{"id":102917,"date":"2025-06-04T09:00:17","date_gmt":"2025-06-04T09:00:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/102917\/"},"modified":"2025-06-04T09:00:17","modified_gmt":"2025-06-04T09:00:17","slug":"broncos-otas-week-2-three-things-to-watch","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/102917\/","title":{"rendered":"Broncos OTAs, Week 2: Three things to watch"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Broncos will have one fewer week of OTAs than they did last year, so this week will mark the final week of voluntary work before next week\u2019s mandatory minicamp.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s all about how the calendar fell.<\/p>\n

This year, Labor Day is on its earliest possible day: Sept. 1. And since the start of the NFL regular season is based around Labor Day \u2014 with Week 1 taking place the weekend after that holiday weekend \u2014 everything happens at the earliest point on the calendar.<\/p>\n

That includes training camp. Those dates are tied to the start of preseason, which, of course is set by when the regular season begins. All the dominoes fall from that early Labor Day.<\/p>\n

In 2026, Labor Day will be on Sept. 7 \u2014 the latest possible day on the calendar. So, the dynamic will be different; one would expect the Broncos to return to a normal offseason.<\/p>\n

Effectively, the preseason \u2014 and training camp \u2014 starts six days sooner this year than it will next year. That makes this year\u2019s offseason six days shorter.<\/p>\n

And given when team-organized offseason workouts started, their summer downtime would have been one week shorter than usual had the Broncos utilized their full offseason workload.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis was the first year that I can ever remember where the calendar potentially would have pushed out another week and would have just been four weeks for these guys before training camp,\u201d Broncos coach Sean Payton said.<\/p>\n

\u201cI wasn\u2019t going to do that.\u201d<\/p>\n

Thus, Payton decided that time off was more valuable than a week of practice.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019ll have plenty of time for the football,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

But that means maximizing the work this week.<\/p>\n

Here are three things to watch for:<\/p>\n

1. KEEP BUILDING THE TIMING AND COHESION<\/p>\n

For quarterback Bo Nix, there\u2019s plenty of groundwork laid here with his returning targets. But it\u2019s a different matter with tight end Evan Engram, who arrived this offseason as a free agent and dealt with injuries last year<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt starts by getting to know him,\u201d Nix said. \u201cSee what makes him tick, what makes him go and what his passions are. It\u2019s very clear from the beginning that he\u2019s all about football and he\u2019s all about taking care of himself.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe\u2019s been here since he was signed, getting ready and preparing. That\u2019s been fun to see. So, I\u2019ve gotten to be around him a lot.<\/p>\n

\u201cThen we just started working on the field. Early on in OTAs, you get to come out here and throw routes and just see what he\u2019s like. See what kind of routes he runs and see what he\u2019s thinking.\u201d<\/p>\n

A key for Nix finding cohesion with Engram is communication. If Engram is going to reach the level of, say, Courtland Sutton, there\u2019s plenty of catch-up work to do \u2014 and so far, he\u2019s doing it.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe talk a lot,\u201d Nix said. \u201cHe\u2019s always asking me about certain things. When you get him out to practice, it\u2019s just seeing how he reacts. I\u2019m excited to include him and add him to what we already have. I think it\u2019ll be good for us.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"Broncos<\/a>
(Photo: Andrew Mason \/ Denver Sports)<\/p>\n

2. ROOKIES\u2019 TASK: \u201cBRIDGE THE GAP\u201d<\/p>\n

The burst demonstrated by running back RJ Harvey last week was promising, and provided a taste of what could be to come with opportunities in the regular season.<\/p>\n

But that is not necessarily the most vital aspect of the work right now for the second-round pick, or for other members of the Broncos\u2019 rookie class.<\/p>\n

Instead, it\u2019s about doing all they can to catch up and compensate for the weeks they weren\u2019t able to spend in conditioning and weight training with their teammates.<\/p>\n

Now, it\u2019s not like the Broncos\u2019 rookies haven\u2019t been working out. But getting trained for Pro Days and pre-draft events isn\u2019t the same as preparing for a football season.<\/p>\n

\u201cThey\u2019re behind obviously in a couple of areas,\u201d Payton said last week<\/a>. \u201cMentally, they\u2019re catching up. Then also physically, getting acclimated to the weight program and [their] conditioning level. They\u2019re 12-13 workouts behind.<\/p>\n

\u201cThey don\u2019t have to get there today. They just have to work their way there so by the time we get going in training camp, we bridge the gap, if you will.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"Broncos<\/a>
(Photo: Andrew Mason \/ Denver Sports)<\/p>\n

3. FOR PLAYERS DOWN THE BRONCOS\u2019 DEPTH CHART, KEEP FLASHING<\/p>\n

Cornerback Kris Abrams-Draine and edge rusher Dondrea Tillman were two of the Broncos\u2019 most promising rookies late last season. Thus, it came as no surprise last week when they shone during practice<\/a>.<\/p>\n

At this time of year, it\u2019s all about stacking good days of work \u2014 whether it results in those bright moments or not. For players like Abrams-Draine, Tillman and others looking to solidify their roster spots, these days aren\u2019t make-or-break \u2014 but they\u2019re not meaningless, either.<\/p>\n

\"YouTube<\/p>\n

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