**
The Broncos continued with their Organized Team Activity practices on Monday, finally joined by Shane Ray.
New tackle Ryan Harris and guard Louis Vasquez watch practice.
QB Zac Dysert throws a pass during practice.
WR Nathan Palmer and CB Kayvon Webster battle for a pass.
T Michael Schofield during OTAs
S Darian Stewart at practice during OTAs
QB Brock Osweiler makes a pass during practice at OTAs.
CB Lorenzo Doss at practice during OTAs
NT Darius Kilgo during practice at OTAs.
DeMarcus Ware instructs Shane Ray on some of the finer points during practice at OTAs.
Special Teams Coordinator Joe DeCamillis prepares to blow his whistle to start a kickoff drill.
CB Kayvon Webster during OTAs.
T Chris Clark looks to block against G Andre Davis.
Offensive Coordinator Rick Dennison participates in Monday's practice.
C Dillon Day (62, right) runs toward T Michael Schofield (79, left)
CB Tony Carter stares intently as he waits to start a footwork drill.
T Ty Sambrailo and C/G Max Garcia square off during a drill.
Tight Ends coach Brian Pariani grins as TE Marcel Jensen jogs over.
CB Kayvon Webster (36), S Josh Furman (41), S Darian Stewart (26) and CB Tony Carter (32)
New T Ryan Harris looks on during offensive line drills.
LS Aaron Brewer during OTAs
Former Broncos DB Nick Ferguson, one of the coaching hopefuls of the Bill Walsh NFL Minority Coaching Fellowship, throws a pass during defensive back drills.
Shane Ray and other Broncos edge rushers look on as OLB Gerald Rivers performs a drill.
ENGLEWOOD, Colo. —** After spending Organized Team Activity practices last week watching from the sideline taking mental reps, Shane Ray joined his teammates for the start of the second week of OTAs on Monday.
Ray, the Broncos' first-round draft pick, found the experience frustrating but necessary. Despite being unable to participate physically, he found plenty of value in upping his studying in the place of on-field work, peppering coaches and teammates with questions to gain a better understanding of the defense.
But in about six days' time, the training staff felt that he made good progress and cleared him for some limited participation in drills and he expects to be even more active as the offseason program continues.
"They [the training staff] didn't want to rush me back and cause more injury," Ray said following Monday's practice. "They wanted to make sure that when I started getting work that my foot was feeling good and it wasn't going to have any setbacks. We've got plenty of time so today what I was able to do was just pretty much they kind of let me go a little bit, let me get some work in because they felt like I was progressing well and throughout the week I'll be doing more work."
It was a pleasing return for Ray following the frustrating move from outside linebacker to outside spectator.
"I hate watching, so being out there and actually being able to get some work in feels great and I just want to continue get better, do whatever rehab I've got to continue to do to make sure my foot continues to heal and I don't take any steps back and then I'll be ready to be out here on this field," he added.
As much as he hates watching, he gained some experience from the sidelines, however.
"Every day you need to watch and know what you need to do," Ray said of what value there was to glean without being on the field. "You need to learn. I'm taking lessons from DeMarcus Ware and Von Miller every day, watching formations, watching our plays, knowing what I'll have to do when I get into the mix. That's important, instead of just being out here and wasting reps."
From here, it'll be up to the training staff to determine what steps Ray can comfortably take, and he'll certainly be ready for them.
The Broncos took to the field to begin OTAs with the season just a few months away. Here are shots from Wednesday's action. (All photos by DenverBroncos.com digital staff)
CBs Bradley Roby and Aqib Talib perform a drill on Wednesday during OTAs.
C/G Gino Gradkowski grapples with T Ty Sambrailo on Wednesday during OTAs.
Quarterbacks coach Greg Knapp applies pressure to Peyton Manning on Wednesday during OTAs.
LBs Brandon Marshall (54), Danny Trevathan (59) and Shane Ray (56) look on during practice on Wednesday during OTAs.
Chris Harris takes his helmet off for a short break during OTAs on Wednesday.
NT Sylvester Williams performs a drill as defensive line coach Bill Kollar watches on Wednesday during OTAs.
RB Montee Ball cuts upfield during Wednesday's practice.
LB Brandon Marshall watches practice on Wednesday during OTAs.
CB Chris Harris Jr. looks to make a catch during practice on Wednesday during OTAs.
Peyton Manning looks over to talk to TE Owen Daniels during Wednesday's OTA.
CB Taurean Nixon and members of the Broncos secondary during a short break on Wednesday during OTAs.
P Karl Schmitz prepares to uncork a punt on Wednesday during OTAs.
DE Malik Jackson performs drills as Defensive Coordinator Wade Phillips watches.
RB Ronnie Hillman looks to run as NT Sylvester Williams catches up with him.
Special Teams Coordinator Joe DeCamillis watches over special teams practice.
G Ben Garland blocks against C/G Max Garcia on Wednesday during OTAs.
Defenders in the Broncos secondary prepare for a drill on Wednesday during OTAs.
LB Steven Johnson, S David Bruton and more during a drill on Wednesday during OTAs.
CB Bradley Roby at practice on Wednesday during OTAs.
QBs Peyton Manning and Zac Dysert look on as coach Greg Knapp instructs on Wednesday during OTAs.
CB Tevrin Brandon during practice on Wednesday at OTAs.
Running backs coach Eric Studesville talks to his players during Wednesday's OTAs practice.
