ENGLEWOOD, Colo. — From the sideline, the Broncos' Wednesday training camp practice seemed impressive.
It was fast-paced, competitive and physical.
But for those who took part — either as players or coaches — it seemed to mean more than a single padded session.
To veteran tight end Adam Trautman, at least, the practice was a point of demarcation — and a sign of Denver's potential.
"I've felt it before here, but that was like, 'OK. Oh yeah, we're ready for this — all the expectations and everything,'" Trautman said Thursday. "Yesterday's practice was the best practice I've been a part of in my three years here."
The Broncos acquired Trautman via a trade during the 2023 NFL Draft, and he's played in all 34 games since Sean Payton was hired as head coach. Wednesday's practice, Trautman said, was evidence that this Broncos team is in sync with Payton's vision.
"I think we are trending in the absolute right direction, and guys are completely bought in," Trautman said. "Obviously, right now, we're going through the grind of it — especially with six [practices] in a row here. Guys are bought in, and we're ready to go."
That buy-in is critical as the Broncos look to chase their goal of returning to a championship level. As Payton explained Thursday, every NFL team begins the season with the same goal — but it takes action to follow through on those hopes.
"There are certain goals you have as a team, and there appears to be the right mix of youth and then some veteran leadership," Payton said of his team. "All 32 teams start the season with the same aspirations and goals. So, what separates yourself from those other teams? I think it's those ingredients, and it gets back to who we're bringing in, who we've drafted, and you're finding guys that want to play at a high level, and they understand that it's not easy to do.
"We can write down our goals and dreams, and we can recite them, and then you have to live them. I think I've been encouraged relative to the leadership and the direction following last season — a lot of young guys played. And, I've said this before, I like this team."
And in a physical Wednesday practice, Payton saw a team that took a step.
"The thing I liked about yesterday, it was a physical practice and yet there was no one really crossing the line," Payton said. "It's hard to do when it gets warm, but I thought both sides of the ball handled the pads well. We got better yesterday."
Trautman and D.J. Jones, a pair of veterans who spoke to the media Thursday, could certainly feel that.
"With teams that I've been on that have been successful — later in the year, earlier in the year — you can feel it in OTAs, and I did," Jones said. "It's [transitioned] over into now, so I feel like [if] we keep stacking [days] and stay healthy, we'll be a dangerous team."
