ENGLEWOOD, Colo. — In one way, a joint practice beats a preseason game because the starters get more snaps in the practice.
In another way, nothing beats a game because no matter what kind of practice it is — same team or two different teams — there’s no tackling.
“So much of this game is making a play, breaking a tackle,’’ said Broncos offensive coordinator Joe Lombardi.
The Broncos will get their fill of the Green Bay Packers this weekend. Starting at 10 a.m. Friday, for 2 hours or so, the two teams will converge for a joint practice at Broncos Park. Admission and parking are free, although digital tickets are required.
And then on Sunday evening (kickoff 6 p.m., 9NEWS), the Broncos will play their second of three 2024 preseason games against the Packers at Empower Field at Mile High.
“We don’t play Green Bay in the (regular season), so it’s a nice time to test out your scheme and also test your players,’’ said Denver defensive coordinator Vance Joseph. “This offense has a great quarterback obviously (Jordan Love), and about four, five good young receivers with the speed, height and quickness.
“Good tight ends, two good runners and it’s a really good scheme. So for us it’s going to be a nice challenge to kind of test where we are.
“It’s tough in this league to kind of go through camp and not know what others are doing. Your measurement is sometimes false. So having those guys come in on Friday and again Sunday, it’s going to be a good test for our defense, especially.”
The Broncos and Packers met early in the regular season last year. The Broncos brought in a 1-5 record. After their 16-3 lead turned to a 17-16 deficit, the Broncos got a 52-yard field goal from Wil Lutz late in the fourth quarter to prevail 19-17.
The Pack fell to 2-4 with the loss but wound up rallying to make the playoffs, where they upset the Dallas Cowboys in the first round.
The Broncos’ win against Green Bay started a five-game winning streak that put them in playoff contention before sliding at season’s end.
Lombardi said joint practices bring “a little bit of juice to practice.’’ There used to be two joint practices between teams, but tempers usually flared so much on the second day that many teams decided on one practice this year.
Lombardi is the grandson of legendary Packers head coach Vince Lombardi.
“Grew up with a lot of Packers memorabilia and a lot of those memories, but in some way, that was kind of in the past,’’ said Lombardi, who was born a year after Vince died. “You probably always have a spot for the Packers in your heart as a fan, but I probably wouldn’t have thought about it until you asked me. When you go to Lambeau Field and you see your grandpa’s name up there, you’re like, ‘Oh, that’s cool.’ Then it’s on to business.”
Stidham again works with No. 1 offense
At least for one day, the brakes were tapped on rookie Bo Nix becoming the definitive No. 1 Broncos quarterback. It was veteran Jarrett Stidham who worked with the first-string offense Thursday. Played pretty well, too, hitting David Sills V on a deep ball during the final move-the-ball drill.
Nix is expected to be with the first-string offense during the joint practice Friday against the Packers and again for the preseason game Sunday night.
Last year, Payton didn’t play his starters in the third preseason game so the weekend with the Packers may be Nix’s final test.
Riley vs. Riley
The punt competition was anything but in the Broncos’ first preseason game. The Broncos only punted twice, one in each half, and incumbent punter Riley Dixon took them both. Trenton Gill could only watch as Dixon booted both punts inside the 20 and posted an impressive 44.0-yard net average.
“We are rotating those guys, they’re going 2-2-2,’’ said special teams coordinator Ben Kotwica. “I feel bad for (Gill) because he’s been hitting the ball so well in practice. Just didn’t get the opportunity to show it when you only have two punts. Yes, the intention is to punt both of them equally on Sunday.”
Kickoff play
Kotwica was asked about coaching up a completely different play with the new kickoff alignment and rules this year.
“It’s intriguing, it’s interesting and it’s concerning, because there are a lot of things that are going on with it,’’ Kotwica said. “I would just suggest to you that it’s a point in the right direction. I think the numbers would tell you that last year there was an 80%t touchback rate, and in Week 1 of the preseason, there was an 80% return rate.
“Now, that will vary as we move along the season, but meeting the demands of increased returns and reducing the long-run, high-speed collision was a thumbs up all around. We’re continuing to paint this canvas and that just never stops.”
Broncos tradition, and slump
Joseph first came to Colorado as a quarterback for the CU Buffaloes in 1990 and later returned to his alma mater as an assistant coach from 1999-2003, then the Broncos’ head coach (2017-18) and now in his second season as Denver’s defensive coordinator. So he’s spent 13 of the past 35 years in this state.
He was asked about what local fans are feeling about the Broncos missing the playoffs the past eight seasons.
“I get it. It’s been a long time since this team’s been in the playoffs, but things are being done right,’’ Joseph said. “Coach Payton’s come in and he has changed the culture. It’s not the same team it was, even last year.
“We’re young, but it’s a smart, tough, confident group. Our deal right now is just keep improving. Keep improving and let the wins prove in our words. Say less and do more.
“We know what it is. I’ve been here half my life, so I know how important the Broncos are to the city, and how important it is for us to win. We get it, so our goal is to win. That’s most important.”
Bronco Bits
About 45 minutes into practice Thursday, rookie receiver Devaughn Vele walked off the practice field, along with Beau Lowery, who heads the Broncos’ health and sports performance department. Vele didn’t return to practice and Payton wasn’t available for an update. …
Tight end Lucas Krull, carted off the Lucas Oil Stadium field with a toe injury Sunday, was back in pads and fully participated in practice Thursday. However, starting left guard Ben Powers was held out of practice again because of bruised ribs suffered in the game at Indy. Former New Orleans Saint Calvin Throckmorton has been filling in for Powers at left guard the past two days. …
Jason Garrett, a backup quarterback for the New York Giants at a time when Payton was his offensive coordinator (2000-02), attended practice Thursday.
Cornerbacks Levi Wallace (hamstring) and Art Green (concussion) didn’t practice Thursday. ...
The Broncos worked out three offensive linemen Thursday: Offensive tackle Aaron Monteiro, center Mike Novitsky and guard Mike Panasuik.
