Editor’s note: As the Broncos transition out of training camp and move toward the regular season, the team’s guidelines on what can be reported from practice understandably tighten up. With that in mind, our last few takeaway pieces won’t be quite as detailed as they were during camp, but that doesn’t mean we can’t still give you an idea of how practice went.

ENGLEWOOD, Colo. — There was a new face on the field as the Denver Broncos began their final week of the preseason.

Although Adam Jones—widely known for his former nickname “Pacman”—promised he’s “not here to try to take any shine,” he did just that on Monday.

And for good reason, too.

JONES RETURNS

During his first practice with his new team on Monday, it would be difficult to tell that Jones turns 35 in September.

Not only was the team’s new oldest player seeing many reps on the defensive side of the ball (read below), he was playing a position that is traditionally saved for the young guns.

“John [Elway] and I meet every day about how can we get better as a football team and we thought having more experience at corner and having an experienced punt returner was a key factor for our team, and there was one guy that fit the bill,” Joseph said after practice on Monday, explaining the decision to sign Jones. “He solves two issues as one body. We decided to sign Adam Jones.”

On Monday, Jones was, in fact, playing both positions during his first day on the job. Isaiah McKenzie—currently the team’s starting punt returner—and Jones were sharing punt return reps during the team’s first special teams period.

While McKenzie has had a solid offseason returning punts—including a 78-yard punt return touchdown in the first preseason game—it’s impossible to forget the six fumbles he had at that position just one year ago.

On the flip side of things, not only has Jones been a punt returner his entire 11-year career, he’s been one of the best in the league, including being named a first-team All-Pro in 2014.

“As a punt returner, he brings proof. He brings experience. As a returner, he’s a special returner,” Joseph said. “He’s got NFL history—top 5, top 10 numbers as a returner. That’s an easy role for him to play.”

It’s not only easy for Jones, it’s a position he doesn’t have to think twice about.

“I’m very comfortable. And I love it,” Jones said with a smile, talking about returning punts. “I have a knack for it. I’m one of those guys that doesn’t believe the first guy can ever get me. We’ll see when my number is called. I promise you, I’ll lead by example.”

In his career, Jones has punt returns of 90, 81, 63 and 52 yards, including five touchdowns.

Should McKenzie be worried about his roster spot with Jones’ punt return ability? That’s not Joseph, or the Broncos’, worries.

“It’s our job to bring in players that make the Broncos better,” Joseph firmly stated on Monday. “It’s the NFL; it’s professional sports. That’s John [Elway’s] role also, it’s his job to bring in guys who can help us become a better football team, not to worry about the guys here who are competing for roles. It’s about competition.”

ADAM “CORNERBACK” JONES

During the team’s warmups on Monday, receivers coach Zach Azzanni introduced himself to the veteran cornerback.

Later in practice, Azzanni’s receivers, specifically the younger ones, got a first-hand introduction to the vet.

Lined up all over the field, Jones faced many of the Broncos’ talented young receivers, going deep, outside, over the middle and short.

The only one that got the best of him was Courtland Sutton. And, well, the rookie receiver has got the best of every cornerback on the team’s roster at least once during the past month. Early in practice, on a routine 15-yard in route, Sutton beat Jones by multiple steps.

After that, however, Jones didn’t seem to be a step behind the rest of practice.

“I’m playing a lot smarter now. When I was young, I played with all athletic ability. Now, I pretty much know everything about the game,” Jones said on Monday, explaining how his game has evolved over the years. “I can tell you from the splits what routes we are going to get.”

While Jones admitted it’s still going to take him seven or eight more practices to fully grasp the entire defense, Monday’s small sample size proved why the team picked him up.

During 7-on-7s, Case Keenum tried to throw a dart to Jordan Leslie in the middle of the field, but Jones was there with the pass breakup.

Later, again in the middle of the field, Jones had tight coverage on McKenzie as the ball sailed through his hands, nearly resulting in a pick for the veteran on his first practice with his new team.

