Broncos Add Longer Warm-Down Period as Soft-Tissue Injuries Mount

Sean Payton said the Denver Broncos need to examine their pre-practice routine as the team deals with a recent run of soft-tissue injuries during training camp.

After Monday’s two-and-a-half-hour workout, Payton had the strength and conditioning staff add a longer, more formal warm-down period.

“We’ve got to get a handle on some of the soft-tissues,” he said. “We’ve had a couple either strains, hamstring or groins. We continue to fight through that.”

Running back J.K. Dobbins left Monday’s practice with an injury and did not return. Dobbins has been injury-prone throughout his career, never playing a full season after five years spent with the Broncos, Chargers, and Ravens.

Payton said he expected the longer warm-down period to continue in the days ahead as the team works through the issue.

Payton said he did not believe the issue was heat-related and said the team would review its pre-practice routine and hydration.

“You always try to look at your pre-practice routine,” he said. “Your hydration, obviously. And it’s incumbent on the player. It’s hard for anyone to know your soft tissue. I’m always looking at maybe what we did leading up to the period when a guy had a strain.”

Denver’s Injury Concerns

Wide receiver Marvin Mims Jr. returned to practice Monday after dealing with a similar injury. Wide receiver Jaylen Waddle has also missed time after suffering a strain. Dobbins’ exit on Monday added another offensive player to the injury concerns.

Defensive lineman Matt Henningsen suffered the most serious injury, rupturing an Achilles tendon on Friday. He was placed on injured reserve.

The longer warm-down period gives Denver time to adjust while it evaluates its pre-practice routine and hydration. Payton has said he plans to play most, if not all, healthy starters for at least some snaps in Friday’s preseason opener in Atlanta, though the coaching staff had not yet formalized snap counts.