ENGLEWOOD, Colo. --For the first time in training camp, the Broncos practiced with an eye on game-day preparation.
Instead of the first-team offense going against the No. 1 defense, the top offense faced a scout-team defense. The tenor and energy was different.
"Today's practice started a little slow," Head Coach Vance Joseph said. "It was a different mindset -- a little more into game tempo. We had helmets. For the first time all year, it [the script] was on cards, so the mindset kind of shifted.
"But we stopped it and started over and got back to our mindset. I don't want our mindset to change during game week. I want the same intensity and the same effort and the same response when we play."
... Trevor Siemian and Paxton Lynch are each expected to receive a maximum of a quarter and a half of work, with the rest of the snaps going to third-teamer Kyle Sloter.
"Probably a quarter," Joseph said. "It depends on how the game's going. The average plays per quarter in the preseason is about 15 to 16 plays. So we want to get those guys a little bit more than that so we can have a fair evaluation."
... Red-zone work was the primary point of emphasis Tuesday, with all three quarterbacks throwing multiple touchdown passes. Siemian opened a goal-to-go period by hitting Emmanuel Sanders and A.J. Derby. In the same period, Lynch started at the 28-yard line and drove the offense to the end zone, hitting Derby for 13 yards and then finding Cody Latimer for a touchdown on a post route.
... Special-teams work took on a different feel Tuesday as the Broncos worked on their emergency placekicking plans, which involve DE Billy Winn as the long snapper, QB Trevor Siemian as the holder and P Riley Dixon as the placekicker.
"We're fortunate to have Trevor, because he's good at it. You can trust him. He'll take control of the situation, just like a good quarterback does," Olivo said.
Olivo said that Winn volunteered to handle emergency snaps. He and Siemian were the first players on the field for practice to practice snapping; they were quickly joined by regular long snapper Casey Kreiter, who simulated placekicking while their teammates arrived for the day's work.
"Billy looks good [at snapping], he really does," Olivo said. "He's big, strong. He'll get in there. He's accurate enough. He'll keep working on it. We've been using Billy as the backup snapper on punts, as well. He'll be in the bullpen when asked."
... Practice got a bit testy during the one-on-one drills between the offensive and defensive linemen, as Adam Gotsis and Allen Barbre got into a scuffle during the period. Ty Sambrailo and DeMarcus Walker also briefly mixed it up.
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PARTICIPATION REPORT:**
... RT Menelik Watson returned to practice after missing the previous two days with a muscle strain. He is expected to play Thursday.
... RG Ron Leary (groin) and C Matt Paradis (offseason hip surgeries) continued splitting first-team repetitions as they work their way back to full strength following their injuries. Paradis will not play against the Bears, but Leary will.
... ILB Todd Davis was in uniform Tuesday, but he will not play against the Bears because of a sprained shoulder. "His timeline is day-to-day," said Joseph, who added that Davis' absence Thursday "is more precautionary" in nature. Joseph added that he expects Davis to play "some" in the preseason, depending on the progress of his recovery.
... S T.J. Ward remained sidelined because of a hamstring injury. He will not play against the Bears. Justin Simmons is expected to start in his place.
... CB Dontrell Nelson did not practice.
... RB Bernard Pierce was sidelined because of a hamstring injury.
... RB Jamaal Charles saw extensive work Tuesday after being held out of practice Monday. "Being inside with the turf day, we didn't want him on the turf that much [Monday]," Joseph said.
WEATHER REPORT:After working inside the Pat Bowlen Fieldhouse, the Broncos went back outside Tuesday, working under partly cloudy skies. Temperatures remained between 60°F and 68°F during the practice.
ATTENDANCE:4,344.
