2025 Broncos Training Camp: Acclimation Day 1 News and Notes

Today was the first of two acclimation periods before the real thing kicks off on Friday with fans being allowed in attendance. While there were no fans, the local media were present, but they could not live tweet because the offseason rules were still in place. With all that said, we do have news, updates, quotes, and more!

Day one of Broncos camp was one of the shorter practices of training camp due to it being a “ramp-up day,” according to Head Coach Sean Payton. They didn’t have pads, likely were not full speed the entire time, and were focusing on getting acclimated to being back on the practice field again. They have another acclimation practice tomorrow that will have the offseason reporting rules still in effect, but things will get back to normal on Friday when fans arrive and the reporting limitations are softened.

With that said, we do still have some news and notes to cover from Day 1 of Broncos Camp.

Dre Greenlaw, Alex Singleton, and P.J. Locke all were full participants during today’s practice

One of the more significant updates from today’s practice was that linebackers Dre Greenlaw and Alex Singleton, along with safety P.J. Locke, were all full participants during today’s practice. All three players are coming off significant injuries and/or surgery, and had some question marks heading into camp, so it’s great to see all three on the practice field without any limitations.

Everybody practicing for Broncos but AT Perry on PUP list. Greenlaw, Singleton and Locke full gos. Barron taking some first team snaps at outside corner. — Chris Tomasson (@christomasson) July 23, 2025

The Broncos signed linebacker Dre Greenlaw in free agency to improve their linebacker room this past offseason. When healthy, Greenlaw is one of the top linebackers in the NFL, but he is coming off an Achilles injury that sidelined him for the vast majority of the 2024 season. He did not practice all offseason with the Broncos but avoided the PUP list and was on the field today with his teammates.

After practice, Head Coach Sean Payton told reporters that Greenlaw looked “good” today, which is great to hear. If healthy, Greenlaw will be a significant upgrade and addition to this Broncos defense that was already a top-ranked unit last season.

Safety P.J. Locke was a full-go today after undergoing spinal fusion surgery soon after the Broncos' playoff loss to the Bills. There were some concerns about his health and ability to continue his career, but Payton told reporters that the veteran safety “is healthy”.

Veteran linebacker Alex Singleton was also a full-go today after suffering a torn ACL early last season. He did return in a limited fashion during the offseason, but it is still good to see him out there healthy on day one of Broncos camp. He will pair with Dre Greenlaw and look to improve an area of the Broncos defense that was a weakness last season.

Now, Payton did caution reporters that they are going to ease all three veterans through the next month of practices. There will be days when they do not practice as they focus on their “load management” during camp, as they look to avoid new or recurring injuries with these players.

“Now these players we’re discussing, whether it’s Dre or any of these guys coming back off of injury, we’re going to monitor the snaps. We’re going to have a calendar where some days they’re not going to practice. I’m telling you now because you’ll ask me then. It’s three groups all the time. It’s the recently injured, it’s the injury history and then it’s the veteran group of players that will put together a little bit of a load management program. I don’t want to call it that, but it’s us looking ahead over the next four weeks and getting ahead of the practice schedule. Those guys would all fall into that.”

Payton has done this in the previous two training camps, and it has worked out for them, and it makes sense. Greenlaw and Singleton are going to be two key starters while Locke figures to be a key reserve. There’s no need to rush them back right now. Take your time and ease them back in and get them ready for week 1 vs. the Titans.

QB Bo Nix spent 4 or 5 days with Drew Brees during the offseason

The big news from day one of Broncos Camp was that Bo Nix spent time with former Saints quarterback and future Hall of Famer Drew Brees this offseason. Sean Payton dropped that nugget after today’s practice as well as mentioning he worked out with the “Throwing Whisperer”, Tom House.

Sean Payton says it was Bo Nix’s idea to go visit Drew Brees in the offseason, and loved that Bo went and did that:

“It’s what you’re looking for” pic.twitter.com/zQqT6qu3PT — DNVR Broncos (@DNVR_Broncos) July 23, 2025

Payton told reporters that this was Nix’s idea and wanted to pick the brain of an all-time great who knows Payton’s system better than anyone else. Payton added that Nix and Brees dived into the offense and how Brees approached his schedule and routine throughout the days and weeks of the regular season.

