Friday was the final day of practice for the Denver Broncos for the 2022 NFL season. While the season hasn’t gone how anybody has envisioned, Friday’s practice was another chance to try and end the year on a high note.
Denver Broncos Friday Practice Report
On a cold cloudy day in Dove Valley, the Denver Broncos took the field for their final practice of 2022 open to the media. Sunday’s home game against the Los Angeles Chargers will cap off a disappointing campaign for a team who had mile-high expectations before the season began.
The early portion of practice which was open to media was uptempo as quarterbacks and receivers combined their individual drill period for a group session working on red zone timing within the route tree.
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Even though Denver’s playoff hopes and ambitions will not be met this season, Week 18 is another opportunity in the eyes of players to end the season on a high note as an off-season full of anticipated changes looms over Dove Valley.
The Broncos will begin their search for a new head coach, various players will enter the uncertain opportunity of free agency. 18 players specifically on the current roster will become unrestricted free agents. Some of the key names feature Dre’Mont Jones, Dalton Risner, Alex Singleton, Brett Rypien, and Billy Turner.
For various players, their future in Denver approaches that uncertainty, but the only guarantee they have is Sunday’s home finale. The message from interim head coach Jerry Rosburg according to various players was to finish strong, whether that be a final rep in the weight room, each rep in practice, and ultimately Sunday’s season finale.
For most players, their focus remains on Sunday’s home finale at Empower Field at Mile High. Whether or not Denver faces Justin Herbert and various starters will be determined by the outcome between the Baltimore Ravens and Cincinnati Bengals. Regardless, Rosburg says that his team is prepared for anybody.
“We are expecting [American professional boxer] Sonny Liston out there,” Rosburg joked on Thursday. “If [American comic strip boxer] Joe Palooka shows up, then so be it.”
While Denver doesn’t have anything tangible to play for from the standpoint of extending their season, a win on Sunday would grant them their first divisional win of the season. A loss leaves them winless in the AFC West on the year.
“I recognize that past,” Rosburg acknowledged regarding their place inside of the AFC West. “I talked about that last week a bit—how we own that, and we recognize that. I think I said one other time that that’s a mess that we made. Our focus is on how we need to clean that up. We need to do this. I try not to—perhaps I do at times—but I try not to send negative messages. I’m not going to tell our guys to go out there and not lose so that this streak is extended. That just doesn’t resonate with me.”
The Denver Broncos are hoping to conclude Sunday’s game against the Los Angeles Chargers on the winning side and what better way than to do that at home in front of 76,000 fans. Kickoff is slated for 2:25 p.m. MT.