ENGLEWOOD, Colo. — The Denver Broncos need someone to step up at tight end, a position that coach Gary Kubiak said was “just a little bit behind” when camp began. Virgil Green might finally be ready for the task.
After five years working behind players like Daniel Fells, Julius Thomas and Owen Daniels, Green appears to be the No. 1 tight end, and during Thursday’s practice, he played like it, catching four touchdown passes in a practice heavy on red-zone work.
“Virgil is the red-hot player of the day here in Dove Valley. What a day he had,” Broncos coach Gary Kubiak said. “He made a bunch of plays in the red zone.”
It helps that he is healthy, which has been a problem for Green. He has dealt with nagging injuries and missed team work in OTAs because of a dislocated finger.
As a result, Kubiak gave Green a day off with other key veterans last Sunday.
“We have a little bit of a program we are working on with Virgil,” Kubiak said. “We are trying to keep him healthier than we have in the past. I think he’s responded.”
–Broncos coach Gary Kubiak has been left scrambling at two positions: cornerback and offensive line.
At cornerback, a hamstring injury to Chris Harris Jr., a bruised thigh for Kayvon Webster and Aqib Talib’s continued presence on the non-football injury list because of a gunshot wound left Lorenzo Doss and rookies B.J. Lowery and John Tidwell to see first team repetitions along with Bradley Roby on Thursday.
Talib’s status remains up in the air, but Harris and Webster are expected back quickly, so the depth wasn’t a concern.
But at guard, it was a different manner. The two intended starters, Max Garcia and Ty Sambrailo, are new, and neither has practiced since Monday. Sambrailo suffered a right elbow injury Sunday and has been in a brace all week, while Garcia injured his ankle Monday. Swing interior backup Sam Brenner suffered a concussion Sunday, exacerbating matters.
The first-team guards since then have included rookie Connor McGovern, second-year center James Ferentz, former Cowboys reserve Darrion Weems and Michael Schofield, who has worked at left tackle in place of Russell Okung as the free-agent pickup is eased back into work.
Weems got first-team work Thursday, and coach Gary Kubiak praised him.
“Weems is really starting to look like a pretty good football player for this team,” he said. “We are trying to give him every opportunity.”
Garcia is expected back soon, but Sambrailo’s injury might keep him out a bit longer. Every snap he loses is crucial, as he is attempting to make the transition from tackle and missed nearly all of the offseason work because of his recovery from a torn labrum.
The Broncos had hoped for better health up front this year. It appears, at least early, that will not be the case.
–Last year, Demaryius Thomas’ mother, Katina Smith had her sentence for a non-violent drug offense commuted by President Obama. When a grateful Thomas had the chance to meet the president in person in June to celebrate the Broncos’ Super Bowl 50 win, he thanked him.
But as the two spoke, they talked about his grandmother, Minnie Pearl Thomas, who remained in prison on a similar conviction.
Wednesday, the conversation paid off, when Minnie Pearl Thomas was among 214 federal inmates who had their sentence commuted. She is expected to be released to a halfway house for the fall, just as Smith was last year before finally being able to travel in January, allowing her to see her son in person for the first time as a pro.
“I’m kind of jacked up right now,” Demaryius Thomas said. “I don’t really know what to say. I just want to talk to my granny.
“She was sad when Mom left. She used to cry when she was in there by herself. I’m just excited for her and I want to thank (President) Obama for all that he’s done for her and everybody else.”
Last year, Thomas admitted that his mother’s release distracted his focus. But he doesn’t expect that to be the case this year, because his mother will be in position to guide his grandmother through a release and a return to society.
“It’s for sure easier now (because of) the fact that my mom is out and she’s been through it,” Thomas said. “Now she can be around my grandmother and tell her what to go through.”