According to the NFL, Anderson’s five combined teams tackles put him in an early-season top 20 and way ahead of last year’s pace. His tackles on kickoffs count, and his rover position in the middle of the line is going to be hunting Mims, seventh in kick returns with a 27-yard average that includes last week’s 32-yarder.

Simmons says a variety of reasons played into his decision to move Anderson and put guys like cornerback D.J. Ivey and safety P.J. Jules at gunner. There’s the makeup of the active list on game day, but also that Simmons trained him there when he first broke into the league.

“He’s a tough matchup inside,” Simmons says. “And sometimes when you’re playing gunner, and you’re punting away from him, the ball is further away from him … When he’s playing right gunner and we punt it left, he had to run across the field. Not always a great thing.

“When you’re playing PP, you’re right in front of the ball, so he’s always going to be around the ball. I always want Tycen to go to the ball.”

Anderson likes that, of course. But it’s been an adjustment. More thinking than at gunner, and now when he gets down there, he sees the gunners are there first and must play off their fits.

“I’m starting to think less and just play football,” he says.

Anderson says he talked about the move with Simmons, and he’s one of these guys who is all in when he’s convinced it’s the best for the team. That was his mindset at Toledo, where he became an icon as a do-it all defender and captain as an All-MAC player who also happened to play gunner.

Anderson approaches his job a lot like his dad back in Toledo. He’s a self-employed carpenter whose nickname is ‘Dig.’ His motto is ‘Dig a do it.’ He can do it all, they say.

“I’m trying to be the best version of me for the team in whatever role,” Anderson says. “To be one of the best special teams players in the league and make game- changing plays. Since high school, I’ve always embraced whatever role. I’m just trying to be the best Tycen in any world that’s given to me.”

Mims is built like a sleek punt returner, and Simmons notes if you take away his muff this season, his shortest return is 12 yards. They must limit his space and the way the ball flies at Mile High, that’s a plus for Mims.

From the PP spot, Anderson isn’t immersed in study of the Denver left guard. “He’s probably looking at me more than I’m looking at him,” Anderson says. He’s watching Mims. But not as an individual edit. “That would be just a highlight reel.”