Broncos see Bo Nix do what he does best, but injuries overshadow day

ENGLEWOOD, Colo. — At Broncos training camp — as with any training camp — injuries are an inevitability. But with Matt Henningsen suffering a torn Achilles tendon and both Nate Adkins and Marvin Mims Jr. leaving the field under their own power, it felt like high tide when it came to bad breaks during Friday morning’s practice.

The blow was a particularly cruel one for Henningsen, a 2022 sixth-round draft pick who suffered an injury to his other Achilles tendon exactly 12 months to the day prior to succumbing during an individual period of Friday’s session. Another grueling rehabilitation awaits, and his first regular-season action since the regular-season finale at Las Vegas in January 2024 will have to wait.

That had been Henningsen’s 34th-consecutive regular-season game. As he walked off the Allegiant Stadium field that afternoon, one could never have conceived that his next work in a contest that counted wouldn’t come until at least September 2027. But such is the sport; it can be rewarding, but cruel.

The injury-related departures of Marvin Mims Jr. and Nate Adkins didn’t come with the same resonance in the moment; unlike Henningsen, both walked off the field and back into the Broncos’ new headquarters building. But whenever a speedy player pulls up while running a route as Mims did, ample cause for concern exists.

That the Broncos brought back 2025 training-camp pass catcher Kyrese Rowan and signed Kyre Duplessis after a tryout also raises eyebrows; both are wide receivers. And with Jaylen Waddle expected to miss another three to four days with his muscle strain, the Broncos need reinforcements at wide receiver, and they need them fast.

Those injuries overshadowed the rest of the Broncos’ work for the day. But as has been seen many times, the practice routine does continue.

BRONCOS TWO-MINUTE OFFENSE ON POINT WITH BO NIX

Last year, Bo Nix became one of the NFL’s most efficient quarterbacks in close-and-late situations, as well as at the end of the first half. When it was time to increase the tempo, few passers were better.

So, it came as little surprise that Nix efficiently guided the Broncos offense down the field in the two-minute period, marching 61 yards to a touchdown. Given 1:21 on the clock, no timeouts, the ball at the offense’s 39-yard line and a 24-20 deficit, Nix first hit Pat Bryant for six yards after a first-down incompletion, then started to cook: eight yards to Evan Engram to move the chains and 12 yards to Lil’Jordan Humphrey to advance to the defense’s 35-yard line before a clock-stopping spike.

Nix then quickly found Courtland Sutton — making his return to practice after sitting out the last three days — for a 27-yard connection down the right seam. And following another spike, Nix connected with Engram again for the 8-yard touchdown, as Engram had worked his way past Jahdae Barron to find space in the back left corner of the end zone.

That was encouraging — but expected. Nix dominating in that situation is nothing new; it’s actually the standard now.

But what was new and worth noting:

• Edge rusher Johnny Walker Jr., who sat out last year with an injury, had a sack and multiple pressures Friday. Two of the pressures came during the move-the-ball period against the No. 2 offense, which helped the defense win that two-minute series against the Jarrett Stidham-led offense.
• Fourth-round pick Kage Casey dominated during his one-on-one period repetitions. What is most impressive is how quickly he gets set and square, and then proves difficult to dislodge with a bull rush, as Tyler Onyedim experienced twice. But when Sai’vion Jones tried to work past him with a second move during a later rep, Casey kept his balance and quickly got set.
• Inside linebacker Red Murdock has been flashing in recent days, and the all-time leader in forced fumbles in FBS jarred the football loose from wide receiver Hakeem Butler. Also getting a takeaway via interception in seven-on-seven work was cornerback Brent Austin.

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