Broncos rookie RJ Harvey’s growth on display in padded workouts

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ENGLEWOOD, Colo. — The first week of training camp is not exactly a prime showcase for running backs. No pads means none of the physicality that largely defines the position. As the Broncos prepared for their first padded practices of training camp early this week, though, coach Sean Payton said things would soon be different.

“It’s an easy position to evaluate,” Payton said of the running backs in padded practices. “Some aren’t so easy. Once the pads come on and you get into the games and practice with other teams, I think it’s a position you guys will see as quickly as I will. (The Broncos’ running backs) all have different strengths and I’m anxious to see (them).”

The evaluation of rookie running back RJ Harvey is, in fact, coming together in short order, offering a preview of all he can bring to a backfield that needs more juice and the development that is still ahead. The picture is coming together as quickly as the jump-cut he deftly uses to maneuver in traffic.

“He had a run today that was something, and we kind of turned and looked at each other,” Payton said after Tuesday’s practice.

The play came during Denver’s first team period of the day. Harvey took a pitch from quarterback Bo Nix and moved to his left. Sensing a wall closing in front of his intended destination, the second-round pick out of Central Florida made a whip-quick cut and headed to his right, quickly scooting past the outer edges of the defense and darting upfield for a big gain.

It’s the kind of impromptu explosiveness that kept popping up as the Broncos dove into Harvey’s film during the pre-draft process. Whether he was just making a slight adjustment in his path or changing course entirely, like during Tuesday’s practice, his ability to maintain speed while making cuts led to one big run after another. A whopping 23.3 percent of Harvey’s carries at UCF last season (54 of 232) went for 10 or more yards.

“We’ve got to be more explosive in that area,” Payton said.

Harvey is a ready-made ball carrier because of his seamless blend of 4.4-second 40-yard dash speed and a make-you-miss ability in tight space that has been on consistent display during his first training camp. But two plays after Harvey’s big run, he was served a reminder that not every aspect of his job at the NFL level will develop seamlessly. He was swiftly knocked to the ground as he tried to block a linebacker storming into the backfield, leading to a quick throwaway by Nix.

For Payton, the sight of Harvey stepping into the face of an oncoming rush, even if it ended up with the young player on his backside, was just as welcome as the one of the rookie darting away from the defense down the sideline. That’s because it’s all part of the necessary growth process as Harvey works his way into an offense that will be counting on him to add a dynamic element this season.

“For him, specifically, the protections, the speed of the game … there’s that learning curve for all those young players,” Payton said. “Some of it happens a little quicker than others, but he’s doing exceptional.”

Harvey and veteran JK Dobbins have been the two running backs routinely shuffling in with the first-team offense in camp, though Jaleel McLaughlin has also been sprinkled in with that group. Second-year back Audric Estimé had perhaps his best practice of camp Tuesday, including an impressive catch on the sideline that he made while adjusting his route for Sam Ehlinger as the quarterback scrambled to make the throw.

Let’s dive into what else you need to know after the Broncos’ fourth practice of camp:

Quick snaps

• Linebacker Alex Singleton had surgery Tuesday to repair the broken thumb he suffered in Monday’s practice, Payton said. The veteran is expected to be back in Denver’s building by Wednesday and is expected to return to practice next week.

• One day after signing a four-year, $92 million contract extension, veteran wide receiver Courtland Sutton said the “biggest thing for me was to be here and bring back the (winning) years Broncos fans have known.”

“The organization has such a history of being successful, and you know that I’ve been here through the thick and thin,” said Sutton, who has been with the Broncos since being drafted in the second round in 2018. “There’s a lot of promise on … the horizon here. To be able to be here and have more years of chasing greatness with this team and this organization, that’s one thing I was looking forward to.”

Broncos quarterback Bo Nix showcased his dual-threat ability at Tuesday’s practice. (Isaiah J. Downing / Imagn Images)

Offensive standouts

It was a sharp practice for Nix, who used nimble footwork in the pocket to buy time and hit tight Nate Adkins for a big gain over the middle during the second team period. His final four plays of practice showcased his dual-threat ability. After hitting tight end Evan Engram with a quick strike in the middle to open the series of plays, he pulled the ball down and scrambled for back-to-back big runs. Then he found rookie wide receiver Pat Bryant with a tight pass to the sideline for a solid gain.

Veteran wide receiver Trent Sherfield Sr. has been one of the team’s most consistent offensive performers throughout camp. He drew cheers from fans sitting in bleachers above the south end zone after he beat Ja’Quan McMillian and hauled in a deep touchdown pass during a one-on-one period. He came back with a deft grab along the sideline after Jarrett Stidham moved in the pocket to buy more time.

Defensive standouts

Jonathon Cooper wasted little time making his impact as the Broncos began a run-heavy team period near the start of practice. First, Cooper stormed past offensive tackle Alex Palczewski and teamed up with John Franklin-Myers to stuff a run by Dobbins. Two players later, he reached Nix for a would-be tackle for loss after the quarterback kept the ball on a zone-read play.

Not to be outdone, reserve outside linebacker Jonah Elliss stormed off the line of scrimmage, maneuvered around an attempted chip block and registered a would-be sack of Stidham.

Play of the day

It’s not unusual to see wide receiver Troy Franklin flying past defenders and into open space deep down the field, but he showed a different trait during Tuesday’s practice. Ehlinger put extra air under a deep pass after avoiding pressure from undrafted rookie linebacker Johnny Walker Jr. — it may have been a sack — and Franklin was forced to adjust his route. The second-year wide receiver leaped between two defenders, caught the pass and held on to it as he hit the ground to complete the 50-plus-yard play.

Quotable

“That transition for some of these players is not as drastic because of where they played.” — Payton on third-round pick Sai’vion Jones out of LSU

Interestingly, the Saints never drafted a player from the LSU program during Payton’s 16 seasons as the head coach in New Orleans. But that clearly wasn’t an indication of how he felt about the program’s ability to develop players. In Jones, a 6-foot-5, 289-pound defensive end who just turned 22, the Broncos believe they have another talented depth player on the defensive line who will be making an impact sooner rather than later.

“He’s doing well, and we get a lot better evaluation now with these guys with the pads on,” Payton said. “He’s one of those guys, through the OTAs and the on-ramp program, it’s much more difficult to say, but he’s doing well.”

Attendance report

Right tackle Mike McGlinchey participated in individual drills but did not take any snaps in team drills. Linebackers Singleton and Drew Sanders (foot) were the only players on Denver’s active camp roster who were not at practice.

(Top photo: Ron Chenoy / Imagn Images)

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