The Broncos got their first padded practice of training camp on Monday, and the extra gear brought the edge you’d expect. The tempo picked up, the collisions got louder, and a few players started separating themselves while a couple others had their day cut short.
The quarterback rotation behind the starter remains one of the early camp wrinkles to watch. On Saturday, Sam Ehlinger opened with the second-team offense, which turned heads.
Sean Payton brushed it off as a “nothing to see here” situation. On Monday, it was Jarrett Stidham back with the twos, and if this really is an open battle for the Broncos’ QB2 spot, there’s a good chance the two will keep trading places until the preseason games sort it out.
One of the clearest standouts from the first padded session was Riley Moss. He kept stacking plays throughout team periods, breaking up multiple passes in 7-on-7 and 11-on-11 work before delivering the biggest moment of the day on a free play.
In a jump-ball sequence where Courtland Sutton usually wins, Moss climbed over him and snagged a spectacular interception that helped fire up the defense. Moss and Patrick Surtain II look every bit like a boundary-corner pairing built to repeat as one of the league’s best.
The other corner making noise was Damarri Mathis. His camp has been strong from the start, and Monday fit right into that pattern.
He made several sharp plays, including an impressive back-shoulder catch from Bo Nix while Moss was draped in coverage. The connection between Mathis and Nix looks real, and if Mathis stays healthy, he’s giving the Broncos plenty to think about.
Denver may not label anyone an official No. 3 receiver because of how Sean Payton and new offensive coordinator Davis Webb rotate packages, but if you’re talking pecking order, Mathis is making a strong case to sit behind Sutton and Jaylen Waddle.
The pads also gave the defensive front a chance to show what it can do, and rookie third-rounder Jonah Elliss took advantage. He blew up a Tyler Badie run in the backfield, the kind of play Denver was hoping to see from a defender already known for being strong against the run. Elliss has looked relentless all summer, and that’s part of why the Broncos have backed off the idea of moving him to inside linebacker.
Another young defender who flashed was Kris Abrams-Draine. He knifed through traffic to stop Cody Schrader in the backfield, and RJ Harvey also had some strong runs on the day as he looks set up for a big Year 2. Butler kept adding to his own list of downfield plays, too, and if that keeps carrying over, he could push his way into the coaches’ conversations once the preseason starts.
There were a few health notes worth tracking. First-team center Luke Wattenberg left practice in pain with an apparent injury, though Payton said Wattenberg “will be fine.”
Given his injury history, it’s still something to keep an eye on. Alex Forsyth stepped in with the first-team reps, and Payton had plenty of praise for him afterward, calling him an “old soul,” “super savvy” and “one of the smarter guys” in the O-line room.
Outside linebacker Dondrea Tillman also spent team periods on the side field with trainers, and Chris Tomasson noted a wrap on Tillman’s leg. Tight end Caleb Lohner did not practice again and still hasn’t appeared in camp.
There was at least one encouraging return. Drew Sanders was back on the field after missing the previous three practices, working with the outside linebackers again.
The receiver room also offered a few different storylines. Troy Franklin just isn’t getting the same volume of looks as some of the other pass catchers, especially Mathis on Monday and Marvin Mims Jr. last week.
That matters if Franklin wants to keep from sliding any farther down the pecking order after finishing last season as Denver’s No. 2 receiver. Meanwhile, the arrival of Waddle could make that path even tougher.
In the secondary, Ja’Quan McMillian continued to make plays with a couple of pass breakups, while Barron’s day was more about context than disappointment. He hasn’t been bad at all; it’s just that Moss and McMillian have been more noticeable.
Payton also clarified Barron’s role after practice, saying, “He's playing nickel. He's playing corner,” and, “And then when we get into dime, he replaces the 'backer.
So he's doing really good.”
As for Barron’s camp overall, he’s been solid, but the push to leapfrog someone into a starting role just hasn’t materialized yet. There’s still time for that to change, but the guys ahead of him have done more to stand out so far.
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Head coach Sean Payton said Wattenberg will be evaluated and is expected to be fine, which offers some immediate relief. Still, the timing matters for a group trying to build cohesion in camp, especially when the center is the player tying the line together. Denver does not need an early scare at a position that matters so much to the offense, and it will be watching closely to see how Wattenberg responds once the team gets back on the field. [Read more 🡒]