Here's how the Broncos dealt with another 'improvise-and-adjust' week

If the Broncos win Sunday, give everybody a game ball.

This isn’t because the Atlanta Falcons are an especially difficult opponent, although they are better than their 2-6 record would indicate, and they are a Todd Gurley brain-lock moment from being 3-0 under interim head coach Raheem Morris.

No, it’s because once again, the Broncos have been forced to adapt on the fly to circumstances beyond their control. This week, one practice-squad player and the team’s two highest-ranking executives — John Elway and Joe Ellis — both tested positive for the novel coronavirus. Starter Shelby Harris was placed on the COVID-19 reserve list and forced to quarantine after being a close contact with someone who tested positive.

Meanwhile, defensive coordinator Ed Donatell is still not at practice because of COVID-19 protocols, while right guard Graham Glasgow will miss a second consecutive game after a positive test.

As a result of all this, the Broncos had to cancel one practice and change nearly every aspect of how they’ve tried to go about their daily routine.

• Wednesday’s practice: canceled.
• Meetings all week: Moved to virtual over Zoom to further limit contact between players.

“I think the biggest difference is that we don’t meet in person, its virtually right now,” Fangio said. “I don’t think that’s the best way to meet. I don’t think anybody else does. It’s hard to get feedback from the players, it’s hard to totally get questions, especially when you’re operating with an entire defense or entire offense or entire team. It’s a little easier when you’re down in your position groups.”

And then there are additional logistical challenges. Players have to come to the facility for daily COVID-19 testing, leave to take part in virtual meetings from home, then return to the facility for practice, then have any further virtual work back at home.

“So, you’re cutting down the opportunities of them being together down as much as you can,” Fangio said. “You kind of limit it to the field.”

The loss of a practice posed a particular challenge to the special teams.

“The biggest challenge is just getting the ball up in the air with the specialists,” special-teams coordinator Tom McMahon explained. “We were down to just one day yesterday with those guys kicking. Most of the time you don’t kick them on Friday and you never kick them on Saturday. So, they just got one day really of work.

With our team, the biggest thing we need to do is we’ve got to cover. We’ve got to be out covering two days, three days when we can. So, that’s my biggest concern. From a mental standpoint, the mental part comes in, but on special teams you actually need the reps. It’s such a big field. That’s the biggest concern that you have but you just have to manage it.”

And then you have the defense, which appears likely to play without five intended starters — three of whom are already on injured reserve: defensive end Jurrell Casey, nose tackle Mike Purcell and outside linebacker Von Miller.

Friday, the Broncos ruled out cornerback A.J. Bouye, who had not practiced this week as he advanced through the league-mandated post-concussion protocol.

“He hasn’t done as well as Phillip [Lindsay] did last week,” Fangio said.

Losing your No. 1 cornerback is the last thing you want when your foe’s No. 1 wide receiver, Julio Jones, is likely on the expressway to the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Being without your entire defensive line doesn’t help when you just had your worst run-defense game of the year and now must face a ground game paced by Todd Gurley, whose modest per-carry average of 3.8 belies his production in the red zone, as his 8 rushing touchdowns is second in the NFL so far this season.

“You just have to adjust to it,” Fangio said.

In Weeks 5 and 6, the Broncos did precisely that, and emerged at the end with their first win at New England in 14 years. If the Broncos do it again this weekend, they’ll have a win over the Falcons, a 4-4 record and revived hopes of their first playoff appearance in five seasons.