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), FB Michael Burton (unknown).
Camp-goers in Dove Valley got a neat little surprise when Singleton trotted out of the locker room Saturday morning alongside new moneyman Zach Allen, the injured linebacker dressed in pads just a few days after breaking his thumb. He didn’t practice during team period, but Payton made clear he’ll be back soon. It’s likely, then, that the Broncos have their starting ILB duo back for next week’s joint practice with San Francisco.
“If we had a playoff game tomorrow, he’d have a club on and be playing,” Payton said of Singleton.
Burton was present Saturday, but not dressed in pads.
Newcomer impact
How about Uncle Sam? A few days after Denver’s third-string QB appeared in a less-savory light in this space, Sam Ehlinger put together the best reps of any Broncos quarterback in quasi-scrimmage periods Saturday. Yes, it was against Bronco reserves. But he made some throws that’d play against most any coverage.
In the second team period of the day, Ehlinger chucked a well-placed bomb to undrafted rookie Jerjuan Newton, who made a terrific reaching grab while tumbling to the turf. A play later, Ehlinger stepped up and fired an over-the-shoulder dart into tight coverage for Courtney Jackson. His pocket mobility was excellent, too, befitting a guy who once ran for 16 touchdowns his sophomore season at Texas.
Ehlinger might have long odds to crack Denver’s 53-man roster after signing a one-year deal this offseason to compete for a roster spot. But he’s steadily fed his way into the Broncos’ locker room: weekend-trip buddies with Bo Nix, and former Texas teammates with Brandon Jones, P.J. Locke and Jahdae Barron.
“He was a good mentor for me, good leader, good big brother to me,” Barron said, back in rookie minicamp.
Ehlinger has largely struggled with deep-ball accuracy throughout camp, but if he keeps flashing that kind of arm talent this preseason, he could force a Zach Wilson-type roster decision from Denver.
Top Plays
The reigning Defensive Player of the Year has Bo Nix’s back all the way through. Doesn’t mean he won’t get after him.
After picking Nix off on a roll to his right Friday, Pat Surtain II stepped in front of another off-target Nix toss for his second pick of training camp Saturday. Banner start to his DPOY follow-up campaign.
“I think, you become DPOY and you’re in his echelon, then there’s that, not pressure, but there’s that added expectation as to, ‘This is the club I’m in,’” Payton said. “‘And it’s a difficult club, and this is what everyone expects.’”
Thumbs Up
It’s been a spotty couple of days for Nix, particularly in off-platform accuracy and decision-making. Two interceptions yesterday. One Saturday. But a period after his wayward throw ended up in Surtain’s paws, Nix tested him again in the red zone, fearless.
On the final play of a goal-line sequence, Nix chucked up a fade to Courtland Sutton, who was matched up one-on-one with the best corner in the game. Hazardous for any quarterback. But Nix found a high enough pocket that only the 6-foot-4 Sutton could reach, and the Broncos’ top wideout crashed down with a score.
Thumbs Down
Denver’s reserve offensive line largely cleaned up its play after some ghastly Friday reps, with much less yellow laundry Saturday. But third-string center Joe Michalski struggled amid a tough day in his quest for a roster spot. Michalski, an undrafted free agent who was productive at Oklahoma State, fired off a couple of tough snaps and a couple more that flat-out soared over Ehlinger’s head.
Odds and Ends
• Riley Moss said this week he worked this offseason on improving on “not getting pushed off” on 50-50 balls. It’s been readily apparent this camp, as no member of Denver’s secondary outside Surtain has put together more impressive tape.
Moss hasn’t gotten beaten on nearly any deep or sideline routes. On Saturday, he blanketed Marvin Mims Jr. on a couple of balls and warded off another target to Pat Bryant. Denver’s No. 2 corner was solid when healthy last year and looks poised to take another step in 2025.
“I’m going to be on an island, and what can I do?” Moss responded when asked about facing targets opposite Surtain. “That’s what I think makes this game so beautiful, and why I love the position that I’m in.”
• Edge Jonathon Cooper didn’t participate much in team activities Saturday. Payton has previously emphasized that a number of veterans are on load-management plans throughout training camp, so it’s possible Cooper simply received a lighter workload.
• Second-year back Audric Estime got a heap of carries in red-zone and goal-line work. That might be Estime’s clearest path to a roster spot, with the type of power-back build that could thrive in short yardage. He’s also flashed out of the backfield on screens throughout camp, with hints of receiving upside.
• Whether intentional or not, Payton dunked slightly on the Raiders in discussing Allen’s extension. He was a player, Payton pointed out, who made coaches say, “If they didn’t pay him, who would they pay?” And the head coach likened that, out of the blue, to the Raiders’ decision not to extend Khalil Mack in 2017.
“I’m going back now to when he was younger — production,” Payton said, “and what’s difficult for a team to understand is, when a player like that leaves, then you’re like, ‘What are we looking for?’”
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