News and Notes from Day 3 of Broncos Camp

We have news and notes, injury updates, tweets from camp, notable quotes and more from Day 3 of Broncos Camp

Day 3 of Denver Broncos training camp is in the books, and it was an important practice. Today was their first padded practice of the summer, and they were out there playing real football and not in shorts and no pads. With it being the first padded practice, the team heavily worked on the run game today, and the two Broncos starting backs looked good. After practice, Head Coach Sean Payton provided an update on Drew Sanders, shared some breaking news, and drew a comparison between Dre Greenlaw and a boxing great.

In today’s update, we have more on WR Courtland Sutton’s new deal, the Bo Nix and Evan Engram connection, Dre Greenlaw out there hitting like Mike Tyson, injury updates, news and notes, tweets from camp, notable quotes, and more.

Courtland Sutton agrees to a four-year, $92 million dollar extension

The big news from Broncos Camp today was that Courtland Sutton and the Broncos were nearing a contract extension. This news did not come from a reporter, but from Head Coach Sean Payton, who spilled the beans after practice. He typically does not give out much information, so when he does, you know there is a good bit of truth to it.

Payton was asked if it is frustrating to have contract talks during camp, and he said, “No, not at all”. He praised Sutton for being really smart and highlighted the work he has been doing while awaiting for his contract.

“No, not at all. Not with a veteran who, like Courtland, is real smart. Here’s the deal: he’s been participating in all the individual, all the 1-on-1. He’s gotten 7-on-7 work. He’s gotten team reps. He’s just being smart. It’d be different if you felt like he was missing improvement, or not being out here, or just being out here riding the bike or something. I kind of know that player well enough to feel really good about where he’s at and his mindset both mentally and physically.”

Not even one hour later, news broke that Sutton and the Broncos agreed to terms on a four-year, $92 million dollar deal. He will get $41 million dollars in guaranteed money in this deal with $27 million of it being new money in the extension.

Over the past two seasons, Sutton has totaled 140 receptions for 1,853 yards and 18 touchdown receptions. Mixed in these 140 receptions are multiple highlight reel catches, big plays, and game-changing and game-winning receptions. Now, he will move forward with quarterback Bo Nix and give the Broncos offense a proven and established number one receiver to build around.

The Broncos’ wide receiver room is suddenly very deep. They have Marvin Mims Jr. coming off a second-half breakout, Devaughn Vele coming off a productive rookie year, the explosive Troy Franklin is having a breakout offseason thus far, and rookie Pat Bryant has been impressing early in camp.

Sutton will now have a chance to finish his career as a member of the Denver Broncos.

The Evan Engram and Bo Nix connection

When tight end Evan Engram signed with the Broncos, he was expected to be a main player in the Broncos’ passing game. He is Sean Payton’s “Joker” and already has a strong chemistry with quarterback Bo Nix.

During today’s first padded practice, Nix targeted Engram often and was his favorite target.

Engram will be used a ton in the middle of the field and in the quick-passing game, which is where Bo Nix shines. I would expect him to be heavily targeted throughout the year, and if he can stay healthy, have a big year for the Broncos. I say this because all the reports coming out of camp indicate that he is going to have a big part in Sean Payton’s offense.

Payton was asked about Engram and how he is filling the Joker role. He told reporters that it is still early, but they have a role and vision for him. He continued by saying he can run, has a good receiving skill set, has a good understanding of the passing game, and that his progress has been good so far.

“Well we’re early. We’re heading into the preseason, but there is a role, a vision we have for him. Certainly he can run. He has really good receiving skill sets. He has a good understanding of the passing game. I think the progress has been good.”

With the Broncos’ run game improved, Sutton extended, and Mims, Franklin, Vele, and Bryant playing well, Engram could thrive in the middle of the field this upcoming season.

Dre Greenlaw plays like Mike Tyson

Linebacker Dre Greenlaw is healthy, practicing, and already making an impact on the practice field. He’s known for being physical in practice, and Head Coach Sean Payton compared him to an all-time great boxer.

Payton compared Greenlaw to former World Heavyweight Champion Mike Tyson because of the way he plays. He called him tough, physical, and a knockback tackler.

“He plays like [former World Heavyweight Champion] Mike Tyson. He’s tough. He’s physical. He’s built that way. There’s not a lot of leaky yardage. He’s a knockback tackler. They stop where he hits them. There’s an intensity to how he plays. He’s one of those players where if you put the film on and didn’t say anything, at some point early you would ask, ‘Who is this guy?’”

Greenlaw has been this way since entering the league, and now that he’s healthy, he has been bringing that sort of intensity to the practice field thus far. During the walk-through portion of today’s practice, Greenlaw just decided to hit fullback Michael Burton. He’s an intense player, mean and nasty, and probably a bit of an asshole on the field, but that’s the type of player this team needs in the middle of their defense.

Greenlaw was later asked about being compared to Tyson, and he told reporters that he had been compared to him before.

