ENGLEWOOD, Colo — The mid-morning camp practice at Broncos Park was warm and sunny with a touch of smoke, on its way to hot.
The Broncos called it an acclimation practice, but the players were going at full speed and the drills were performed with intensity.
Courtland Sutton was there running routes. His contract never was adjusted, so on to the season. He led the receiver lines.
Oft-injured tight end Greg Dulcich, an explosive receiver when healthy, was back at practice, running fast, cutting, accelerating. His surgically repaired foot and ever-problematic hamstring held up.
“Really good. All but the black socks. They looked a little awkward but no, it was good to see,’’ Broncos head coach Sean Payton said. “Credit the training staff.”
RELATED: Lighter Javonte impresses Payton
Payton was asked who stood out on the first day of camp.
“I thought Javonte [Williams] looked real sharp,’’ he said. “I’ll have a chance to watch the quarterbacks. It was good to see Dulcich back out there and him moving around.
“And then I’ll spend more time watching the tape on the defensive guys. I thought overall I was pleased with the tempo. Guys looked like they’ve been working. Their weights were good when they came in. And that was good. And then I don’t want to forget about Lucas Krull, either.”
The Krull line brought laughter. See the reports from Payton’s season-opening press conference Tuesday.
Stidham gets first chance
On the first day of camp, it was veteran quarterback Jarrett Stidham who lined up with the No. 1 offense. He looked good in the short practice, while rookie Bo Nix and veteran Zach Wilson missed a couple throws.
It could be that Wilson runs with the No. 1 offense Thursday, which is another acclimation practice, with Nix going on Friday, the first official practice that is open to the public.
“They don’t find out when they walk out here,’’ Payton said of his quarterback rotation. “In meetings, we set the week in advance. We talk to them. There’s great dialogue. I think it’s important—and not just at that position—there is a flow and an organization to how guys are going to get reps in camp early on, and then that begins to change as we get closer to the preseason. So they’re very much on the same page.”
Estime returns
Not only is Javonte Williams lighter, but the running back position received a further boost from the return of rookie Audric Estime. A fifth-round rookie from Notre Dame, Estime suffered a knee injury in the first week of OTAs in May and underwent a minor scope procedure. Payton said then Estime would be back by training camp and he didn’t lie. Estime appeared to be running well.
Battle to become Singleton’s partner
Cut multiple times, detoured to the Canadian Football League for three years, and then four NFL seasons as a backup, Alex Singleton finally made it as a starting inside linebacker partner to Josey Jewell in Denver the past two years.
And now Jewell is gone to Carolina, leaving Singleton to break in his own linebacker partner with the Broncos.
“It’s obviously different,’’ Singleton said. “So much of my career I’ve been that guy -- fighting for a spot, fighting for playing time. It’s good. Today, Cody [Barton] and Jonas [Griffith] were getting a lot of reps, with the two periods. They’re going to rotate. Let the best guy win.’’
Singleton said there is competition to start Game 1. And there is competition to start most of the season.
“There’s been multiple times in my career Week 1 or 2 I’m not starting, but I wound up starting 15 games,’’ Singleton said. “You tell those guys, ‘You’re competing every day to start Week 1 but that’s not a 17-week decision. That’s a Week 1 decision.'”
Johnny Mo and the kid
If it's practice, Broncos passing game coordinator Johnny Morton – “Johnny Mo” as he’s called -- must be barking at rookie receiver Troy Franklin. It happened regularly during OTAs. It happened twice on the first unofficial day of training camp Wednesday.
“He stays on most of them,’’ Payton said. “He coaches them hard, he coaches them with love. Because he sees what they have. It’s Troy today but he’s an equal opportunity … ’’
Scolder?
“Yeah, but he’s teaching all the time,’’ Payton continued. “I’ve been with him a long time. And I like hearing it. I like hearing it from a coach with passion. Because I think the players do as well. It’s when it gets quiet and no one’s talking to you when you’ve got to begin to worry.’’
Franklin need not worry. A fourth-round rookie who was Nix’s top receiver at Oregon the past two years, Franklin figures to give the Broncos a 1-2 deep threat with Marvin Mims Jr.
New practice look
It was hot and it looked even hotter as every Broncos player is now wearing protective blue guardian caps over their helmets during practice.
And all the Broncos’ practice jerseys now have a Children’s Hospital Colorado patch just below the left front shoulder.