Broncos’ defensive injury questions grow when the opener of Tennessee is approaching close by

The Broncos have more than one injury question about their defense as the season opener approaches on Sunday.

Within Linebacker Dre GreenLaw did not participate in the second consecutive practice day due to a quad injury that he has had to be on and out since April.

Elsewhere, defensive Tackle Malcolm Roach (Kalf) and Donklea Tillman (Hamstring) each appeared on the injury report as limited participants on Thursday.

Roach left the practice open to reporters during the part of the practice, while Tillman participated during that period. It is unclear whether Tillman left practice later in the procedure.

Anyway, all three are regular parts of the Defensive Plan of the Broncos, GreenLaw as Starter and Roach and Tillman as important rotary pieces in the front seven.

Defensive coordinator Vance Joseph had no update about GreenLaw, but he said that the club always talks about which disaster plans are for each player.

“You are always prepared for your boys to perform and play,” said Joseph. “Every position. Linebacker, safety, corner. It’s early in the week, but every man in our selection, including practice team, must be ready to play.

“So no worries there. Dre works hard and we will see what happens on Sunday, but we have guys who are capable of.”

Behind Greenlaw and Alex Singleton, Denver Justin Strnad and Unette Rookie Karene Reid on the 53-man schedule Plus Levelle Bailey, Jordan Turner and Garrett Wallow in the practice team.

Rookie number changes. The top two draft choices of the Broncos from this spring have changed their figures in recent days, with one leading to the next.

First, first round Pick Jahdae Barron exchanged no. 12 for No. 23, a nod to his childhood friend, Tardrick “Trollie” Fowler Jr., who died in 2020.

“Twenty -three, that means something for me personally,” Barron said Wednesday. “I had a family friend who died, so I wore 23 at the university for him … It’s good to come back to the song for myself and then also for his family.

“I know they will be proud to see that.”

Audic Estime had that number decreased when Barron came to the team this spring. After the Estime had been abandoned last month, Barron made the chance to switch.

Subsequently, the second round returned RJ Harvey on Thursday to No. 12 of No. 37.

Until now they were the only two number changes for Denver.

“Feel good, play well, play well and in the end you get well paid,” Barron said.

Versatile backs. Offensive coordinator Joe Lombardi thinks Denver’s set can all play in different scenarios.

“Historically you had a bit of a back that fulfilled this role, and then you had your lightning back, or perhaps more of a recipient, and changing the attempt back,” Lombardi said. “And we just have the feeling that all our boys can do everything. And that is, it makes it a lot easier to play all your staff. You don’t worry about which back there. They can handle it all. So it makes it a lot easier.”

Lombardi said that Rookie RJ Harvey came in the pass protection department and added: “In another year he will be even better. For a rookie I think he is on the point and called and if he is in third place, we have no worries.”