“Drew lives in San Diego and he spent some time going there. [It was about] the schedule and wanting to know more about the offense. I don’t even know when he went but I just know he went. It was him doing more research at the position.”

Brees wasn’t the only person Nix met with this offseason; he also met with former MLB pitching coach Tom House. He is a well-known throwing expert who has worked with Tom Brady, Drew Brees, Nolan Ryan, and others throughout his career. House has the nickname “Throwing Whisperer” and was likely recommended to Nix by Brees due to the two being neighbors at one point and Brees working out with him throughout his career.

“He’s amazing. He’s a baseball guy. It’s fascinating and he’s real smart. He caught [Pro Baseball Hall of Famer] Hank Aaron’s record-breaking home run—literally caught it in the bullpen. He’s a baseball guy that really has done a great job with a lot of throwers—that’s the best way to describe him—whether it’s baseball motion or football motion. Those opportunities we get to have a lunch, or a sit and visit are pretty special for me. He’s pretty sharp.”

Not only did Nix get to pick Brees’s brain for multiple days, but he also worked with his throwing expert this offseason. It remains to be seen how much of this will help Nix moving forward, but you love to see him putting in the work and reaching out to all-time greats looking to be better.

Like Sean Payton said, that’s what you are looking for.

Injury Report

WR A.T. Perry, who is on the PUP, was the only Broncos player sidelined during today’s practice, and no new injuries were reported coming out of the practice.

News and Notes

The highlight of today’s practice, according to The Denver Post's Luca Evans, was Bo Nix throwing a dime up the seam to TE Adam Trautman. - Source

Sean Payton called veteran RB J.K. Dobbins a “quick study,” and he was the first running back up in team drills today. - Source

WR Courtland Sutton was present at practice but did not do much outside of drills - Source

When the topic of contract extensions was brought up, Sean Payton told reporters that “They’re all being worked on,” and that it is something they would never really discuss with the media publicly anyway. He did say there has been “good communication,” and he is just going to leave it at that. - Source

Rookie punter Jeremy Crawshaw’s leg talent is “exciting,” according to Head Coach Sean Payton. - Source

Edge rusher Dondrea Tillman was a standout player during today’s practice and overwhelmed swing tackle Matt Peart multiple times. - Source

Rookie corner Jahdae Barron was getting first-team reps at CB during today’s practice - Source

Tweets From Camp

First look at Dre Greenlaw in a Broncos uniform pic.twitter.com/KtGM8NHZ5y — Zac Stevens (@ZacStevensDNVR) July 23, 2025

RJ Harvey’s first drill of his first training camp pic.twitter.com/dGwf6UhOs7 — Zac Stevens (@ZacStevensDNVR) July 23, 2025

Bo Nix slinging it at practice today : pic.twitter.com/fyaECSIkJ0 — DNVR Broncos (@DNVR_Broncos) July 23, 2025

Sean Payton embraces the higher expectations outside the building.

He was confident in the team last year too even when the outside wasn’t.

“We’re not a finished product” — Zac Stevens (@ZacStevensDNVR) July 23, 2025

Rookie receiver Pat Bryant looking smooth pic.twitter.com/6rvRwfLYrI — DNVR Broncos (@DNVR_Broncos) July 23, 2025

Sean Payton said vocalizing goals on winning teams -- Super Bowl, etc. -- "has to be a comfortable topic."

