Defensive coordinator Vance Joseph on Thursday expressed support in Sanders’ readiness and Payton reiterated that sentiment Friday. Sanders played extensively against Miami and, like every other player on Denver’s defense, struggled. But a week of reps next to Singleton can only help in his preparation.<\/p>\n
“I think Drew’s earned that opportunity,” Payton said. “We saw enough of it in the preseason and I’m sure he’s excited.”<\/p>\n
Special teams a strength.<\/strong> Early on, the Broncos’ best unit has been its special teams. The rate of kick returns has plummeted in the NFL after a rule change expanding fair catches this offseason, but Marvin Mims Jr. returned one 99 yards for a touchdown against Miami and nearly broke into the open field twice against Las Vegas.<\/p>\n “When you have a good returner and you have a guy like (senior assistant coach Mike) Westhoff, I mean, we’ve put our heels eight yards deep in the end zone (in New Orleans) with Deonte Harty and said ‘green light,’” Payton said. “Mike is arguably one of the better special teams coordinators we’ve seen and specifically in the return game. I think that was like his 22nd kick return touchdown. He went 14 years in a row with one. When he came to New Orleans, four weeks later Alvin Kamara goes 101 yards. Those aren’t accidents.”<\/p>\n Bears hurting, too.<\/strong> Chicago\u2019s injury situation isn\u2019t much better. The Bears are playing without three members of their secondary.<\/p>\n Cornerbacks Jaylon Johnson (hamstring), Eddie Jackson (foot) and Josh Blackwell (hamstring) have all been ruled out, while running back Travis Homer (ankle) is questionable.<\/p>\n Want more Broncos news? Sign up for the Broncos Insider to get all our NFL analysis.<\/em><\/p>\n 40,000 drivers caught on camera cutting illegally in and out of Colorado highway express lanes<\/li>\n Parent sues Denver school board member Auon\u2019tai Anderson in test of Colorado\u2019s new social media law<\/li>\n Construction starts on $125M, 81-acre technology park in Broomfield<\/li>\n Discovery of Suzanne Morphew's body raises new legal questions in 3-year-old case<\/li>\n Lauren Boebert escorted out of "Beetlejuice" musical in Denver after "causing a disturbance"<\/li>\n Suzanne Morphew's remains found in Saguache County<\/li>\n Popular Chicago restaurant Portillo's eyeing a Colorado expansion<\/li>\n Gov. Jared Polis orders plan to keep Colorado's national parks open in a federal shutdown<\/li>\n Kiszla: Have 0-3 Broncos hit rock bottom? Frank Clark says: "This is going to be a season of grit. We're going to have to take some (bleep)."<\/li>\n Kiszla: Jamal Murray, strawberry Starburst and why the Nuggets don't care if the Bucks traded for Damian Lillard<\/li>\n<\/ul>\nShare this:<\/h3>\n
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40,000 drivers caught on camera cutting illegally in and out of Colorado highway express lanes<\/h3>\n
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