Joe Lombardi has worked for Sean Payton longer than almost anybody in football.
The Broncos offensive coordinator is in his 13th season as an assistant in some capacity on a Payton coaching staff.
He’s heard probably most or all of the stories. He’s seen the magic at work. He’s been a part of a Super Bowl team, some much leaner years, Payton’s year suspended by the NFL and much more.
He’s undoubtedly been yelled at. A lot.
Maybe it’s no surprise, then, that he laughed off the story this week that’s carried on after NFL Network cameras on Saturday night caught Payton reaming quarterback Russell Wilson on the sideline after a second-half sequence in which Denver stalled out on the goal line.
“I think early on, (you learn) game days are like Vegas,” Lombardi said Thursday. “What goes on on game day stays on game day. It’s an emotional time and you can’t take things personal. We’ve all been on the end of that and we’ve all been Sean as well, yelling at somebody. I don’t think it’s nearly as big a deal and we don’t take it personal.
“You laugh about it later.”
By Lombardi’s telling, Wilson did literally laugh about it.
“Russ came up yesterday and said it’s his turn to yell at Sean,” Lombardi said. “In this situation, everyone’s got good relationships with each other and it’s just part of being in the family.”
Bonitto still out. Broncos second-year outside linebacker Nik Bonitto didn’t practice again Thursday as he tries to come back from an injury to the MCL in his left knee sustained Dec. 10.
Payton on Wednesday didn’t want to rule Bonitto out for Sunday night, but if he doesn’t practice again Friday, Denver’s sack and tackle-for-loss leader is more likely to return New Years Eve day against the Los Angeles Chargers.
Tight end Greg Dulcich (hamstring/foot) also didn’t practice Thursday, marking the fourth straight practice day he’s missed going back to last week. Dulcich was a full participant Dec. 13 when he was designated to return from injured reserve, but now looks like a longshot to play Sunday night.
The rest of the Thursday injury report: Defensive lineman Mike Purcell (DNP) and tight end Chris Manhertz (limited) got veteran rest days, while Samaje Perine returned to a full workload. OLB Jonathon Cooper (ankle) and OL Alex Palczewski (knee) were full participants.
Time on task. Broncos rookie linebacker Drew Sanders has played more since moving to outside linebacker and moved up the ladder a rung the past game-plus since Bonitto got hurt.
If Bonitto misses another game, Sanders will likely slot in third outside behind Cooper and Baron Browning, the starting tandem.
That duo handled a major workload Saturday night at Detroit. Browning played 60 of Denver’s 66 defensive snaps (91%) and Cooper played 56 (85%), the highest mark of the year for both players.
That could be the case again Sunday night, or perhaps Sanders will get more snaps.
“He’s getting better weekly,” Denver defensive coordinator Vance Joseph said of the third-round pick out of Arkansas, who started off the season at inside linebacker but switched to the edge about a month ago. “His talent is obvious, right? He just needs time on task. It’s tough for a young D’backer to come into the league and play instantly well, you know? There’s so much to learn, from calls and coverage and run fits. He’s playing a little bit of inside and outside for us. But he’s progressing well. He’s a gifted player. He just needs time on task to work through his learning curve as far as playing on this level.
“He’s working hard every day to get better.”
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