ENGLEWOOD, Colo. — As Josh Reynolds was conditioning on a side rehab field, Sean Payton was leading the rest of the Broncos through practice on another.
At the conclusion of practice Friday, Payton, the Broncos’ head coach, explained to his team the harrowing shooting incident Reynolds went through a few days earlier.
“I’ve had a chance to talk with him – he was pretty shaken up,’’ Payton said.
The incredulous real-life drama hit a few of Reynolds’ teammates hard.
“Definitely a crazy situation where we could have lost one of our teammates in incident like that,’’ said Broncos’ left tackle Garett Bolles, who lockers in close proximity to Reynolds. “I love Josh. I’m super close to him. I don’t want to say too much on it because I know it’s up to the authorities here in Denver and let them handle the situation and hopefully justice is given to the people who were involved in the incident but I’m just thankful. God is good. I think you have to count your blessings knowing that in a lot of situations like that, people don’t always make it out. But Josh is just one of those special kids and we’re grateful that he’s still here.”
According to court documents, Reynolds and two of his friends left a strip club at 2:45 a.m. last Friday, Oct. 18, and were followed, and shot upon, by people driving multiple vehicles. Reynolds was shot in the left arm and the back of his head, according to the documents, but the team later said in a statement that he had only suffered minor injuries.
Reynolds and his friends were taken to a local hospital and released the same day. A few hours earlier, the Broncos arrived back in Denver by charter plane from New Orleans where they had defeated the Saints, 33-10. Reynolds did not accompany the team on the trip as he is on injured reserve with a fractured finger.
“We’re glad he came out of that relatively unharmed,’’ said Broncos’ defensive lineman Zach Allen. “It’s a scary situation and sounds like they’re still trying to figure everything out. We don’t know that much because it’s an ongoing investigation.”
Payton said counseling services have been set up for Reynolds and any other player who needs to talk it out. Reynolds’ teammates also want to be there for him.
“He’s one of us,’’ Allen said. “It’s been a seamless transition with him coming in. A real likeable guy, a lot of guys are real close with him. It seems like he’s doing reasonable well all things considered.”
“We’ve talked,’’ Bolles said. “I’ll leave that conversation between us. But he’s a great kid. I know he’s going to make a full recovery and get back on the football field where he belongs and help us win games. But right now we just want to stand behind him and let him know we love him and care for him and want nothing but the best for him.’’
