Broncos RB Audric Estime feeling ‘100%’ ahead of Saints game Thursday night

ENGLEWOOD — Audric Estime made his NFL debut and nearly jumped out of his cleats.

The Broncos rookie running back burst up the middle in Week 1 against Seattle. Estime successfully hurdled a defender for a 13-yard gain. But Seahawks safety Julian Love punched the football loose on Estime’s way down, and tight end Adam Trautman luckily recovered his fumble.

“That was just instinct taking over. I got excited. I decided to leap over him,” Estime told The Denver Gazette following practice this week at Broncos Park. “I’ll probably run through him first and not leap over him next time. And hold the ball. That’s just something you grow from. … I saw something and I just wanted to make a play.

"I’ll call it a rookie play.”

His momentum didn’t last.

Estime suffered an ankle injury on his next carry in Seattle and he went on short-term injured reserve. Estime said: “I actually got hip-drop tackled. I definitely knew something was up. But I thought it was something I could play through. My adrenaline kind of wore out and after the game, it got stiff on me.”

The Broncos activated Estime ahead of Week 6 against the Chargers. He carried the football twice for 13 yards. It’s possible his workload increases on Thursday night against the Saints.

Broncos Javonte Williams and Jaleel McLaughlin combined for only 31 yards rushing in their loss to the Chargers. Coach Sean Payton later said he wanted to ease Estime back into the lineup upon his return from IR.

“I feel like I’m 100%, honestly,” Estime told The Denver Gazette. “My whole emphasis throughout my time on IR was to make sure I come back in better shape than I was before I got hurt. I really put a lot of work in to make sure I stay on top of my conditioning. Make sure I’m getting enough physical and mental reps.

“I feel like I’m actually better than I was before.”

Broncos injury report: CB Surtain ruled out

The Broncos released their injury report on Wednesday ahead of Week 7 in New Orleans.

Cornerback Pat Surtain (concussion) and right tackle Alex Palczewski (ankle) have been ruled out against the Saints. Three Broncos are listed as questionable: outside linebacker Baron Browning (foot), cornerback Damarri Mathis (ankle) and right tackle Mike McGlinchey (knee).

C Forsyth on second NFL start: 'Pick it up a little bit'

Second-year rookie center Alex Forsyth made his first start in a Week 6 loss to the Raiders. Forsyth reacted to his performance ahead of a second start on Thursday in New Orleans. Injured center Luke Wattenberg (ankle) remains on injured reserve.

“I’ve got to be able to process everything a little bit faster. Pick it up a little bit,” Forsyth told The Denver Gazette. “I feel like the second half (against the Chargers), I started to mesh a lot better with the guys. … Obviously, I had that sack (allowed) and a couple of pressures. So, not at all what I want my standard to be or what I expect of myself.

“I’ve just got to continue to work on technique every single day.”

Briefly

Cornerback Tanner McCalister has cleared waivers and will sign with the Broncos practice squad, a source confirmed to The Denver Gazette. … Saints WR Chris Olave (concussion) has been ruled out against the Broncos. New Orleans will also be without WR Rashid Shaheed (knee surgery) … ILB and Broncos captain Alex Singleton underwent ACL surgery on Tuesday, according to a post from his account on X. … The Broncos-Saints game on Amazon Prime Video will also be available Thursday with over-the-air TV in the Denver area on ABC (KMGH-TV) channel 7. … The Ravens signed former Broncos inside linebacker Kristian Welch to their practice squad. The Broncos released Welch on Tuesday.