No, I did not use Photoshop to place that football in the photo. Unfortunately, the shots that I snapped immediately after this were garbage, largely because I enacted the time-tested art of self-preservation to move out of the way of flying footballs and football players. The last thing I want to be is the obstacle that causes a fractured femur, a torn tendon or a mangled ankle.

For much of the afternoon session, this was my view, as I filled in on photographic duty, so my notes from the session are less bulbous than usual. At a typical practice I scribble six to nine pages of notes; I had only two and a half this time as I fiddled with the camera.

But here’s what I did get from the hour-and-a-half, no-pads afternoon practice on a steamy afternoon at the valley of the doves …

NOTES FROM THE AFTERNOON:

ATTENDANCE REPORT: The biggest story of the practice might have been who wasn’t there, as numerous players were held out of the session.
INJURED: Louis Green (left knee), Ben Hamilton (concussion), Quentin Harris (right knee), Warrick Holdman (spinal cord concussion), Matt Lepsis (groin), Brandon Marshall (quadriceps), Glenn Martinez (right thigh), Marquay McDaniel (left hamstring), Rod Smith (left hip), Brandon Stokley (left thigh), Lamont Reid and Doug Nienhuis (both injured in NFL Europa).
PRACTICED IN THE MORNING, DID NOT PRACTICE IN THE AFTERNOON: Travis Henry, Hamza Abdullah (slight injury in the morning session), Champ Bailey, Nick Ferguson, Dre’ Bly, John Lynch, Ian Gold, Gerard Warren, Tom Nalen, Jacob Rogers, Stephen Alexander, Daniel Graham, Ebenezer Ekuban, Sam Adams, Jarvis Moss (did not see time in the second half of the morning practice, as well).

That was 27 names — or over one-quarter of the entire roster. Fifteen are among the Broncos’ current starters on the two-deep. However, linebacker Nate Webster was back on the field after missing the morning session.

WHO’S WHERE: The first-team defensive line included ends John Engelberger and Elvis Dumervil, with tackles Amon Gordon and Jimmy Kennedy … Domonique Foxworth and Curome Cox worked as the first-team safeties, and Karl Paymah and Jeff Shoate moved up to first-team cornerback duty … The three first-unit linebackers were D.D. Lewis, Wesly Mallard and D.J. Williams … Preston Parsons continued to see action as Darrell Hackney dressed and threw in warmups, but did not take part in any repetitions during the team periods of practice … The reshuffled first-team offensive line included right tackle Adam Meadows, right guard Montrae Holland, center Chris Myers, left guard Chris Kuper and left tackle Erik Pears.

OF NOTE: Domenik Hixon, Brian Clark and David Kircus took turns fielding Paul Ernster’s punts … Ernster had to reach up for three high snaps from Myers; one of them sailed over his head entirely, but Ernster cleanly snagged the other two and got off solid punts each time … Shoate intercepted a Parsons pass in team work.

And now, the photos:











That’s it for the day; after a publications-writing session that kept me awake until 2:45 a.m. last night, I need a much saner bedtime and much more sleep tonight. Until tomorrow, vaya con Dios.

Tags: Training Camp

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