Coach Payton at Broncos training camp: ‘We expect to win’

ENGLEWOOD, Colo. ( KDVR ) – After a long summer, the wait is over: The Denver Broncos have reported to training camp.

Tuesday was all business for the 90 players trying to find their place on the 2024 roster. Second-year head coach Sean Payton will guide the Broncos through an “acclimation” period this week: two closed practices on Wednesday and Thursday, ahead of Friday’s open practice in front of fans at Broncos Park.

The story of the offseason was the release of quarterback Russell Wilson and the subsequent dead salary hit . Of the $85 million due, the Broncos chose to take the bulk this season, creating a deficit of $53 million to spend.

Those financial constraints led to the release of popular veteran players and help explain why expectations for the Broncos are at a franchise low.

“I don’t have time to spend on that, nor do I wish to spend time on it,” Payton stated emphatically when asked about projected low win totals. “I understand it’s stuff to talk about when the media cycle is quiet. We’ll get ready to play, and we expect to compete. We expect to win.”

Three-way fight for Broncos quarterback starter spot

Once again, Broncos Country will see a quarterback battle between veterans Jarrett Stidham and Zach Wilson, along with first-round draft pick Bo Nix. Payton said the quarterback reps will be split at the beginning of training camp and expects to find a starter before the season opener in Seattle.

“Certainly, there’s a lot of focus on the quarterback position because there’s open competition there,” Payton noted on the three-player competition to lead the Broncos. “I don’t look at it as finding the balance. I look at it as finding the player.”

Aside from quarterback, Sean Payton’s path to finalizing the 53-man roster will feature position battles at running back, wide receiver, center, tight end, cornerback and safety.

“The number one goal is to find the right 53 players here for our team.”

Extra points:

• Payton is expecting wide receiver Courtland Sutton to attend training camp . The veteran wide receiver told reporters during minicamp he wanted a new contract.
• Speaking of contracts, cornerback Patrick Surtain II is eligible for an extension. Payton told reporters, “That’s one of those answers that we’d like to get to when we want to. Yeah, sure, we’d like to.”
• Tight end Greg Dulcich, coming off seasons of injuries, is expected to participate in training camp.

The Broncos will face the Seattle Seahawks in their first game of the 2024 season on Sept. 8.

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