Broncos rookie punter provides daytime ‘fireworks’ in training-camp opener

ENGLEWOOD, Colo. — Sure, you can have daytime fireworks. At least when Jeremy Crawshaw is on the field.

The rookie punter lived up to Sean Payton’s billing during his first work in front of Denver Broncos fans on Friday since the team selected him in the sixth round three months ago.

Payton was enthusiastic about Crawshaw when asked about him Wednesday, but noted that the Australian would need to become more consistent.

His response during Friday’s punting period certainly qualified.

None of Crawshaw’s punts hooked or sliced toward the sideline like one of his punts did Wednesday. His first punt — with the line of scrimmage at the Broncos’ 3-yard line and Crawshaw standing in the back of the end zone — saw exactly the kind of field-flipping blast you’d want, a 70-yard missile that hung in the air for 4.9 seconds.

Crawshaw routinely approached or surpassed 5.0 seconds in his hang time. The only time he didn’t came after a high snap, which he fielded successfully and still got off a solid punt.

But perhaps the best part of the drill came when Broncos special-teams coordinator Darren Rizzi moved the line of scrimmage into opposing territory, turning the goal to placement. On each of those three punts, Crawshaw placed it inside the 10-yard line, getting the punt to bounce either toward the sideline or away from the goal line.

All three were downed inside the 10.

Crawshaw had distance when it was needed and proper placement when required. The period was an encapsulation of why Rizzi sees so much in the Florida product.

“He is as talented as a punting prospect that I’ve ever had,” Rizzi said last month. “Obviously one of the reasons we drafted him, I felt very, very confident in that.

“He’s off to a good start. You know, the thing with specialists, punter, kicker, snapper, returner, is consistency and having the ability to go out there and do it time and time again. But there’s no doubt that talent-wise, he’s certainly there.”

More days like Friday, and the Broncos will have a gem on their hands.

But there was plenty more to catch fans’ eyes Friday.

PLAY OF THE DAY

Troy Franklin continued his strong spring and summer by working past Devon Key and Damarri Mathis to grab a 70-yard touchdown pass from Jarrett Stidham during a team period in practice.

Stidham climbed the pocket, eluding a rush from Dondrea Tillman to fire a downfield strike that hit Franklin in stride down the left side of the field. The football sailed more than 60 yards in the air, with the completion eliciting the loudest roar of the day.

ATTENDANCE REPORT

Right tackle Mike McGlinchey was the only player on the roster who did not practice. Broncos coach Sean Payton said he expects the eight-year veteran to return by Monday. Alex Palczewski stepped forward in place of McGlinchey.

Wide receiver A.T. Perry, who is on the physically-unable-to-perform list, watched from off to the side.

BRONCOS CAMP NOTES

• Courtland Sutton was involved Friday, catching a play-action pass from Bo Nix off of a rollout during the first team period of practice with Ja’Quan McMillian in coverage. Nix also looked for Sutton early in the seven-on-seven period on a third-and-6 play but overshot him.
• Third down was the point of emphasis throughout the day. During the final team period of practice, Bo Nix and the Broncos’ No. 1 offense moved the chains twice, with the defense winning the other two reps. Nix succeeded with passes to Pat Bryant and Michael Bandy; the defense won via pressure from Jonathon Cooper and Nik Bonitto to force a throwaway and a Nix throw following backside pressure from Bonitto that was nearly intercepted by Drew Sanders before sailing through Bryant’s hands and incomplete.
• An earlier Broncos team period saw Nix escape pressure to find Bryant across the middle to move the chains on a second-and-10 play.
• Two plays later, tight end Evan Engram moved the chains after Stidham climbed the pocket out of pressure from Tillman to find him for a 20-yard pickup. That capped another solid day for Engram, who continues to mesh well with the offense; he also moved thr chains on a catch from Nix on third-and-9.
• Undrafted rookies Jerjuan Newton and Joaquin Davis were both involved with multiple catches. Davis showed off his length by plucking the ball in seven-on-seven for a reception from Stidham. Newton had one of the best catches of the day, with a 35-yard, over-the-shoulder grab from Sam Ehlinger down the right sideline in a team period between double coverage.
• Another undrafted rookie, Mizzou’s Kristian Williams, had a pair of pressures, including one that would have likely been a sack in game conditions.
• Lucas Krull may not want to see Levelle Bailey again. Twice during team periods, the Broncos inside linebacker dislodged the football from the tight end’s grasp, once for a takeaway and another time for an incompletion. Krull did have a 17-yard catch from Stidham during the seven-on-seven period.
• Safety Delarrin Turner-Yell made a nice play on the ball, breaking up a potential Ehlinger-to-Trent Sherfield completion during a team period.
• Que Robinson and Dondrea Tillman continued to flash with multiple pressures during the Broncos practice. Cooper described Robinson as a “big talent” and said of Tillman, “He’s out there hooping every single day. If you really just sit back and watch him, he’s really crafting and really working.”
• One pressure for Tillman up the middle saw him use a spin move to work inside Calvin Throckmorton, allowing him to close on Tillman.
• Running back Audric Estimé has shown some flashes on cutback runs this week, turning one into a solid gain during a team period Friday.

WHAT’S NEXT

Training camp Day 2 on Saturday at 10 a.m. If tickets are returned, they will be available via TicketMaster.

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