ENGLEWOOD, Colo. — Sean Payton could take credit for discovering a new secret weapon lying within his own roster.
Instead, he’s wondering why he didn’t see the running back talents of Marvin Mims Jr. before.
There were two huge, game-deciding plays the Broncos made Sunday in their come-from-behind 29-19 win against the Las Vegas Raiders. The first was the interception and 37-yard return by safety Brandon Jones to set up the Broncos’ go-ahead score in the third quarter.
The second was a simple swing pass to Mims out of the backfield to convert a third-and-5 in the fourth quarter. Mims was so open he took it for 37 yards – the gain of the day! – to set up first and goal at the 2 and another touchdown that put the Broncos up 10.
A second-round pick last year as a receiver and returner, Mims was given the third dimension of running back three weeks ago.
“I think as a coach, I’m mad at myself that we didn’t begin looking at this earlier,’’ Payton said. “He does such a good job running when you watch him return punts that that vision can carry over to certain runs in your offense and then certain things in the passing game.
“That third down-and-[5] where he kind of leaked out of the backfield, they dropped the coverage, it was hard for them to find [him]. It’s hard to figure out what direction he’s going. It’s allowed us to expand some packages with him.”
Cunningham to 53; Throckmorton to practice squad
The Broncos called up veteran inside linebacker Zach Cunningham from their practice squad Wednesday, adding him to their 53-man roster. He takes the roster slot vacated by offensive lineman Calvin Throckmorton, who was waived Tuesday. After clearing waivers, Throckmorton was re-signed to the Broncos’ practice squad Wednesday.
“It’s like a jigsaw puzzle,’’ Throckmorton said of the 53-man roster. “I’m just glad to be still here in this locker room.”
Cunningham led the NFL with 164 tackles in 2020 while with the Houston Texans, where he had two other 100-plus tackle seasons. He was signed to the Broncos’ practice squad after Alex Singleton suffered a season-ending knee injury in Game 3 at Tampa Bay. Cunningham had been elevated from the practice squad for the maximum three games the previous three weeks, so he had to be on the 53-man roster to be used again.
Bronco Bits
The team will have a walkthrough Thursday morning and be dismissed around noon so the players and coaches can enjoy Thanksgiving. The Broncos will hold full practices Friday and Saturday, then have another walkthrough Sunday before strapping it on for their Monday night game against former receiver Jerry Jeudy and the Cleveland Browns.
Jeudy has averaged 6 catches and 95 yards the past four games. "He's explosive, he separates,'' Payton said of Jeudy, which was what people around here heard since he was the Broncos' first-round draft pick in 2020. …
Payton declined to offer an update on starting cornerback Riley Moss, who suffered an MCL injury to his right knee near the end of the first half of the Broncos’ win Sunday at Las Vegas. If Moss can’t play against the Browns, it figures veteran Levi Wallace would start in his place with nickelback Ja’Quan McMillian also an option. …
Second-year outside linebacker Drew Sanders practiced Wednesday for the first time as a member of the Broncos’ 53-man roster. He previously practiced three weeks while on the physically unable to perform list as he recovered from an Achilles injury suffered six months ago. Even if it's deemed Sanders is not quite ready for game action, practice is invaluable for a player like Sanders. Still, he will play at some point. Understand he would not have been activated unless there were plans to play him this season. “We’ll see how the week goes,’’ Payton said. “It’s always a big question. What’s the role? What’s the vision the first game back? But it’s good to have him. It’s been good to have him out there. He’s been fully cleared. He’s doing well. We’ll see.” …
By activating Sanders and Cunningham this week, it appears the Broncos will wait one more week to activate veteran receiver Josh Reynolds -- assuming they do activate him as expected. The deadline to activate him from injured reserve is next Wednesday while the Broncos are on bye. ...
Happy Thanksgiving!