"You can't be afraid of talking about the endgame. That's got to be a comfortable subject. And then you've got to be comfortable saying, 'Look, this is what's required.'" — Luca Evans (@bylucaevans) July 23, 2025

#Broncos RBs led by J.K. Dobbins and Jaleel McLaughlin get some work in. pic.twitter.com/KJtiM1YSK6 — Parker Gabriel (@ParkerJGabriel) July 23, 2025

Notable Quotes

Head Coach Sean Payton on the focus for the first couple of days of practice

“You’re getting back into it. They left in good shape. The five weeks between when we were last here and now, these guys all do a good job of training, whether they’re here local or somewhere else. But the installation—I just mentioned to them—is a process. We’re going to have four straight days of installation and then when the pads come on, we’ll be back with the same installation. So it’s retaining, getting a chance to repeat and put the mistakes behind you. So there are a number of things. Getting back into wearing your football shoes on the grass and moving around. I thought today was a good start. We weren’t long out there. It’s building it up. Before—I mean years ago—you’d have your report day and that afternoon, there’d be a conditioning test. It’s just changed a lot.”

Head Coach Sean Payton on his experience of building a program and sustaining success

“That’s a good question. So the startup part, I’ve only done one other time. In other words, I’ve experienced it, and yet it’s not like you get multiple opportunities. Things have to be in place for that to be successful. In other words, you can be hindered or you can be affected in a negative manner if things aren’t in place and there’s not a willingness to make a change. Fortunately here, that wasn’t the case. [That’s] one of the important things about this job. Then I would say that sustains success. We haven’t looked at—last year, for instance, is obvious. We made progress, but getting to where we want to be and then staying there, I think would probably be—it would depend on the organization. The first part of your question you asked in some places is impossible. Then that’s not a good deal, that’s a hard one. But if you’re at the right place, I think the latter becomes mentally more challenging and keeping an edge with your team. Then over a period of time, you recycle a roster. That can happen. I saw that happen, so I think that can be a little bit more challenging.”

Head Coach Sean Payton on whether having different outside expectations from last year to this year changes his approach to the team

“Well, it does a little and in a good way. It’s what you want. In other words, there are so many different ways it’s met. You’re playing on a national stage more and there might be more unique travel, but all that’s what we’re wanting. We’re not a finished product by any means. There are a lot of parallels to that building across the way here. We’re still a work in progress. It’s not the national expectations. There was a belief a year ago by many of us internally that we had a team that could compete certainly for an opportunity in the division and for an opportunity to get into the playoffs. Those standards can’t be just high for the coaches. The whole group needs to see the opportunity and where we can go. When the whole thing started two years ago, this is kind of where we were hoping to be going into year three, and it’s exciting.”

Head Coach Sean Payton on P Jeremy Crawshaw

“Well we just finished 50 minutes of practice so it’s hard to have early impressions... I would say it’s kind of like right now the fireworks. There are some booms and then every once in a while, there’s one of those we have to work on the ones that just go right. We have to get those handled. He certainly has the leg talent, you can see that. It’s exciting.”

Head Coach Sean Payton on improving his own preparation coming out of the offseason

“Absolutely. It’s studying other’s successful offenses. It’s constantly looking at the change and the evolution. It might even be college tape. The call sheet from my first year as a head coach in 2006 to where it’s at… There’s a constant change and evolution relative to scheme and your own personnel. That’s just one small area of it. I would say from a practice standpoint, how are we more efficient than maybe we would’ve been. I think as a teacher, if you’re not evolving and changing year-to-year because obviously there are things we’re learning that we didn’t know then, then you’re going backwards. I would definitely say yes to that. That’s the thing that keeps you up. There are certain things that will always be in place. You walk the field to make sure it’s clear and there are no injury risks for the players. There are certain staples as a coach that can’t ever change or be compromised. The way we meet is entirely different, there’s music and video. There was a time when there was just an acid tape on an overhead projector. All of that. The presentation is different.”

Head Coach Sean Payton on developing team goals

“It has to be a comfortable topic, but we’re in such a league where this is a journey. Briefly yesterday, I outlined a few things that are coming, but it starts more with the division and seeding. We have to start faster than we have the last two [seasons[. You try to point at the nearest goal and some of these ones that are more visible, but you can’t be afraid of talking about the end game. That has to be a comfortable subject. And then you have to be comfortable saying, ‘This is what’s required.’ You don’t get a best-of-7. You start with some of the objectives that are a little bit more clearly visible in the short term.”

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