“All ready!”

Those two words were Darrent Williams’ mantra, they are now the Broncos’ rallying cry as they remember their fallen teammate, and they were the words with which the Broncos closed out their final joint session with the Dallas Cowboys as Williams’ mother, Rosalind, and other family members spoke to the team just before they boarded their waiting buses and returned to their headquarters hotel.

There, meetings and the tedium of camp and preseason game preparation awaited. But as the Broncos left Valley Ranch on Thursday, they did so uplifted by the presence of a woman who, in the eyes of Shanahan, the coaching staff and their players, remains very much a part of the team, just as her son was for an all-too-brief span of two seasons.

“She is,” Head Coach Mike Shanahan said. “She’s going to be with us for a long time, for many things. We’ve embraced the memory of Darrent and Damien (Nash), as well. To have her out here obviously made it a very special day.”

And a highly emotional one.

“I think it was cathartic for her and cahartic for us,” safety John Lynch said.

“I think she was excited to be here,” Shanahan added. “I think she had some reservations about coming out; I know it was very tough for her, but I had a very good feeling over the hotel. She got a chance to spend time with a lot of coaches and players. Obviously coming out here she wasn’t really sure she could keep her emotions in check, but she shared with me that she was very happy she did. To break us out at the end the way she did was very special to everybody.”

ATTENDANCE REPORT: Javon Walker, who landed awkwardly in the end zone Thursday morning, did not practice … The usual suspects who have been limited to one practice per day sat out, including John Lynch, Champ Bailey, Nick Ferguson, Matt Lepsis and Tom Nalen … Sam Adams practiced in neither session Thursday … Ebenezer Ekuban, who has ordinarily been a one-practice-per-day player, was in uniform for both sessions Thursday. Stephen Alexander was also on the field in both the morning and afternoon … Offensive linemen Jacob Rogers, Ben Hamilton and Ryan Harris remained sidelined … Running back Travis Henry got the afternoon off … Andre Hall missed both practices with a hamstring injury.

WHO’S WHERE: Adam Meadows lined up as first-team right tackle — until he hopped off the field during move-the-ball work at the end of practice. Chad Mustard, who had just moved over from tight end a day earlier, took his place with the No. 1 unit … Rookie defensive end Tim Crowder also left the field due to injury midway through practice … Erik Pears lined up opposite him at left tackle with Lepsis sitting out … Cecil Sapp took quite a few snaps with the first team with Henry out of uniform.

POINTS OF EMPHASIS: Punt returns and no-huddle simulations. The teams closed their joint work with a move-the-ball period executed under endgame parameters; Denver’s first and second-team offenses saw each of its drives end in interceptions near or beyond the goal line. For the second team, both Darrell Hackney and Patrick Ramsey saw action; Hackney came in and fired a fourth-and-long, drive-resuscitating completion and eventually marched the No. 2 offense inside the Dallas 35 before lofting a pass for David Terrell at the goal line that was intercepted.

Photos:

The Broncos practice once on Friday, in the afternoon at Valley Ranch. We’ll be there, as always. Until then, vaya con Dios.

Tags: Darrent Williams, Training Camp

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