Levi Wallace in position to join fellow former Alabama star Pat Surtain as a Broncos starting cornerback

ENGLEWOOD – An all-Alabama cornerback duo could be in order for the Broncos.

One starter, of course, will be Pat Surtain II, a Pro Bowl selection the past two seasons who joined the NFL in 2021 out of Alabama. The other could end up being Levi Wallace, who entered the NFL in 2018 after playing for the Crimson Tide and signed with Denver last spring as a free agent.

“Another Bama boy, so that’s great for sure,’’ Surtain said after a training camp practice Friday at Broncos Park about becoming teammates with Wallace. “Levi, he’s provided a great presence to our secondary room (with) his experience. … He knows a lot about X’s and O’s. It helps a lot because when you have a veteran presence in the defensive back room, it helps your game.”

The Broncos are seeking a starter to replace Fabian Moreau, who wasn’t re-signed. Damarri Mathis and Riley Moss are also in the mix, but Wallace, who worked with the first team Friday, looks to be the favorite.

“We have a good smart veteran player who has played in lot of games,’’ Denver coach Sean Payton said of Wallace, entering his seventh season. “With the amount of multiple receiver sets we get, there’s that level of expertise and experience he brings. (He is) steady. … He’s been a real good addition for us.”

Wallace played with Buffalo from 2018-21 and for Pittsburgh the past two seasons, starting 70 of the 83 games he played. He signed a one-year, $1.29 million deal with the Broncos, with $500,000 guaranteed.

Surtain agrees with being No. 1

ESPN recently ranked Surtain as the top cornerback in the NFL. He doesn’t disagree with that.

“Of course, I’m going to see myself in that regard,’’ he said.

Surtain has two years left on his contract but is eligible for a lucrative extension. He could become the top-paid cornerback in the NFL, a distinction that now belongs to Green Bay’s Jaire Alexander, with an average salary of $21 million per season.

“I haven’t been putting much thought into it,’’ Surtain said about a possible extension. “When that time comes it comes, but right now I’m navigating my focus towards the season. … There’s no specific time frame right now.”

The Broncos have made it no secret they want to re-sign Surtain, who is on the books for salary-cap numbers of $6.67 million in 2024 and $19.8 million in 2025.

“They’ve made it pretty clear that they want me to be part of the team, and that’s what I’m looking forward to,’’ he said.

Chesney visits practice

Country music star Kenny Chesney, who will perform Saturday night at Empower Field at Mile High, visited Denver’s practice on Friday. He is good friends with Payton and the two once appeared together in a music video.

“I’ve known him 22 years now,’’ Payton said. “He loves football."

Payton said when he was offensive coordinator for the New York Giants in 2022, there were 17 players fined for missing bed check because they had gone to a Chesney concert. One was current Detroit coach Dan Campbell, who later sent Payton a copy of the letter listing his fine as $1,600.

Payton said players are free to attend Saturday’s concert since the Broncos won’t practice Sunday. He joked about getting a Chesney a Broncos No. 7 jersey with his name on the back since that was the number he wore playing football at Gibbs High School in Corrytown, Tenn. No. 7, of course, has been retired for legendary quarterback John Elway.

“So, I’m getting permission from John to see if we can put ‘Chesney’ on the back of a No. 7 jersey, and I think Elway will be cooperative,’’ Payton said.

Injury report

Safety Brandon Jones left practice early Friday after Payton said he “tweaked” a hamstring.

“We’ll evaluate and see where he’s at,’’ Payton said. “We’ll get a follow up and see how significant it is.”

Outside linebacker Nik Bonitto missed the past two days of practice due to an undisclosed injury, but Payton expects him to be back on the field Saturday.

After leaving Wednesday’s practice early and sitting out Thursday’s workout with an undisclosed injury, rookie guard Nick Gargiulo returned Friday.

Briefly

Payton said the Broncos “had good work” in Friday’s first practice at training camp before fans. Plenty of emphasis was put on third downs. … Luke Wattenberg has been working regularly with the first team during camp and remains the leading candidate to be Denver’s starting center. Sam Mustipher and Alex Forsyth are also in the mix. … Payton called wide receiver Josh Reynolds “flexible” and “smart” and said he is a good blocker who has “good hands in traffic.”