ENGLEWOOD, Colo. — After three consecutive padded practices, including Wednesday’s session that Adam Trautman described as the team’s best practice in three years, the Broncos' mental focus was on display on Thursday.

"It needs to be just as much instructional, situational," Head Coach Sean Payton said after practice. "We spent a lot of time — we spent probably half an hour maybe, 20 minutes — on certain cadences. Third-down cadences. Tight red[-zone] cadences. Still getting the work done. Today was a red-zone install, and we'll be back at it tomorrow with the same installation. We'll have a walkthrough this evening, and it becomes a little bit more the tempo like our OTAs … when you're not in the pads."

Several of the Broncos' practice periods were at reduced speed as they worked on the above areas, but there were still some competitive moments.

In particular, the Broncos seemed to work closer to full speed during late-practice third-down and red-zone periods. In third-down work, quarterback Bo Nix and the offense converted a pair of attempts, with the biggest chunk coming on an off-platform throw from Nix to rookie Pat Bryant. The defense held its own on multiple other reps, including a near Pat Surtain II interception on a third-down play and good coverage from Talanoa Hufanga during an earlier team drill.

Denver wrapped up the session with work close to the goal line, and Nix rifled touchdown passes to Sutton and rookie running back RJ Harvey. Surtain tacked on another pass breakup on another pass to the end zone.

QUICK HITS

… Harvey, who caught a contested pass at the pylon in red-zone work, also showed off his ability to track the ball down the field in one-on-one work. The UCF product, facing off against a linebacker, tracked the ball as it arced through the air and hauled it in just before the goal line.

"Separation, suddenness, awareness, timing," Payton said of what he's looking for from running backs in the drill.

… Veteran running back J.K. Dobbins has impressed his new teammates in the early days of training camp, and he continued to flash during Thursday's practice.

"He's played some damn good football [in his career]," Trautman said. "He's had his injuries, but he had what, a thousand-plus scrimmage yards last year? He's legit. … He's a hell of a player."

… Rookie tight end Caleb Lohner, who had just four catches in college after he transitioned from playing basketball, hauled in a pass from Nix for a touchdown in 7-on-7 action.

"He's very curious," Trautman said. "Obviously, he hasn't played much football. That's real. That's not shade — he just hasn't. He's asking the right questions, participating in meetings really well. He has flashes of things and you're like, 'Wow, that's pretty darn good.' So, it's just getting him to do it consistently. Obviously, he's super young, and he's brand new to football for the most part. He's coming along really well."

… Linebacker Dre Greenlaw exited practice early after a one-on-one rep, but Payton said the Broncos "think he's fine." Payton said Greenlaw felt tightness but that it was a "different area" from a previous injury.

"We'll go ahead and have all the precautionary work done, but I think he'll be all right," Payton said.