Crucial for Cravens to work back onto field, says Stokley, Schlereth

Aug 21, 2018, 4:23 PM

Defensive back Su'a Cravens #21 warming up before practice at Denver Broncos training camp at the UCHealth Training Center August 9, 2018 in Englewood, Colorado. (Photo by Joe Amon/The Denver Post via Getty Images)

(Photo by Joe Amon/The Denver Post via Getty Images)

Denver Broncos head coach Vance Joseph revealed on Monday safety Su’a Cravens suffered a setback last week in his attempt to return to the playing field from a sore knee.

Joseph said after practice Monday that the team is being “smart” with Cravens, whom the Broncos traded for this offseason, and “he’s actually getting better.”

“He had a setback about a week ago, but he’s actually getting better after this weekend. We’ll see,” Joseph said. “His next step is to get back to the practice field before he plays in games.”

Cravens, who’s been out since July 31 with the injury, hasn’t seen the practice field much of training camp, which “Stokley and Zach” co-host Brandon Stokley said Monday is a cause for concern.

“These roster spots are very valuable. This guy’s got to play,” Stokley said, adding, “He hasn’t practiced in two or three weeks. So, the last preseason game, hey buddy, if you want to make this team you’d better be ready to play. If not, we’ll see.”

Stokley’s comments echo those that Joseph made on Monday, who said it’s “absolutely” necessary for the club to get a look at Cravens on the field at some point soon.

“He’s a guy that joined us in the spring. He hasn’t been with us. The position he plays is the dime backer spot. It’s critical for us, so absolutely he has to play eventually so we can see what we’ve got in him,” Joseph said.

On Tuesday, “Schlereth and Evans” co-host Mark Schlereth said it’s important for Cravens to hit the field as well because of the dime linebacker role he’s set to play in the Broncos defense.

“The two practices and the game in Week 2 of the preseason against the Chicago Bears, tight ends were drawing straws to run routes against the Broncos defense,” Schlereth said. “That dime linebacker is going to be one of those guys who is going to be, essentially, in charge of covering backs out of the backfield, tight ends down the seam.

“That’s what you’re going to be asked to do. And I would think that at some point you’ve got to get on the field and prove that you can do that, that you can be a viable guy at that position to basically stomp out a fire the Denver Broncos have had in their defensive backfield for the last couple of years.”

In 2017, the Broncos allowed the third most yards (1,023) and receptions (79), along with the fourth most touchdowns (9), to tight ends. Last week against the Bears, Denver gave up seven catches for 73 yards and two touchdowns to tight ends.

Follow digital content producer Johnny Hart on Twitter: @JohnnyHart7.