School’s out for the summer.
The Denver Broncos were scheduled to hold mandatory minicamp practices on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday this week, but coach Sean Payton announced Wednesday that he canceled Thursday’s practice session.
“We will not have a practice tomorrow,” Payton said Wednesday. “I felt that we had a really good offseason program. The key for all of these guys is during the five and a half weeks that they are away is maintaining their conditioning level. There will be a few guys who will stay here rehabbing injuries. Overall, I think it went well.”
Broncos players now get a month-plus break before returning to Broncos Park Powered by CommonSpirit for the start of training camp in late July.
Before training camp practices begin later this summer, Denver’s quarterbacks and wide receivers are planning to get together in Dallas for unofficial throwing sessions.
With spring practices now wrapped up, here are ten quick takeaways from Broncos mandatory minicamp.
1
Injury report: Adam Trautman among players sidelined
Broncos tight end Adam Trautman (core muscle) was among eight players held out of practice this week. Also sidelined were TE Greg Dulcich (foot), TE Dylan Leonard (unknown), RB Audric Estime (knee), WR Josh Reynolds (excused), DB Delarrin Turner-Yell (unknown), DB Caden Sterns (unknown) and DL John Franklin-Myers (unknown). Leonard has since been waived. Denver coach Sean Payton indicated that Trautman’s injury is not significant.
“Just being smart with his reps,” Payton said. “He had core muscle symptoms, which is basically a sprain. He didn’t need surgery, so that’s the good news. Nothing significant though.”
After skipping spring workouts and OTAs, Broncos wide receiver Courtland Sutton was eased back into action this week.
“We were smart [with him],” Payton said. “I know we did some extra work [with Sutton] on field three. It’s great having him out here. He’s in good shape, but you don’t want to just throw him in there. So we’ll be smart about that.”
2
Courtland Sutton returned, but he's noncommital on training camp
Courtland Sutton was back at the team’s facility this week after skipping the voluntary part of the offseason program. Sutton made it clear that his contract situation has not been resolved and he was noncommital when asked if he would report to training camp without a new contract.
“You know, we’ll see,” Sutton said. “We’ll see what happens. Got a month to be able to get things situated. Hopefully things get situated.”
Sutton will have a base salary of $13 million this season. ESPN has reported that the veteran receiver is seeking $15-$16 million per year.
3
Broncos sign LB after 7 tryouts
Denver brought in seven players for tryouts this week: QB-turned-TE Feleipe Franks, TE Hunter Kampmoyer, WR Ra’shaun Henry, DB Kyler McMichael, DL Blaine Hoover, LB Jordan Kunaszyk and LB Andre Smith. After minicamp wrapped up, the team signed Smith to a one-year deal. He’s a 27-year-old veteran who has spent time with four NFL teams. Smith has totaled 52 tackles in 62 career games while playing 1,131 snaps on special teams.
4
Tim Patrick looks healthy and sharp
Broncos wide receiver Tim Patrick was clearly one of the standout performers at Tuesday’s practice. Now recovered from last summer’s Achilles injury, the 30-year-old receiver looked healthy and sharp at practice.
“[He brings] those intangibles,” Payton said of Patrick. “I do know and obviously have seen healthy tape. Granted I wasn’t here, but I kind of have an idea or vision for the player. Then all the other things that he brings relative to his competitiveness, his versatility. He’s a great teammate. I think he’s an important part of the locker room, so it’s good to see him more and be smart with that.”
5
Riley Moss making a case for CB2 job
Riley Moss also looked good at Tuesday’s practice, breaking up a deep pass intended for Josh Reynolds.
“He’s smart,” Payton said of Moss. “I’d say you feel his length at corner. When I say that, just even on that play, it’s a tougher play to make if you’re a shorter corner. So you feel his length. He has really good transitional skills, and I think he’s smart. He’s picking up the technique, and he has versatility outside, in. We have good competition there.”
With Ja’Quan McMillian set to play in the slot, Moss is competing for the outside cornerback spot across from Pat Surtain. His competition includes Damarri Mathis, Levi Wallace and Kris Abrams-Draine.
6
Inside linebacker competition is wide open
After losing Josey Jewell in free agency, the Broncos will have an open competition for the inside linebacker spot across from Alex Singleton this summer. Payton indicated that Cody Barton, Jonas Griffith and even undrafted rookie Levelle Bailey are in the running to win the job.
“I think all of those guys [are competing],” Payton said. “We have a young guy from Fresno. All three of those guys are competing at Mike. We’re rotating their reps, much the same way [as we are at] quarterback. We’ll continue to do that.”
While Payton alluded to Bailey, it seems clear that Barton and Griffith are the true contenders. Whoever doesn’t end up starting will likely serve as a rotational defender and key special teams player in 2024.
“Jonas has not gotten really many reps the last two years since his injuries last year and the year before that,” Singleton said. “I would say both being newer to the defense are playing really well. I think it’s coming fast, especially for Cody, who hasn’t been in the system at all. It’s exciting and it’s fun when guys are going to compete. I think it brings the best out of everybody. It’s fun and keeps us all going.”
7
Jarrett Stidham has an advantage; Bo Nix is clear QB2
Entering his second year in Sean Payton’s offense, Jarrett Stidham has an obvious advantage in the quarterback competition with Bo Nix and Zach Wilson.
“He’s doing well,” Payton said of Stidham. “Clearly, within the framework within what we’re doing, he is much further along than in Year 1 in the transition. I’d say he’s looked really sharp during this offseason program. [He is] real decisive. I think the leadership he is able to provide there, and there’s good competition.”
While Stidham is ahead at the moment, Nix could obviously catch him during training camp. Earlier this week, KUSA-TV’s Mike Klis tweeted that Nix has been the “strong second-best” QB at practice this spring. Stidham and Nix appear to be first and second in the pecking order going into the summer.
8
Zach Wilson has been QB3 in reps and performance
Jarrett Stidham got five practices with the first-team offense this spring, followed by four for Bo Nix and three for Zach Wilson, according to the Denver Gazette‘s Chris Tomasson. After initially tweeting that Wilson is “obviously falling behind” in the QB battle, Tomasson later noted that a source pushed back on that notion. Things will be sorted out during training camp, but it certainly appears that Wilson is on pace to be the odd man out in the QB competition.
9
Sean Payton's not in a rush to name a starting QB
The QB competition will heat up during training camp, but a starter might not be named until late into preseason. Payton indicated that the week before Denver’s season opener is the “end date” to have named a starter, but he does not have a set date in mind to make his decision.
“I don’t have a date; I have a gut,” Payton said.
While fans and pundits wait for a decision, the three QBs will continue rotating first-team reps at practice (and presumably in preseason games).
“Every day we’re rolling them different with the ones, twos and threes,” Payton said. “We’re kind of doing the same thing with a lot of the other position groups. I just feel like this is the time of the year to do that.”
May the best QB win.
10
Broncos players will continue working
Denver’s players now have a summer break until late July, but they will get together in Dallas after the 4th of July for unofficial practice sessions.
“[We’ll build] fellowship together, go out there and work together, get some work on the field but then also get some dinner, get to know each other even more,” receiver Courtland Sutton said. “I think the teams that have the most success are really close away from the field as well as on the field. So we already have it kind of linked up, and guys are looking forward to it. I think it’s going to be a lot of fun.”
The work never stops in the NFL, but as far as official team practices go, a summer break is now underway.