With a tremendous amount of youth after Chris Harris Jr., Bradley Roby, and Tramiane Brock on the depth chart, Jones brings a wealth of experience to the depth of the secondary.

LANGLEY’S STATEMENT

One day after the Broncos potentially signed his replacement, 2017 third-round pick Brendan Langley had his best practice of his second year in the league.

Langley didn’t just have one or two pass breakups on the day, he had three.

The first was a John Diarse 10-yard comeback in the middle of the field. With smothering coverage, Langley batted the ball away.

The next, Langley showed incredible hustle during 7-on-7s when he dove to make-up ground on a receiver comeback. In his diving effort, Langley swatted the ball alway inches before it got to the intended target.

Lastly—and certainly not least as it earned play of the day honors—the 6-foot, 199-pound cornerback used all of his athletic ability to high-point a pass 40 yards down the right sideline and give the ball a Dikembe-Mutumbo-like swat for the incompletion.

Whether or not Langley’s impressive performance on Monday was due to the Broncos signing Jones will remain a mystery. Joseph, however, hopes it wasn’t.

“I hope he hasn’t had a response to it,” the head coach said. “I hope he would practice that way every day without Adam Jones here. Again, it’s professional football, we don’t discuss guys coming in, and what that means for you or I. It means nothing. It’s your job to play as an NFL player every day. It means nothing to him, I hope.”

INJURY AND AVAILABILITY NOTES

• The Broncos received a significant amount of good news on the injury front on Monday. Not only were Ron Leary, Will Parks and Sam Jones back on the practice field after sitting out the third preseason game, Su’a Cravens returned to the practice field for the first time since the start of camp.
• After practice, Joseph said the decision of whether or not Cravens will play in the preseason finale on Thursday won’t have to do with his mental grasp of the game, but more so on how his body physically responds to practicing.
  • “He’s a smart player. His recall was fine, and he looked fine physically,” Joseph said on Monday. “We’ll see tomorrow how he reacts to practicing on whether he will play on Thursday.”
• Shamarko Thomas also was a full participant in practice on Monday after going to the hospital midway through the team’s third preseason game.
  • Thomas had blurry vision in his left eye mid-game and was brought to the hospital for further evaluation. Once at the hospital, his vision began to come back, and there was no permanent damage.
• Darian Stewart did not practice on Monday as he received a vet rest day.
• Troy Fumagalli was once again not practicing with soreness dating back to the spring.

ADDITIONAL TIDBITS

• Chad Kelly will start the team’s preseason finale and will play about a half. Paxton Lynch will play the rest of the game.
• Marquette King displayed a repertoire of punts during Monday’s practice—from 60-yard booms to sideways spinning balls.
• Alexander Johnson will now wear No. 45.
• Beware of buying an Adam Jones jersey, for now. Currently, the newest addition is wearing No. 20, but that might change after the roster is cut down to 53 players.
• The Broncos weren’t surprised about Dymonte Thomas’ performance in the third preseason game where he shined.
  • “He’s played that way the entire training camp,” Joseph said. “He played that way in Week 15, 16 and 17 last year. I’m not surprised that he’s playing well.”
• Joseph isn’t concerned about the run defense because “the things that we did wrong, we can fix. It’s really easy fixes, too. In my opinion, stopping the run won’t be one of our issues.”
• Keenum is “focused on Arizona” and game planning for the Cardinals even though he won’t play in the fourth preseason game.
  • “We play this team again in about Week 6 or 7,” Joseph said. “For Case, this is a head start on an opponent that he’ll see in a month and a half.”
• Joseph said 22 players won’t play in preseason finale—presumably the 11 starters on offense and defense. Joseph also said, “right now” Royce Freeman is scheduled to play, adding “We’ll see if he plays and how much he plays.” If Freeman does, in fact, play, that would likely mean the team views Devontae Booker as the starting running back. Joseph didn’t comment on Bookers status for Thursday’s game.