Training Camp Takeaways — Day 17: Sean Payton says camp isn't actually ending

ENGLEWOOD, Colo. — Denver Broncos Training Camp is over… or is it?

“We are in camp still,” head coach Sean Payton said after practice. “There is no light even at the end of the tunnel. It’s dark.”

Fans won’t be allowed at any more practices, but the Broncos plan on keeping a similar schedule going forward, at least for another week or two. The biggest change will be that some veteran players will start to be allowed to move out of the team hotel and back to their homes.

But training camp as training camp comes to its official close, has Payton’s team accomplished what he hoped?

“From a coach’s perspective, there’s always meat left on the bone,” Payton said. “We’re hitting these situations we’re installing, and I’d say we’re pretty much on schedule. The answer’s never ‘yes’ to that question if you ask a coach.”

Thursday’s practice is the final practice we’ll be able to report on, so this will be the final edition of camp notes. It wasn’t a very eventful practice, though. Russell Wilson only threw a few passes. The team held some walk-throughs in advance of their preseason game with the Cardinals on Saturday. The backups got some extra work.

Here’s what happened on Thursday…

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Participation report

The following players didn’t participate in Thursday’s practice:

• S Justin Simmons
• RT Mike McGlinchey
• CB K’Waun Williams
• S Caden Sterns
• TE Chris Manhertz
• WR Brandon Johnson
• RB Tyler Badie
• CB Riley Moss

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Justin Simmons is the winner of training camp

Russell Wilson didn’t get much live action on Thursday, but he did well with his opportunities, especially his touchdown to Greg Dulcich in the corner of the end zone in seven-on-sevens, and when he hit Courtland Sutton about 25 yards downfield.

With another good practice, Wilson cemented the most obvious trend of training camp: on days that Justin Simmons played, the Broncos’ passing offense struggled. On days Simmons didn’t practice, the passing offense looked remarkably sharp.

Before Simmons tweaked his groin about halfway through camp, Wilson had thrown interceptions but no touchdowns. After the injury, Wilson threw touchdowns but no interceptions. In his final three practices before the injury, Simmons had an interception every day.

Maybe the offense grew all of a sudden at the same time that Simmons stopped practicing. I don’t think so. I think Simmons was playing the best ball of his career, and I don’t think Wilson will see a safety of his quality at any point this season.

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Big plays

A light day meant there weren’t many big plays. Here are a few…

• Ben DiNucci hit Nick Williams for a touchdown in seven-on-sevens.
• Nik Bonitto sacked Russell Wilson
• Alex Palczewski and Albert Okwuegbunam combined to open a big running lane.

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1-on-1s

• Cam Fleming beat Jonathon Cooper.
• Zach Allen beat Quinn Meinerz.
• Lloyd Cushenberry stuffed Jonathan Harris.
• DJ Jones and Zach Allen both pushed Ben Powers back a couple of steps.
• Garett Bolles stuffed Nik Bonitto.
• Alex Palczewski stopped Randy Gregory.
• Thomas Incoom had a great speed to power move against Demontrey Jacobs. Gregory beat him with a spin move.
• Luke Wattenberg beat PJ Mustipher.