‘He’s doing exceptional’ … RJ Harvey’s strong work at Broncos camp earns Sean Payton’s praise

ENGLEWOOD, Colo. — It was on the second play of the Denver Broncos’ first team period Tuesday when running back RJ Harvey truly announced his presence to Broncos Country.

Until training camp, his explosive burst had only been on display to teammates, coaches and media. And even for the first two days of training camp, Harvey’s decisiveness and explosion came with a caveat: Let’s see what he looks like when the team dons full pads.

Monday morning, he looked the part.

But on Tuesday, the rocket truly launched.

As Zach Allen surged into the backfield, Harvey took the ball from quarterback Bo Nix, bounced to the right side, used outstanding blocking from a flank featuring Quinn Meinerz and Mike McGlinchey, beat everyone to the edge and took flight.

In game conditions, Harvey might have picked up 40 yards or more.

“He had a run today that was something — and we kind of turned and looked at each other,” Broncos coach Sean Payton said.

Something, indeed. Perhaps the dawn of something special. One won’t know for a while, of course.

But it validates the smiles of Broncos rookie minicamp in May that came with watching Harvey flash through holes in the way he did at Central Florida. The skill set translates.

That doesn’t mean it’s perfect; and there are areas of his game that need work. Two plays later, Harvey was flattened in pass protection. This part of the game usually takes the longest for running backs to master in the NFL. Patience and diligence are essential.

“There’s that learning curve for all of those young players,” Payton said. “And some of it, it happens a little quicker maybe, than others.

“But he’s doing exceptional.”

 

View on Threads

 

PLAY OF THE DAY

Wide receiver Troy Franklin picked up the longest gain on a pass play during Tuesday’s practice, breaking back to adjust to a Sam Ehlinger pass to bring it down in heavy traffic and win a jump ball

ATTENDANCE REPORT

Right tackle Mike McGlinchey practiced for a second consecutive day, and saw some team-period repetitions after working only individual drills Monday … Inside linebackers Drew Sanders (foot) and Alex Singleton (thumb) were sidelined.

BRONCOS CAMP NOTES

• With the Broncos defense bringing heavy pressure at times throughout the day, the offense operated under duress on many of its plays. The tone was set on the first team-period snap, when Malcolm Roach did what he does best, bursting into the backfield to defuse a developing handoff to J.K. Dobbins.
• Some of Bo Nix’s longest gains Tuesday came when he took off and ran under pressure — including back-to-back plays when he escaped from the rush of Jonathon Cooper and Nik Bonitto. “It’s a strength,” Payton said. “… He won a lot of downs for us last year with his feet. It’s just being smart at the tail end.”
• Nix also got Evan Engram and Pat Bryant involved during the final team period, hitting passes to them, with the connection to Bryant moving the chains on a second-and-6 scenario. He also completed a pass to tight end Nate Adkins during an earlier team period, finding him across the field after fading back under the rush.
• Wide receiver Courtland Sutton got involved during the team period Tuesday, catching a 25-yard pass across the middle from Jarrett Stidham.
• Edge rusher Andrew Farmer forced an Ehlinger throwaway during a team period with pressure off the left side that was supplemented by a Jordan Jackson interior rush.
• Running back Audric Estimé enjoyed perhaps his best day of training camp, with a few solid runs and a day capped by a solid gain during the final practice period on a wheel route down the left sideline that saw him turn back for an Ehlinger pass to corral it.
• On the penultimate play of the practice, Broncos defensive lineman Matt Henningsen helped force an incompletion with disruptive penetration; he got his hands up to help force an errant screen pass to the left side.
• The day also saw a one-on-one period, highlighted by Trent Sherfield’s touchdown on a stutter-go route down the left sideline past Ja’Quan McMillian.

WHAT’S NEXT

Practice at 10 a.m. MDT on Wednesday.

Related

Broncos, Joseph learning what approach they’ll need against offenses adapting to defuse pass rushThe Broncos could be a perfect fit for a future Hall of Fame linebackerVance Joseph: Broncos defense was ‘unengaged’ and a ‘bit lazy’ against PackersDr. Ramos & Zach Bye discuss Riley MossESPN picks Broncos as one of five most likely teams to decline in 2026The Broncos’ preseason loss to the Packers was the wake-up call they needed