ENGLEWOOD, Colo — Think of all Lloyd Cushenberry III, as the Broncos’ four-year starting center, does for his team.
To begin, he makes the ultimate self-sacrifice of blocking. Not tackling. Not throwing. Not catching or running the ball. Blocking.
Moreover, Cushenberry doesn’t even get to stand up or set in a two-point squat and block. Run or pass, he has to hunch over. He starts every play with the snap, and then everyone forgets about him, eyes turning to the man he hiked to.
In short order, though, Cushenberry is about to get his just reward, either from the Broncos or another team through the lucrative gates of free agency.
“We’ll see. We’ll see what happens, man,’’ Cushenberry said at his locker following practice Thursday. “I’m trying not to think about it too much. Hopefully we can get something done. Would love to stay here, but we’ll see what happens. Just focusing on these next two games and go out with a winning record. That’s it.”
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The top 15 highest-paid NFL centers make anywhere from $6 million a year (several) to Jason Kelce’s $14.25 million. If Cushenberry’s market swings toward the high end, it may be difficult for the Broncos to bring him back as they are already paying big dollars up front for right tackle Mike McGlinchey, left tackle Garett Bolles and left guard Ben Powers. And right guard Quinn Meinerz may come close to re-setting the guard market when he becomes a free agent after next season.
Plus, the Broncos might have to be on a salary cap spending budget this offseason, as it appears the benching this week of quarterback Russell Wilson will lead to his release and cap consequences.
“It’s unfortunate,’’ Cushenberry said of Wilson’s benching. “Wish we could have done better for him up front. But it’s a business. I don’t know what’s going on behind the scenes and all that. I don’t get into all that. We’re riding with (Jarrett) Stidham, and we need to win. See what we do.”
Surtain review
Sean Payton and Vance Joseph had a favorable matchup. New England had third and 3 at its own 26, tie game 23-23, and Broncos All Pro cornerback Pat Surtain was assigned to guard Patriots’ receiver DeVante Parker one on one. But quarterback Bailey Zappe threw a beautiful 27-yard pass down the left sideline to Parker, who outmaneuvered Surtain for the ball. The play led to a game-winning, 57-yard field goal for the Patriots.
To his credit, Surtain owned up to the play.
“I think it started with my technique,’’ Surtain said Thursday. “My technique was off. And I could have done better at the catch point, obviously. You know me, I hold myself to a high standard, and that catch should have never been made. But it happens. I just move on from it and learn from it.”
Injury report
Broncos No. 1 receiver Courtland Sutton remained in the concussion protocol Thursday but did work out on the side, an encouraging sign he could be cleared in time for the game Sunday against the Chargers.
When Sutton went down early in the first quarter, the Broncos offense seemed to founder for a couple quarters without him before receivers Marvin Mims Jr., Jerry Jeudy and Brandon Johnson stepped up in the fourth quarter.
“He’s such a big part of what we do,’’ offensive coordinator Joe Lombardi said of Sutton. “There’s always a couple players that are more drastic when an injury happens early. Just the shuffling that has to go on. Plays that are really specific to their skill set, and Courtland’s one of those guys. It’s as tough an injury as you can have early in a game. Guys had to flip around.
“Obviously, we have a plan for everyone if they get hurt so it wasn’t necessarily not knowing who to put in the game but when a guy is that big a part of your plan it’s definitely a challenge when they get hurt.”
Outside linebacker Baron Browning is also in the concussion protocol. Safety Justin Simmons missed practice with an illness as did special teamer Dwayne Washington. Mims was listed on the injury report for the first time Thursday as limited with a hamstring, an indication he tweaked it during practice.
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