Here’s where you really start to learn about players — when the shoulder pads go on. The Broncos didn’t put on the full pads, practicing in shorts, but placing the shoulder pads under their jerseys altered the tempo and tenor of the day’s second practice.

“The first day in pads, it takes a while (to get accustomed),” Head Coach Mike Shanahan said after the hour-and-a-half session.

“It’s not natural. You haven’t worked with pads for a while, and it’s going to take a number of days before we feel comfortable, “That’s why you come back here and have training camp — to get in football shape.”

“Pads do make a difference — big time,” said Kenard Lang, who ran with the second team Sunday afternoon after working on the second and third units in the morning session. “When you don’t have pads, you can’t be as physical as you like because you don’t want to hurt (the player you hit).”

NOTES FROM THE AFTERNOON:

ATTENDANCE REPORT: Quite a few veterans are on the one-practice-per-day schedule, a group that Sunday included Brandon Stokley, Matt Lepsis, Tom Nalen and Sam Adams. Ebenezer Ekuban was in uniform but didn’t see the field during the team work, which consumed the majority of the afternoon session. Fifteen-year veteran John Lynch took part in both of the day’s practices.