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USA Today Sports Media Group
USA Today Sports Media Group
Sport
Jon Heath

Why the Broncos worked out a punter instead of a kicker

When news broke that the Denver Broncos brought in a specialist for a workout on Wednesday, some fans were surprised to learn that the team hosted a punter, not a kicker.

Broncos kicker Wil Lutz missed two kicks in the team’s season opener, so fans thought competition might be on the way. Denver coach Sean Payton has backed Lutz to bounce back, though, and Payton is not going to undermine the kicker’s confidence — at least not at the moment.

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The Broncos are also content with punter Riley Dixon, but he is a right-footed punter and Denver is set to face a left-footed Tress Way when they host the Washington Commanders on Sunday.

Payton likely wanted to give Denver’s punt returners — Marvin Mims and Tremon Smith — reps fielding left-footed punts in practice this week ahead of Sunday’s game against Way.

So the Broncos brought in former XFL punter Brock Miller, a lefty, for a workout. Denver also hosted veteran long snapper Jake McQuaide, according to the NFL’s transaction wire.

If Lutz continues to struggle, the Broncos might bring in kickers down the road. For now, though, it seems that Denver just wanted to get practice reps with a left-footed punter, and they brought in a long snapper to workout with him on Wednesday.

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