WHITE SULPHUR SPRINGS, W. Va. – Broncos defensive end John Franklin-Myers will greet some old friends before Sunday’s game and then try to bowl them over.
Franklin-Myers spent the last five seasons with the New York Jets. And Denver will face them at MetLife Stadium.
“It’s going to be another week of one of those chances to just go out there and be dominant, put on a dominant performance, play physical, run to the ball, play with effort and physicality like I always do,’’ Franklin-Myers said after Wednesday’s practice at The Greenbrier resort. “Except I know those guys. … Those guys are good friends of mine but there ain’t no friends in this business.”
Off the field, though, Franklin-Myers might be a bit more gracious. He was very active in the community with the Jets, including working with the Marty Lyons Foundation. The charity, founded by the former Jets defensive lineman, works with children with life-threatening illnesses.
“I’m looking forward to seeing Marty Lyons and the people that we helped while I was there,’’ he said. “It means the most to me, but it’s a business and they got to understand, and they do understand it is what it is. And I’m a Denver Bronco, and we’re trying to go win.”
Linebackers signed
With Alex Singleton having suffered a torn ACL and being placed Wednesday on season-ending injured reserve, the Broncos are bulking up on inside linebackers.
Replacing Singleton on the active roster was running back Tyler Badie, who was signed off the practice squad. And Denver signed linebackers Kwon Alexander and Zach Cunningham to the practice squad, one replacing Badie and the other replacing wide receiver Lil’Jordan Humphrey, promoted last Saturday off the squad.
Alexander is in his 10th NFL season and made the Pro Bowl with Tampa Bay in 2017. Alexander played for the Buccaneers from 2015-18, San Francisco from 2019-20, New Orleans from 2020-21, the Jets in 2022 and Pittsburgh last season, having 631 career tackles and nine interceptions. Alexander, who recovered from a torn ACL suffered last November, played 19 games for New Orleans when Sean Payton, now with Denver, was coaching the Saints.
Cunningham is in his eighth NFL season. He played with Houston from 2017-21, Tennessee from 2021-22 and was with Philadelphia last season.
With Singleton out, the Broncos’ starters at linebacker Sunday most likely will be Cody Barton and Kristian Welch. They also have Justin Strnad on the active roster and Levelle Bailey on the practice squad.
Badie on last name
The Broncos clarified last Sunday how Badie’s name should be pronounced and on Wednesday he seconded the motion.
Badie has been with Denver since the final game of the 2022 season, and his last name had been pronounced “Bay-dee” by many. But the correct pronunciation is “Buh-day”
“I actually changed it myself,’’ Badie said. “But there are some other things going on, some family things that I’ll be talking about later on. But right now, I’m just trying to focus on football.”
Badie has done a good job of that lately. After being elevated off the practice squad for a Sept. 15 game against Pittsburgh, he had one carry for 16 yards and caught one pass for two yards. Then in last Sunday’s 26-7 win at Tampa Bay, he was elevated again and had nine carries for 70 yards. That earned him his promotion even though he had one elevation remaining.
“It was a great feeling,’’ Badie said. “All the work I’ve put in, I’m just grateful for the opportunity.”
Nix vs. Rodgers
Broncos rookie Bo Nix is thrilled that his counterpart at quarterback Sunday will be longtime star Aaron Rodgers.
“It’s pretty surreal,’’ Nix said. “I grew up watching him do all his cool plays for so long. Over time, I’ve watched a lot of his highlights. It’s crazy that I get to go out there and play against him. Really looking forward to meeting him for the first time. It’s hard to put into words that on Sunday you get to play a great like that. That’s what the NFL brings. That’s why it’s such a special game.”
Rodgers played for Green Bay from 2005-22 before joining the Jets. He was lost for the season after four plays in 2023, but Payton said he looks now like he did before.
“You feel like you're seeing the quarterback we all remember,’’ Payton said. “He's quick, the ball is out, he's got great command of what they do. … He's one of the top quarterbacks we've ever seen. ... He does a great job getting the plays they want to get to. You see the skillset that we all saw prior to the injury.”
Franklin-Myers got a close look last year at Rodgers.
“There’s very few quarterbacks in the league that can do what he does,’’ Franklin-Myers said. “He’s a mental guy. He understands that the game is won before the snap, so it’s just winning the pre-snap, understanding that he’s going to try to get you with the cadence.”
Lutz named Special Teams Player of Week
Broncos kicker Wil Lutz, who made all four of his field-goal attempts, in last Sunday's 26-7 at Tampa Bay, was named Wednesday as AFC Special Teams Player of the Week.
Lutz made field goals of 43, 38, 33 and 43 yards and hit both his extra points. On the season, he is 9 of 9 on field-goal attempts and 3 of 3 on extra points.
"It’s awesome,'' he said. "It’s a great honor. I think it was a slow week for the kicking world."
Briefly
Payton said it was short-term injured reserve that outside linebacker Baron Browning was placed on last Saturday and that he will return this season. Browning has a left foot injury. … Payton considers it old news comments he made to USA Today in July 2023 critical of former Broncos coach Nathaniel Hackett. Hackett is in his second season as the Jets’ offensive coordinator, and the team used Payton’s remarks as a rallying cry before last October’s 31-21 win at Denver. ... Frank Beamer, Virginia Tech's coach from 1987-2015, attended Wednesday’s practice. “I met him when we practiced here years ago,’’ said Payton, whose New Orleans Saints held training camp at The Greenbrier from 2014-16. ... Safety JL Skinner (ankle) did not practice Wednesday and wide receiver Josh Reynolds (Achilles) and tight end Nate Adkins (shoulder) were limited.
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