Denver Broncos Training Camp Takeaways: Bradley Chubb returns to action

Editor’s note: Welcome into one of many takeaway pieces to come during Broncos training camp. A staple of DNVR’s training camp coverage, these stories will be posted after each and every practice of camp. Who is standing out, who is lagging behind and who is looking like the favorite in each of the position battles? Those questions and many more will be answered right here.

ENGLEWOOD, Colo. — As effective as the Broncos defense has been through much of training camp, it hasn’t had its complete and projected first team together.

Monday, it still didn’t; inside linebacker Josey Jewell and nose tackle Mike Purcell remained sidelined. But by getting Bradley Chubb back for the first time in camp, the defense finally got a few snaps in team periods with its core stars all present and accounted for.

Chubb gets his first practice reps of camp

Until Monday, the only view spectators had of the Pro Bowl edge rusher was of him on the north field, working out with the team’s strength-and-conditioning coaches as he completed his rehabilitation from ankle surgery. At various points, he held the massive rubberbands used by inside linebacker Baron Browning as the rookie pulled forward.

No wonder he was smiling broadly when he walked onto the field for pre-practice calisthenics.

“He got some plays — not a ton, but we need to progress him,” Broncos coach Vic Fangio said. “So it was good to have him back out there.”

As good as it felt for Fangio to see Chubb work a handful of team-period repetitions, it felt better for Chubb — even though 100-percent work is some distance away.

“Every competitor—they always want to go 100 percent. They always want to push it to the limit,” Chubb said. “I just have to be smart and do what they’re telling me and make sure I stick to the plan in order to be ready for the Sept. 12 game against the Giants.:

Now comes the progression. The Broncos have every reason to be careful with Chubb, and their defense can still get outstanding work with last season’s team sack leader, Malik Reed, filling in for Chubb at outside linebacker.

Still, Chubb expects that when it counts, he will be ready.

“Yeah, for sure. I’m going to be ready by September — 100 percent,” he said. “I’m just doing what the trainers are telling me and slowly working into team drills and slowly working into the 7-on-7.

“[I’m] just getting my feet under me again. I feel like it’s going to be special when everything is full go.”

Surtain makes his presence known

Rookie cornerback Pat Surtain II is ready to contribute — so ready, in fact, that Fangio and defensive coordinator Ed Donatell are finding ways to use him at multiple positions.

The Broncos’ veteran quality at the position is extreme, with Kyle Fuller, Ronald Darby and Bryce Callahan representing one of the league’s best 1-2-3 combinations at cornerback. Still, Surtain’s readiness bellows that he deserves playing time.

“Ut’s rare that you would ask a rookie to do that, No. 1, and it’s rare that he’s been able to handle it and do it,” Fangio said. “Now, he’s not perfected any of them yet, by any means, but we think he can and it’s not too big for him.”

Monday, that resulted in Surtain’s first interception of training camp. During a seven-on-seven period, Surtain dropped into coverage, read Drew Lock’s eyes and grabbed an errant pass across the middle.

Such plays come as no surprise to his teammates.

“He’s carrying himself with a confidence and a swag,” Chubb said. “That’s what you love to see in a rookie, especially a DB. That position gets challenged a lot, whether it’s deep balls or guarding the best athletes in the world. He’s been doing a really good job with it and we’re excited to see him when the season comes.”

Two-Minute Drill

Fangio has incorporated more move-the-ball periods into practice in the last two sessions, but the one that closed practice Monday forced both units into urgent mode: Forty seconds on the clock, the offense at the 50-yard line with one timeout remaining, the defense leading by two points.

With a kicker like Brandon McManus, it effectively takes just one first down — and not even a deep foray into opposing territory — for the offense to be in viable range for a game-winning kick.

Teddy Bridgewater didn’t want to bother with any such issues. On the first play of his drive with and against the first teamers, he scanned downfield and saw Jerry Jeudy running toward the sideline with Surtain in coverage. Bridgewater lofted a perfectly-placed pass that Jeudy grabbed 25 yards downfield, adding another seven yards after the catch to move the offense to the defense’s 18-yard line. Two snaps later, McManus hit the game-winning 34-yard field goal.

It didn’t go so well for the No. 2 offense, led by Lock. After a 2-yard Lock scramble, his short attempt for Trinity Benson was picked off by newly signed cornerback Rojesterman Farris, who jumped the route.

Play of the Day

Bridgewater set the tone for the day with early deep shots to Diontae Spencer and Jeudy, but he also was the victim of an athletic, leaping interception down the middle in seven-on-seven work by linebacker Curtis Robinson.

DNVR Stock Report

Trending up

Javonte Williams — The rookie running back has been a bit lost in the shuffle because of impressive starts to camp by veterans Melvin Gordon and Mike Boone, but he had a handful of solid runs Monday. He has run with power throughout camp, showing the explosiveness that he displayed at North Carolina in recent years.

Trending down

Parnell Motley — He was on the business end of deep touchdown receptions by Diontae Spencer and Jerry Jeudy, both of which were thrown by Bridgewater.

Drew Lock — Lock nearly threw two interceptions Thursday and another Saturday, but his ledger remained clean through those days as the defense couldn’t haul in any of his passes. Monday, his luck ran out, with the afore-mentioned pair of interceptions by Surtain and Farris.

Quote of the Day

“It seems to me like Teddy’s a little bit more thorough in the huddle. He’s getting everybody on the same page and that’s great. We get the snap count three times, which is awesome.” — RG Graham Glasgow, on the difference between Bridgewater and Lock

Injury and Availability

WR Tyrie Cleveland: The second-year wide receiver missed Monday’s work due to what Fangio termed a “bruised backside.” Fangio added that he didn’t think Cleveland would be sidelined for long.

NT Mike Purcell: An ankle injury suffered last Friday is expected to keep him sidelined until at least this upcoming weekend.

ILB Baron Browning: There is no timetable for his return as he continues to rehab from a lower-leg injury on the north field. He did not have additional surgery, Fangio said. “Just kind of stuck, but I talked to him this morning and he said he’s better today, doing better,” Fangio added. “As soon as he turns the corner, I think we’ll be able to get him out there.”

ILB Josey Jewell: He remained sidelined Monday because of a groin injury. Second-year veteran Justin Strnad continued to fill in for him on the No. 1 defense. Jewell will be out “at least” 10 days, Fangio said. “The problem [is that] he feels a whole lot better than the medical staff is saying he is, so there’s kind of a conflict there,” Fangio said. “So, we’ll see.”

Name to Know

ILB Justin Strnad: Known more for his coverage abilities, Strnad has done well against the run in relief of the injured Jewell, doing a good job diagnosing plays as they develop and preventing runs from getting past the second level. However, the real test comes starting Tuesday.

“Pads on tomorrow, baby,” Fangio said.