Nathaniel Hackett delivers promising news along the injury front along with Randy Gregory eyeing Week 1

ENGLEWOOD, Colo. — Exactly four weeks out from the start of their season, the Denver Broncos received a plethora of positive news along the injury front.

For the first time in 2022, Randy Gregory and Billy Turner practiced after being removed from the Physically Unable to Perform list, a designation they’ve had since the start of training camp.

“We’re going to start them with individual and slowly gradually work them into it and see where they go from there,” Hackett said before Monday’s practice about Turner and Gregory.

In terms of being back for the season opener on Sept. 12, the head coach was “hoping” both will be available.

“That’s kind of our goal,” Hackett added. “We’ll see as we progress. Still 28 days, or something like that. So a long ways away.”

Gregory, the Broncos’ big-time splash in the offseason, said it’s the “plan” for him to play against the Seattle Seahawks.

Monday’s practice represented the first time the 6-foot-5, 242-pound outside linebacker donned an Orange & Blue jersey after getting shoulder surgery shortly after signing a five-year, $70-million contract in March.

When healthy, the former Dallas Cowboy will start opposite Bradley Chubb.

“It was funny, when we started game planning a little bit for Dallas [last week], we put a game on just because we wanted to watch it and make sure we knew what they were going to be presenting us and the whole time, it was funny, we we’re looking at each other going, ‘We’re really happy that guy is on our team,'” Hackett said about Gregory. “He’s a dynamic guy. He’s got an unbelievable motor. He is nonstop all throughout the play. He’s physical. He’s fast. He’s a smart player. I think all of those things that he brings are so great for our football team. Watching him rush the edge is going to be something I’m excited to see.”

In practice, Gregory is expected to get a significant amount of work going up against Turner, who will compete with Calvin Anderson for the right tackle job.

The third big move Denver made on Monday morning was signing linebacker Joe Schobert.

“Schobert’s a guy that is another experienced guy that we know we can put in there and he can play right away and he can bring that leadership,” Hackett stated about the 28-year old. “Again, I think he’s had a lot of years with hundreds of tackles, so that’s always a positive thing. He’s a guy that’s played special teams and done a lot of different things. I think he’s going to definitely help us.”

The signing comes two days after Jonas Griffith dislocated his elbow in the first preseason game. The 25-year old is supposed to miss four-to-six weeks. The signing of Schobert, however, doesn’t necessarily mean Griffith will miss the season opener.

“I know the type of man he is. Just looking and talking to him after the game, I wouldn’t be surprised if [Griffith’s] there Week 1,” Hackett stated on Monday.

There was other positive injury news on Monday as well.

Michael Ojemudia and Delarrin Turner-Yell are both “great” after being evaluated for a concussion during Saturday’s game. Turner-Yell returned to the game, but the team held Ojemudia out for the rest of the game since there was no reason to rush him back in the preseason.

Hackett announced that Melvin Gordon and Ronald Darby are day to day and the head coach expects Gordon to return to practice this week, while the team wants to make sure Darby heals fine. Cornerback K’Waun Williams will “work back slowly,” but again, the team will not rush him.

The only negative news on the injury front was Netane Muti had a procedure on his knee, which will keep him out a couple of weeks. Muti’s procedure will likely lead to Dalton Risner and Quinn Meinerz starting at guard for Denver to begin the season.

With a month left before Denver opens the season against the Seattle, the Broncos appear to be trending in the right direction in the health department.