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. — Welcome to the season. Well, kind of.

On Monday, the Denver Broncos transitioned from training-camp mode to regular-season mode on the practice field.

That meant enough of the first-team units crashing against each other. Instead, it’s time for scout team quarterbacks and scout team defenses.

For the final week, the entire practice was open to media. On Monday, there were some encouraging signs on the field.

SHARP AS A TACK

Throughout the entirety of training camp, Case Keenum was sharp as a tack in terms of his accuracy on the field.

In the first two preseason games, however, the signal-caller had more errant throws than he had in all of the 15 practices during camp.

“I thought I was a little unsettled in the pocket at times, caused a few balls to sail when we had a few guys open,” Keenum admitted after practice as he reminisced on the second preseason game. “Those balls I said I wanted back. Looking back, my feet weren’t as good as they normally are in the pocket.”

On Monday, his feet were back to his practice form, putting the ball right where it needed to be on a consistent basis. As he does, he connected with tight ends, backs and receivers over the middle of the field in tight windows.

He also had no problem on deep balls. In the games, Keenum missed on sideline throws 10-20 yards downfield. Monday, he was money, dropping the ball right in the receiver’s bucket.

One of those perfectly placed sideline throws was to his favorite target on the day.

SMOOTH AS BUTT-ER

Up till now, although the preseason won’t show it, Jake Butt is quickly developing a nice chemistry with Keenum. On Monday, the chemistry was electric between the two.

It only took two passes for Keenum to look No. 80’s way as he found an open Butt 20 yards in the middle of the field. With Isaac Yiadom in coverage, the athletic tight end was no match for the rookie corner.

Keenum’s dime to Butt on the sideline was another 20-yard pass, this time during 7-on-7.

Butt also hauled in two short slant passes where he looked comfortable working the middle of the field.

What is most encouraging about Butt isn’t his production in practice, it’s the way he looks. After ACL surgery kept him out all of last year, Butt is currently showing no signs of that on the practice field.

Not only is he able to make any cut necessary, he’s fast when he turns upfield and isn’t having problems creating separation in coverage.

His zero targets in the preseason wouldn’t suggest it, but Butt is looking like the weapon they hoped he would be. It may still take time to translate to the game field, though.

ROLL ROYCE ROLL

The Broncos won’t admit it with their words, but it’s apparent rookie third-round pick Royce Freeman is beginning to pull away from the competition for the services as the team’s lead back.

With two preseason games in the books, Freeman leads the team in carries (10), rushing yards, (58) and has the team’s two only rushing touchdowns. By the way, he’s done this while getting significant work with the first-team unit.

Monday, Freeman might have looked the best he’s looked as a Bronco as he was exploding through and around holes.

Listed at 229 pounds, the Oregon product can no doubt be effective up the middle. However, on Monday, he showed off his speed multiple times, taking stretch plays to the outside and turning the corner before the defense could contain him.

The offensive line deserves credit, too. In a game situation, Freeman could have taken the rock to the house after Garett Bolles and Ron Leary parted the orange sea and he burst through it.

After an impressive practice, head coach Vance Joseph did admit Freeman is one of the lead guys, but didn’t verbally give him the nod.

“’Book’ and Royce have been our lead guys into the game,” Joseph stated. “No. 2 [Phillip Lindsay] has been our change-up guy—he’s a package guy—along with De’Angelo [Henderson]. David [Williams] had a nice run in the fourth quarter.”

With no drastic changes in the final two preseason games, the team’s leading rusher through preseason will likely carry over into the regular season.

INJURY AND AVAILABILITY NOTES

• Joseph admitted Su’a Cravens (knee) had a setback one week ago, but said, “He’s actually getting better after this weekend.” The head coach added the team needs to see him on the practice field to be able to evaluate what they have in the young safety.
• That being said, the rest of the secondary was on the up and up Monday as Chris Harris Jr. and Dymonte Thomas returned to practice and Will Parks was practicing after suffering a knee contusion during Saturday’s game.
• Also speaking of the secondary, Michael Hunter missed the first part of practice, but joined the team midway through.
• Other players that did not practice on Monday included: Troy Fumagalli, Sam Jones, Marcus Rios and J.J. Dielman.

ADDITIONAL TIDBITS

• The team began practice with an extra long special teams period, which included high-intensity drills where coaches were very vocal in pushing their players to give it there all. Joseph was right in the thick of it.
  • It’s not clear if this will be a norm moving forward as part of the transition to regular season practices, or if Joseph and his staff specifically wanted a heavy emphasis on special teams on Monday. Outside of the lineman, quarterbacks and a few select veterans, everyone was participating in these drills.
• For the first time in the preseason, the Broncos will do a significant amount of game planning for Friday night’s game against the Washington Redskins, hence the reason they used a scout team during practice.
• Brandon McManus was not as accurate as Broncos fans would have hoped during Monday’s practice. The veteran kicker struggled, missing many kicks exclusively to the left.
• After stealing the headlines during the first two preseason games, Chad Kelly was a bit inconsistent on Monday. Kelly had a few nice hookups downfield, but also missed a few throws, and at least one poor decision.

PLAY OF THE DAY

Alongside Butt, Emmanuel Sanders was once again one of Keenum’s favorite targets on the day.

No play, however, was as pretty as No. 10’s catch down the right sideline.

Blasting at full speed down the sideline, Keenum tossed a dart 30 yards, making Sanders add a little juice to get to the ball.

Once Sanders was under it, he extended his fingertips as far out as they could possibly go, securing the ball with his fingernails, but not letting it slip through. Sanders had nothing but green grass in front him after he brought the ball into his body.