Marvin Mims Jr. is healthy and ready for game action.
Following a solid week of practice, Broncos head coach Sean Payton said Thursday the rookie wide receiver will make his preseason debut against the San Francisco 49ers on Saturday.
Mims, a second-round pick from Oklahoma, was sidelined in last week’s loss to the Arizona Cardinals, as the team has been monitoring him closely while he’s dealt with hamstring injuries since OTAs and minicamp. He left the game with a sour taste, wishing he could play, but now that feeling is gone.
Payton didn’t specify if Mims will be on a pitch count against San Francisco, but he expects the starters to play up to 24 snaps. In regards to Javonte Williams, who is recovering from a torn ACL, Payton said the third-year running back will play between 10-12 snaps.
“In a perfect game, I would like to see (Williams) get three to four carries and maybe a pass,” Payton said.
For Williams and Mims, the Broncos’ second preseason game is important. The former will get a true sense of where he is at from a recovery standpoint, facing live contact for the first time since October. Meanwhile, Mims is competing for the role of Denver’s third wide receiver after the team lost veteran Tim Patrick to a torn left Achilles earlier in camp.
Mims might’ve turned a few heads last week when he was listed as the top kick and punt returner on the depth chart, surpassing wide receiver Montrell Washington, who held the role last season but struggled. Saturday will be Mims’ chance to show he can impact the game in many ways.
“I’m just going to go out there and trust my technique,” said Mims, who feels he’s adjusted to the speed of the NFL. “You gotta take (advantage) of what the defense gives you in the return game. If you do it long enough, you know how things are going to play out.”
Perhaps Mims’ biggest adjustment to the pro level has been catching passes from quarterback Russell Wilson. He said it felt weird at first, which is understandable since Mims was 11 years old when Wilson helped the Seahawks win Super Bowl 48.
“Russ has been in the league for a while, and I just turned 21,” Mims said.
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