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Bo Nix and Jarrett Stidham were both sharp in camp practice Monday. McLaughlin is ready for a preseason encore.
ENGLEWOOD, Colo. — P.J. Locke and Caden Sterns were both safeties for the Texas Longhorns who wound up with the Denver Broncos.
Although Locke entered the NFL two years prior to Sterns, Sterns was ahead of Locke on the Broncos’ depth chart entering the 2021, 2022 and 2023 seasons.
Locke became a story of perseverance. Sterns is now in a group of so many players who have a story.
While Locke is now a Broncos’ starting safety with a brand new two-year, $7 million contract, Sterns was notified Monday morning he would be waived off the roster if the team is unable to trade him. When no trade was made by the 2 p.m. transaction deadline, Sterns was officially waived.
“I visited with Caden this morning, and I told him right now we felt like it was the best interest of our team,’’ said coach Sean Payton after the team’s practice Monday. “Especially this early, he’ll have a chance to either possibly sign with another team or possibly be traded. And part of it is the byproduct of some of these other guys that are playing ahead of him right now.”
With top free-agent safety acquisition Brandon Jones down another week with a hamstring injury, the Broncos have been looking at both second-year safeties JL Skinner and Devon Key as Locke’s temporary partner with the first-team defense.
Injuries were Sterns’ downfall with the Broncos as he suffered a season-ending hip injury in Game 5 of the 2022 season – the same game he had two interceptions off Indianapolis’ quarterback and likely Hall of Famer Matt Ryan. Then after all that rehab from surgery, Sterns was set to replace Kareem Jackson as a starting safety in 2023, only to suffer a torn patellar tendon on his second play of the season-opener.
Sterns missed the entire offseason program this past spring as he tried to come back from his latest knee injury. Although he returned a couple days into training camp to start practicing on a limited basis, he still had not participated in team drills.
Stidham and Nix throw well
Following a day off Sunday, the Broncos had a lighter and shorter practice in soft shells and shorts Monday. There were only two team periods, and Bo Nix, operating the No. 1 offense, and Jarrett Stidham, who had the 2s, were especially sharp.
Nix twice hit top receiver Courtland Sutton on intermediate patterns while Stidham connected with rookie Troy Franklin on a deep pass and tight end Greg Dulcich on a deep middle pattern.
No. 3 quarterback Zach Wilson also had impact completions to Franklin and another to rookie receiver Devaughn Vele. Payton said he wouldn’t share until Tuesday or Wednesday who his starting quarterback will be for the preseason opener Sunday at Indianapolis.
Preseason spurred McLaughlin
At this point last year, undrafted running back Jaleel McLaughlin was a longshot to make the Broncos’ season-opening, 53-man roster. He wound up making the team thanks to his showy performances in the Broncos’ first two preseason games.
He gave Payton a taste of his ability in the preseason opener at Arizona with 20 rushing yards off four carries, including a 4-yard, go-ahead touchdown, plus a 12-yard reception.
In the second preseason game at San Francisco, McLaughlin cemented his roster spot with two touchdowns – off an 8-yard run and 9-yard reception – plus a 44-yard kickoff return.
A new year has brought a new group of undrafted rookies who are about to play in their first NFL preseason games.
“That game, I just went out there and played. I didn’t let anything get to me,’’ McLaughlin said Monday. “It felt like I was playing backyard football. I felt like I was just playing my game, and that’s what I was telling a couple guys.
“’Hey, even when we have fans out here (during practice), just enjoy it,” he said. “Every moment you’re out here, enjoy it. That’s what I did last year, and that’s what I’ll do this first preseason game upcoming. As long as you give 100%, you don’t have to be down on yourself, and that’s what I’ve been preaching to the rookies.”
Papa McGlinchey
Right tackle Mike McGlinchey did not attend practice Monday as his wife Brooke recently delivered their first child, a baby boy. Payton said McGlinchey would return to practice Tuesday.
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