ENGLEWOOD, Colo. — As wide receiver Josh Reynolds and safety Brandon Jones prepare for their first season in Denver, the veteran players plan to lead by example.
Both Reynolds and Jones arrive to the Broncos after making the playoffs in 2023 with the Lions and Dolphins, respectively. Reynolds and Jones reached that high mark after helping their former organizations build foundations to find long-term success.
In Detroit, the Lions improved from 3-13-1 in Reynolds' first season to 9-8 in 2022 before an NFC North title and NFC Championship Game appearance in 2023. The Dolphins earned at least nine wins in each of Jones' first two seasons, but they made the playoffs in his final two years and in 2023 posted an 11-win season for the first time in 15 years.
With the Broncos, Reynolds believes his veteran presence can help Denver build toward similar success.
"I've seen a lot of football, been around a lot of football, and we've got a young receiver room," Reynolds said Thursday. "To be able to kind of bring that, I think it can help a little bit."
And for Jones, he believes his mentality can set an example for younger players.
"I know I'm going on my fifth year now, but I still attack every day like I'm a rookie," Jones said. "I have something to prove to myself, prove to my teammates. Whether it's practice, a game [or] lifting weights, I'm going full speed, and I'm trying to show guys this is what you have to do in order to get the success that you want to have."
Head Coach Sean Payton also believes in Reynolds' and Jones' on-field ability, and he pointed to the two position groups as some of the most competition-heavy areas on the roster.
"He's long," Payton said of Reynolds. "He has strong hands. Another veteran receiver. I like that group, and if you study it closely, it's big across the board, and it has speed. So there's going to be heavy competition there, heavy competition at running back. The same in the back end with the secondary. I think there's that old saying, 'Iron sharpens iron,' and I feel like that's going to happen."
LEARN THE NUMBER
Payton said he saw several media members looking down at their roster printouts on Thursday after tight end Lucas Krull made a series of catches.
In Payton's eyes, the third-year player will soon make a lasting impression.
"I thought he's had a good week," Payton said. "I said [to him], 'If you didn't notice, everyone in the media was looking down at their rosters to see who [No.] 85 was.' I said, 'Someday soon, they're going to know who 85 is.' He's looking sharp."
Krull appeared in the Broncos' final six games of 2023 after not playing in 10 of their first 11 contests. He caught eight passes for 95 yards and recorded his first career touchdown against the Patriots.
INJURY UPDATE
As Krull enjoyed a strong practice, former third-round pick Greg Dulcich worked on a side field. Payton said Dulcich, who appeared in two games in 2023, is "close" to returning to practice.
"He's had all the work done," Payton said. "We're encouraged. I think you'll see him sooner than later, and we want to be smart."
Payton also noted that Dulcich's rehab "has gone well" and expects to see him practice before training camp.
Payton also confirmed inside linebacker Drew Sanders suffered an Achilles injury.
"That happened early in the offseason program," Payton said. "A simple — like they all happen — kind of a jump. Surgery was done. We'll have a prognosis. Fortunately, it was an early enough timeline we'll bring him back. I don't want to say October, but the good news is the surgery was done, it was clean. There wasn't anything complex about the injury, and it was just something unusual."
