ENGLEWOOD, CO — Facing a short turnaround ahead of Thursday’s matchup against the Kansas City Chiefs, the Denver Broncos were back on the practice field on Tuesday for a walkthrough. How is the team preparing to adjust after a 1-4 start on a short week and higher stakes?

Denver Broncos TE Greg Dulcich making progress

After suffering a hamstring injury in Week 1, the Denver Broncos could be getting second-year tight end Greg Dulcich back soon. He was placed on injured reserve following his injury but has been making good progress on the side field under the watchful eye of Beau Lowery.

After being spotted on the team field for stretch and individual period on Tuesday, the team announced that they designated him to return from IR. That’s an upgrade after spending the last several weeks on the side field.

Denver’s offense could use his explosiveness in the passing game, which could open up more opportunities for Broncos receivers to make more plays. However, it’s unclear when Dulcich will officially make his return to the lineup on Thursday against Kansas City.

Broncos head coach Sean Payton did acknowledge that he is close.

“He’s out here moving around,” Payton said on Tuesday. “He’s still out here. Hopefully the sooner the better. He’s been working his tail off and I know they’re going through a bunch of stuff now [with] explosive drills and making sure there’s not a setback. I don’t want to guess relative to this week’s game, but he’s close.”

Defensive tackle D.J. Jones was spotted on the team’s side field on Tuesday after suffering a knee injury in Sunday’s loss to the New York Jets. The injury occurred in the second quarter, but he did not return on Sunday.

Aside from rookie offensive tackle Alex Palczewski, Jones was the only other Broncos player spotted on the sidefield.

Outside linebacker Frank Clark was not spotted at practice on Tuesday but was excused, according to Sean Payton, due to an illness.

Payton, Broncos not focused on upcoming NFL Trade Deadline

After the Broncos 1-4 start to the season, far away from the expectations Payton or anybody expected them to be, a lot of noise begins to creep in as the NFL Trade Deadline inches closer.

October 31st is the trade deadline and there have been plenty of conversations floated around by talking heads, analyzing the state of Denver’s roster and posing the questions as to whether or not they should look to rebuild.

Payton’s focus has been on trying to get the team out of the hole they’ve found themselves in and acknowledged he hasn’t thought much about the trade deadline.

Plenty of rumblings have surfaced surrounding the notion that Denver could look to rebuild and start trading away players to load up on draft capital, which is a possibility, but Payton firmly expressed that the team isn’t looking to deal their players right now.

“It’s a good question,” Payton said regarding the trade deadline. “[General Manager] George [Paton] and I talk every day, three or four times a day. We’re not looking to do business with any of our players. That doesn’t prevent teams from calling at times. We just—you pick the phone up, but that’s kind of where it’s at. We’ve got a good handle on this current roster and our vision for the roster a year from now. That’s the part about improving and getting better. Until you just said it, I wouldn’t have known it was three weeks away. Three weeks seems like an eternity right now.”

Things are always fluid in the NFL and change as each day approaches, but Payton has firmly mentioned the word ‘vision’ surrounding the current players on the roster, and while that vision could change, he doesn’t strike anybody as the type of coach to give up on his vision before it comes to fruition.

The reality is that teams are more than likely to call them about wide receivers Courtland Sutton, Jerry Jeudy, and other key players given Denver’s record, but it will be interesting to see if they bite on potential offers or sit firm and follow the vision.

Broncos injury report and status update after Tuesday

Following Tuesday’s practice, the Broncos announced their official injury report and status update.

Limited:

  • Safety Justin Simmons – hip.
  • Defensive tackle Mike Purcell – ribs.
  • Linebacker Justin Strnad – back.
  • Outside linebacker Baron Browning – knee.
  • Tight end Greg Dulcich – hamstring.
  • Center Lloyd Cushenberry – quad.

Full:

  • Running back Javonte Williams – quad.

Did Not Participate:

  • Outside linebacker Frank Clark – illness.
  • Defensive tackle D.J. Jones – knee.

The Broncos will put together a final walkthrough on Wednesday before traveling to Kansas City later that evening.