The Denver Broncos held their second practice of the week on Thursday as they continue preparing for Sunday’s upcoming game against the New York Giants at Empower Field at Mile High. Here are five quick takeaways following that session.
1. Garett Bolles may have leaked the starting left guard: After losing starting left guard Ben Powers and backup LG Matt Peart to injured reserve in consecutive weeks, the Broncos need to determine a third-choice starter by Sunday. Denver coach Sean Payton does not like discussing injuries or depth chart happenings, so it was no surprise that he offered little info on the LG position when he spoke Wednesday. Broncos offensive coordinator Joe Lombardi spoke on Thursday and he backed the team’s depth. “I think our scouting department, our front office has done a great job with depth, and so, we feel good about our depth and we don’t expect to miss a beat,” Lombardi said. None of the coaches revealed the fill-in starter, but left tackle Garett Bolles might have let it slip in the locker room. “Palcho is up to the challenge,” Bolles told reporters, referencing Alex Palczewski, who had been serving as an extra blocker in jumbo formations this season. It looks like Palczewski might now be poised to start at left guard.
2. Vance Joseph gives update on Dre Greenlaw: After missing the first six games of the season, Greenlaw returned to practice this week, opening his 21-day window to return from injured reserve. Because he’s missed so much time, Greenlaw will be eased back into action when he returns to the game-day roster. “If he returns this week, it’s gotta be in a part-time role — maybe, we’ll see,” Joseph, Denver’s defensive coordinator, said after Thursday’s practice. “We’re not sure [if] that’s gonna happen this weekend or next. But he’s in good spirits, he’s worked hard. He’s in a right mindset. So we’ll see how Sunday plays out. Once he gets out there, we’ll feel him — everyone will.” Justin Strnad has been playing well in Greenlaw’s absence, and Joseph was asked if Strnad will continue to get playing time even after Greenlaw eventually returns. “Absolutely, he’s earned snaps,” Joseph said. “Absolutely. It takes everyone, obviously. He’s played so well. It’s going to be a package for him to play moving forward, so I don’t see him not having snaps on Sunday.” Of note, Joseph specifically said “on Sunday,” which may have been another slip-up, or he might have just been referencing future game days in general. Either way, Greenlaw is getting closer to a return. We’ll find out on Saturday if he’s going to be activated off injured reserve in time for Week 7.
3. Free agent wide receiver lands elsewhere: After visiting the Broncos on Tuesday, free agent wide receiver Treylon Burks has opted to sign with the Washington Commanders‘ practice squad, according to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport. It’s unclear if Denver offered Burks a spot on its own practice squad, but the Broncos still have receivers Samori Toure, A.T. Perry and Michael Bandy in reserve roles.
4. Darren Rizzi answers for special teams woes: The Broncos had a few special teams blunders against the New York Jets last week. Speaking to reporters after practice, Rizzi — Denver’s special teams coordinator — addressed the mishaps. “We’ve been fortunate enough in the Tennessee game and the Jets game to overcome those big plays, but that’s going to catch up to you in the long run. We have to coach it better, we have to play it better, we have to fit it better, we have to tackle better. So that’s really what it is. That’s something, obviously, that’s a point of emphasis and we’re going to… We don’t just look at ours — I’m talking about with the players — we look at all the good and the bad throughout the league, the good coverages, the bad coverages. We’re learning from it on a daily basis, so we just have to get better at it.”
5. Help is on the way in the kicking game: Earlier this week, the Broncos signed safety J.T. Gray off the Baltimore Ravens‘ practice squad. Gray previously played under Payton and Rizzi with the New Orleans Saints and he’s a special teams ace. After dealing with a hamstring injury this summer, it sounds like Gray is now healthy and ready to contribute. “J.T. Gray, in the 30-plus years I’ve been coaching, is the best [kicking game] coverage player that I’ve coached,” Rizzi said. “Last year, he was a second-team All-Pro. He’s been three times All-Pro in the last five years, Pro Bowler. He brings an added dimension to the coverage aspect of it. He’s a really good, well-rounded player, but the coverage is what he does best. We had the ability to go out and get him, and, obviously, he has some familiarity with our scheme, our system with Sean and myself. It just seemed like a natural fit.”
Sunday’s game (2:05 p.m. MT) will be regionally televised on CBS (view the TV broadcast map). Denver is considered a favorite at home in Week 7.
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