“Yeah, I’ve gotten that before for sure. I don’t know, I just like to play football and go out there, and I give it my all. You never know when it’s going to be your last chance on the field, your last chance to play, so you want to make a statement anytime you can. I just love doing it and am thankful to be able to do it.”

This is the type of player the Broncos wanted when they signed him, and so far, he is living up to his reputation. When healthy, he is one of the better linebackers in the league and brings an intensity, leadership, and play-making ability to the middle of this Broncos defense.

Injury Report

• WR A.T. Perry remained on the PUP list and did not practice today
• Veteran RT Mike McGlinchey returned to practice today and was in full pads but only did individual work – Source
• HC Sean Payton told reporters that LB Drew Sanders injured a ligament, not a tendon (which is good news), and his recovery time is “north of 4-6 weeks”. He is receiving a second opinion to see if he needs surgery or not. – Source
• LB Alex Singleton left practice with a trainer, and they were checking his hand. Per Mike Klis, Singleton suffered a broken thumb and will be sidelined 7-8 days before he can wear a club and return to practice – Source

News and Notes

• Both J.K. Dobbins and R.J. Harvey looked good today during the Broncos’ first padded practice. Harvey showed off a nasty jump cut and looked explosive – Source
• WR/STer Trent Sherfield’s role on offense could be larger than expected – Source
• Rookie punter Jeremy Crawshaw was destroying punts again today and was pinning balls inside the 5-yard line – Source
• OT Garett Bolles told reporters the Broncos now have running backs that can stretch the outside-zone game. OG Quinn Meinerz told reporters the run-game philosophy has changed this season – Source

Tweets From Camp

Notable Quotes

Head Coach Sean Payton on how ILB Alex Singleton complements LB Dre Greenlaw

“Good question. Alex is in the Mike position. Dre is in more that weakside Mo or Will. A little bit more run and hit for Greenlaw. I think they both have an understanding… They’re both smart players. To have Alex back healthy is big. Then with the experience of Dre, if we can stay healthy they’re pretty formidable.”

Head Coach Sean Payton on the value of young players like T Alex Palczewski getting starts last season

“We had a few of those younger guys get some work. He’s played a lot of football. He’s smart. He can go inside and play guard, play tackle. He can go and play the jumbo tight end. That versatility, his football awareness and his football I.Q. I think along with his strength… He’s strong. We didn’t feel like there was a step backwards when he was playing. That’s what you hope for with a young developmental offensive lineman.”

Head Coach Sean Payton on OLB Dondrea Tillman getting snaps last season

“It’s just getting those live snaps. He has good decision making, keen to diagnose. He’s smart. There’s a growth period that every one of these guys has to the system and what we’re doing. Some of it is exponential or faster than others. Some of it takes a little while. He’s picked things up.”

Head Coach Sean Payton on if he feels like the team has matured

“I think so. It’s interesting. You’re always looking for that combination of experience and youth. We’re young obviously, and yet we have some guys that have played a lot of games in the postseason. A lot of the free agents we brought in have been in—not just the two from San Francisco—but others. It happens, and I don’t know that you’d recognize it happening with the signing of one, but you continue to look for the certain player you’re looking for. Then it begins to take shape. When people ask about culture a lot, I really think it starts with the ingredients. It starts with the draft, and who you’re signing after the draft and who you’re signing in free agency. We can aspire to have a great culture, but if we don’t sign the right players, then it’s going to be difficult or impossible.”

OT Garett Bolles on what LB Dre Greenlaw brings to the field

“The film doesn’t lie, the stats don’t lie, just his demeanor, his attitude, his swagger. I got to know him over this OTAs, just the type of man he is, his family and where he comes from. We share very similar stories which is really cool. Just bouncing off of each other of what makes us who we are and the love we have for one another and the respect factor. It’s just really cool to hear his story and where he comes from. Being a foster kid, coming so far in life just speaks volumes of what type of man he is and teammate he is. I think the world of him. I think he’s a tremendous upgrade for us in the middle to play side-by-side with [ILB] Alex Singleton. Those two guys are two of the best in the league and the sky’s the limit for the linebacker group, for sure.”

LB Dre Greenlaw on what was the selling point of choosing to sign with the Denver Broncos

“I mean, just obviously the organization and the people that’s in the organization. [Head Coach] Sean [Payton], the Penners [Owner & CEO Greg Penner and Owner Carrie Walton Penner], then just the guys. They’ve had one of the best defenses for quite some time now. I know last year they really took that [up a] notch, and I just wanted to be a part of that. I wanted to be where I was accepted, where I was wanted and this is the right place for me.”

LB Dre Greenlaw on what ILB Alex Singleton does to complement his game

“I see a lot of the same leadership qualities in [ILB] Alex [Singleton]. That’s what I also looked into when I came here, just to see what type of leaders are on the team. Alex is a vocal guy when he needs to be. He’s also a tackling machine as well. Just having somebody like that, I just knew that somebody who is going to go out there and that’s going to battle, that’s going to fight. That’s going to give it all they’ve got every play. I saw that in Alex that I [also] see in myself, so I thought this was going to be a great little duo.”