Zach Allen is good to go.<\/p>\n
The Broncos\u2019 star defensive tackle practiced fully Friday and will play Sunday against Las Vegas after missing Thursday\u2019s practice with what the team listed as a calf issue.<\/p>\n
Rookie receiver Pat Bryant was limited again Friday with a hamstring issue that cropped up the day before, but he, too, has been cleared to play.<\/p>\n
That\u2019s good news overall for Denver, which will be without veteran defensive tackle D.J. Jones (ankle) and tight end Nate Adkins (knee) in Las Vegas this weekend.<\/p>\n
Allen still leads the NFL in quarterback hits at 31 entering Week 14 and has drawn plenty of attention in the middle of Denver\u2019s defense.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe\u2019s so quick off the ball,\u201d Payton said Friday. \u201cNow, we\u2019re trying to pay attention to his pitch count a little bit better. It was too high last year. He bends well. I would say he\u2019s one of those guys, like, when you talk about stamina and play after play, that\u2019s unique.\u201d<\/p>\n
A week ago Payton said Denver was hopeful Adkins would return to work in time for the team\u2019s Week 13 game against Washington and that he came close to practicing but that Raiders week was \u201cmore realistic.\u201d Now the practice week has come and gone and the third-year tight end still hasn\u2019t returned to practice.<\/p>\n
When Adkins was first injured Week 8 against Dallas, he could have gone on injured reserve. Instead, Denver hoped he\u2019d be back before four games \u2014 that would have been against Washington \u2014 and therefore beat the four-game minimum that comes with IR. Now he\u2019ll miss a fifth straight game. It\u2019s the seventh game overall this year Adkins has been on the active roster but ruled out because of injury.<\/p>\n
OPI? Payton clearly thought Washington\u2019s receivers committed pass interference on the two-point conversion play that Nik Bonitto batted down with the game in the balance Sunday night.<\/p>\n
Two inside receivers crashed down and got in the way of safety Talanoa Hufanga, but Payton said he thought it was more than just legal traffic being created.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhen the calls, when some of them come in, you just keep competing,\u201d Payton said Friday when asked a question about cornerback Riley Moss and playing through penalty issues. \u201cThe Bonitto batted down play? Take a look at the underneath crossers going after our safety and tell me what you think. Anyone seen that play?\u201d<\/p>\n
Penalty?<\/p>\n
\u201cYou can\u2019t block someone,\u201d Payton said of receivers. \u201cYou can run at them and avoid them. But that\u2019s significant if he\u2019s able to get the ball off, you know what I mean? That\u2019s the end of the game.\u201d<\/p>\n