The Broncos could have fielded a pretty decent lineup made up only of the players who were limited by injury during Monday’s practice.
Coach Sean Payton said, for the most part, there’s no reason to worry too much about a long list of Did Not Participates at this stage in the preseason proceedings.
The list: CBs Pat Surtain II, K’Waun Williams and Riley Moss (core); S Justin Simmons (groin); OLB Nik Bonitto (hip); DL D.J. Jones (concussion); wide receivers Courtland Sutton, Kendall Hinton and Brandon Johnson (ankle); TE Chris Manhertz and RT Mike McGlinchey (knee). That’s in addition to DL Mike Purcell (knee) and OLB Baron Browning (knee), who remain on injury lists, and S Caden Sterns, who started practice but dropped out after a stretch and was noticeably limping.
Surtain, the first-team All-Pro, was one of only a handful of starters who did not play Friday night at Arizona.
“I think you’re going to see (Surtain) this week. I think he’s real close,” Payton said without addressing the exact nature of the injury. “We have a handful of guys — Courtland — a group of four or five guys that you (reporters) will not be asking me anything about here in a few days.”
Defensive tackle Forrest Merrill was not in attendance at practice Monday.
Starters will play Saturday. The Broncos’ top groups will get another round of extended preseason work Saturday at San Francisco and then likely will turn their attention to the Sept. 10 season opener against Las Vegas.
That’s a more traditional approach to preseason play from a veteran head coach, modified for the three-game preseason.
“Jumping ahead, we’ll get a little bit more work with the No. 1s in this game and then, certainly, in the third game, approach it completely differently,” Payton said. “I was pretty pleased with the pitch count numbers (Friday).”
WR signed. The Broncos on Monday signed wide receiver J.J. Koski to the roster and waived inside linebacker Ray Wilborn, the team announced.
Koski, 26, appeared in five games for the Los Angeles Rams in 2021 as a return man. That season he returned five kickoffs for 89 yards and two punts for 20 and played 47 special teams snaps.
Koski played his college ball at Cal-Poly and worked out for the Broncos last week alongside Ra’Shaun Henry, who signed with Seattle on Saturday.
Wilborn, 26, signed with Denver last year and appeared in two games on special teams.
The Broncos’ inside linebacker picture is relatively clear at this point with Josey Jewell and Alex Singleton, rookie Drew Sanders and special teams regular Justin Strnad. They also have a young duo in Austin Ajiake and Seth Benson who could push for practice squad spots.
Want more Broncos news? Sign up for the Broncos Insider to get all our NFL analysis.
