Newcomer impact
Don’t panic if you haven’t heard Jahdae Barron’s name much during camp. In a quest to learn a variety of spots and alignments in Denver’s defense — just the same as he did at Texas — the Broncos’ first-round rookie simply hasn’t popped.
Equally as important: He’s never looked out of place. And as Barron continues to learn the complexities of working the nickel at this level, he gave fans a glimpse of his raw traits on Monday. First came a tremendous one-on-one play in drills against none other than Courtland Sutton. Barron attached himself to Sutton’s chest and sent a deep ball bouncing away. Then came an advanced-level rep on a third down in a team period. Defensive coordinator Vance Joseph sent Barron screaming in on a nickel blitz, leaving quarterback Bo Nix with no other choice than to chuck a ball out of bounds.
Payton called Barron “exceptionally bright” last week. If that holds true, it’s only a matter of time until his instincts take over.
“You’re seeing things that he’s doing in disguise that you’d see from a veteran at the nickel position, not so much outside,” Payton said last week. “… His athleticism and his football IQ, you don’t feel a rookie when it comes to the things that we’re doing right now.”
Top Plays
On his tip-Bonnit-tos: Know who else has good instincts on this Broncos defense? Well, a lot of guys. But outside linebacker Nik Bonitto, beyond his exploits as a pass-rusher, continues to show he’s a plus player when dropped into coverage.
In one team period, Sutton came sprinting in motion from the right side of the formation behind Nix and swung to the left on a nifty screen play. Bonitto read it the whole way, exploding off the line of scrimmage and nearly picking off Nix’s short toss. It was an elite-level rep, as Bonitto continues to try to prove he deserves elite-level dollars.
Thumbs Up
The Broncos’ No. 3 quarterback is suddenly making it difficult to envision the team cutting him. After a banner day Saturday, Sam Ehlinger continued to play with the freewheeling gusto of his starring days at Texas. At one point, while being chased toward the left sideline, he set his feet and uncorked a 40-yard parabola to rookie Courtney Jackson.
It wasn’t a bomb, exactly. But it was a throw that took guts, with his momentum carrying him out of bounds. As the toss fell past a defender’s outstretched arm to Jackson in the end zone, Ehlinger turned back toward trainer Beau Lowry and gave a little staredown. Reasons unclear.
“There’s a little moxie to him,” Payton said. “Sometimes, it can be a little big for guys. But with him, not at all.”
Thumbs Down
Nix made several standout throws Monday and orchestrated the Broncos’ offense near-flawlessly in a late two-minute situational. But he also threw two more picks. The first: A dart up the seam to Sutton that safety Devon Key jumped. The second: A short flutter that linebacker Justin Strnad leapt and one-handed.
That’s five in three days of team periods for Nix. Payton, though, seemed unconcerned.
“We’re charting picks here like hurricanes,” Payton said in a light jab. “So, he’s doing fine.”
They’re practice interceptions. But Nix has also had apparent issues on timing or communication with receivers on a number of them. After the Strnad pick, the second-year quarterback chucked his towel in the air in frustration.
Odds and Ends
• Pat Bryant had maybe his best day of camp Monday, making plays both from the slot and outside. He beat Riley Moss in one-on-one reps and beat Pat Surtain II on another ball later. He caught a bomb from Jarrett Stidham. He beat Kris Abrams-Draine on a long drag later in situational work. The ball simply continues to find Bryant, with any unit, and he’s demonstrated a versatile route tree for a receiver of his experience.
• Speaking of best day of camp: Tight end Lucas Krull has increasingly looked like an afterthought in a tight end room that now features Evan Engram and Caleb Lohner. But Krull showed his worth Monday on a few grabs and got some work with the 1s. The Broncos aren’t likely to take all three of Krull, Lohner and Nate Adkins. These are an important next couple of weeks for Denver’s TE depth.
• Wondering if you’ll see Denver’s starters when they head to San Francisco Saturday? You will. Don’t worry. Payton made that clear, even with plans for a joint practice with the 49ers on Thursday.
“There’s this feeling that, oh, if I practice ‘em a bunch, then I’m not going to play them in the game,” Payton said. “We’re playing guys.”
• Luke Wattenberg told reporters he feels more confident heading into his first full-time year as Denver’s unquestioned starting center. As the Broncos move to a more outside-zone-centered rushing attack, Wattenberg said he wants to take “the next step in the run game” and has been working on playing faster.
“Starter, asset starter,” Payton said. “Smart. He played really well for us last year.”
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