ENGLEWOOD, Colo. — As a rookie, Courtland Sutton relied on one trick, although it was a good one.
That downfield, one on one, 50-50 ball? Sutton was pretty good at hauling those in. The Broncos’ second-round draft pick was third among NFL rookie receivers with 704 yards on a hefty 16.8 yards per catch.
In his second training camp, Sutton has been working on just about everything but his favorite trick. He’s been running, and catching, the sideline routes, middle patterns, slants, hooks, up and ins and up and outs.
He’s dropped a few. He needs to keep working on that. But Sutton has concentrated on becoming a more complete receiver in 2019.
"I think the offense we ran last year, and this year are two totally different offenses," he said. "This offseason that was one big thing I wanted to work on was being able to run every route on the route tree.
"I thought last year … but going back and watching the film there were a lot of tells that I was giving away that made it hard for me to run those routes on the tree. I really worked on being able to run all the intermediate routes, that I wouldn't just be a guy that's known for going deep on the outside. That's still something I have in my arsenal, but I want to be able to run all those routes so that it can set up those big shot plays."
Anything but soft
Remember halfway through the 2017 season when Broncos general manager John Elway said he thought his team “got a little bit soft” after its record slumped from 3-1 to 3-6?
The Broncos just had five training camp practices before 30 other teams got started. And they came back from their first off-day Wednesday to practice in 92-to- 95-degree afternoon heat for 2 ½ hours in full pads.
They may not be any good this year. But the Broncos won’t be soft.
Fight! Fight!
There was a heated exchange during an 11-on-11 period in which a helmet was flung 20 yards behind the line of scrimmage. The helmet belonged to center Connor McGovern. They helmet heave was delivered by defensive end Derek Wolfe.
"We talked about it," said head coach Vic Fangio. "I don’t like it."
Bronco Bits
Former Broncos’ quarterback Peyton Manning watched part of practice Wednesday with his twin children Marshall and Mosley. …
Starting safety Justin Simmons came up with another interception, this one on a Joe Flacco overthrow on a pass intended for tight end Noah Fant. ...
Second-year receiver DaeSean Hamilton tweaked his hamstring early in practice and spent the rest of it observing. …
Starting inside linebacker Todd Davis is now off crutches and was seen walking gingerly on his strained calf Wednesday. …
Rookie receiver Juwann Winfree stretched with the team but then worked on the side with another injured receiver, River Cracraft.
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