In the Broncos’ preseason opener against the Colts, head coach Sean Payton will be tracking not the number of quarters, but the number of plays.
Payton said players will be divided into three phases for Sunday’s matchup. There’s already a plan, but he didn’t want to run down the list of which players will be on the field for each phase, saying “We will be here all night.”
However, he made it clear that quarterback Jarrett Stidham will be in the first phase as a starter and could play 15 to 20 snaps.
Depending on how the game unfolds, Payton said the defense could be ahead of the offense in phases. He anticipates that at least three wide receivers will play in the first phase.
“We could be in Phase 2 on defense and still in Phase 1 on offense because of the pitch count,” Payton said.
Special teams will be monitored differently. Payton said there’s a kickoff unit for the first and second halves. He mentioned there could be a situation where a player is no longer playing on defense or offense but is still involved in special teams.
“There’s a lot of moving parts,” he said.
For Payton, Denver’s preseason game will be treated like it’s Week 4 of the regular season.
The ultimate goal during this time is to formulate the 53-man roster, but he also wants players to have the mindset of winning anything they do.
“I got ‘Win’ underlined twice with an exclamation point,” said Payton, who led the Broncos to a 1-2 record in the preseason in 2023.
Broncos being patient with Uwazurike
Payton said it’s a “tick early” for newly reinstated defensive lineman Eyioma Uwazurike to play in the preseason. Uwazurike will travel with the team and work out before the game.
Next week, the team will evaluate the number of snaps Uwazurike could play against the Green Bay Packers.
Uwazurike returned to the practice field this week after serving a year-plus suspension for violating the NFL’s gambling policy. He hasn’t played in a game since recording four tackles against the Chargers in January 2023.
“For someone who has been out for a year, I would regret it if we hurried him back and he a pulled muscle or something,” Payton said.
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Originally Published: August 9, 2024 at 4:29 p.m.
