SANTA CLARA, Calif. — On a warm Thursday morning in the Bay Area, the Denver Broncos demonstrated strong competitiveness during a rigorous practice session against the San Francisco 49ers, a team known for its consistent performance and multiple All-Pro players. With championship goals of their own, the Broncos managed to keep pace with the 49ers’ talent, highlighted by quarterback Bo Nix’s big completions that energized Denver’s offense.
The 49ers, who have appeared in conference championship games four times in the past six years, brought a star-studded lineup including defensive end Nick Bosa, tight end George Kittle, and running back Christian McCaffrey. Despite this, the Broncos matched their intensity and physicality as they prepared for the upcoming season.
Mike McGlinchey Praises Team Effort Amid Intense Conditions
Right tackle Mike McGlinchey reflected positively on the team’s performance, emphasizing their resilience during a practice structured to simulate challenging away-game conditions.
“I thought we played pretty well,”
McGlinchey said.
“There’s obviously things that we need to clean up, but I thought we got on them right from the jump. I thought we played really physical football. I thought Bo [Nix] handled himself great getting in and out of the huddle. I thought the operation was great given that those speakers served as almost an away game atmosphere.”
Head coach Sean Payton also acknowledged areas for improvement but expressed satisfaction with the competitive nature of the practice.
“Overall, I was pleased with the work we got,”
Payton remarked.
“Both sides, I thought, handled themselves well. It was competitive, and yet we got a ton of situational work: two-minute, red zone, third down. A lot of team work. A lot of players getting a lot of work.”
Bo Nix Displays Sharp Accuracy and Big Play Ability
Bo Nix delivered a standout performance during 11-on-11 drills, quickly connecting with receivers Troy Franklin and Marvin Mims Jr. Multiple receptions by both players helped maintain momentum for Denver’s offense. However, Nix’s most notable connection was with wide receiver Courtland Sutton, as the pair linked up five times, including crucial third-down conversions and several gains exceeding 20 yards.
A highlight moment occurred during red-zone practice when Nix eluded a sack by sprinting to his right, then delivered a precise pass to Sutton, who secured a leaping touchdown catch with both feet in bounds. This play underscored Nix’s ability to improvise and extend plays under pressure.
Payton commented on Nix’s skill in these off-schedule situations:
“You can’t force that. Look, we can design plays to get him out of the pocket, but I’m talking about when a part of your protection breaks down, maybe the initial route’s covered. He tends to function comfortably in that position.”
McGlinchey added further praise for Nix’s athleticism and playmaking:
“It’s everything. There’s quarterbacks that have made a whole career on the second act of plays. Certainly [it] makes an offensive lineman’s job a lot easier in terms of being able to save a play, being able to save a sack, being able to do all those things. Bo’s a tremendous athlete, something he probably didn’t get a lot of credit for when he was coming out. You see it every day, and you saw it all last year.”
Defense Shows Strength Against High-Powered 49ers Offense
The Broncos’ defense, expected to play a key role this season, displayed strong performances against a 49ers offense that ranked fourth in the league last year. Early in practice, Denver’s defensive line controlled the scrimmage, forcing multiple stops for minimal gains and tackles for losses. Outside linebacker Nik Bonitto notably tackled Christian McCaffrey behind the line of scrimmage, while linebacker Justin Strnad contributed with additional stops.
The secondary also made significant plays. Cornerback Riley Moss registered several pass breakups, including one against receiver Ricky Pearsall. Defensive Player of the Year Pat Surtain II disrupted a late end-zone pass, and safety JL Skinner along with cornerback Ja’Quan McMillian secured interceptions in seven-on-seven drills.
The 49ers offense managed to score touchdowns on two move-the-ball possessions, but Denver safety Talanoa Hufanga emphasized the value of this competitive practice environment.
“I think we did handle it well, but that’s what practice is for,”
Hufanga said.
“We’re here to learn. We’re not here to come here and be perfect. Everybody strives to be perfect, don’t get me wrong, but if we came in here and we beat them every single rep, then there’s no growth in that. We want to know what works, what doesn’t, push the limits, be in the spots that might not be the right spot, but if the risk is there, you want see what can work and what can’t and it’s better to have it happen now than [in] Week 17 and the game’s on the line and you need to get to the playoffs or something like that. You’d rather [have it happen] now, so [then] we’re ready for those moments.”
Offense Continues Balanced Attack With Strong Running Game
Alongside Nix’s passing success, the Broncos’ rushing attack showed promise during the practice. Running backs J.K. Dobbins and RJ Harvey found openings to gain yardage, complementing Denver’s passing game.
McGlinchey reflected on the effectiveness of the running game against the 49ers defense:
“I think today was a good start. I think any time you play something different than what you see every day, like I said, it was a little bit [more real] of a situation where they’re not calling the period ‘team run’ and the defense is pinning their ears back and playing the run and they actually have to think about things that are going on on the field. It gives a little bit of the strength back to the offense in terms of how to balance the practice back out. I think today was a good start. I think it’s been a focal point for us all throughout camp. It’s something we talk about [in the] offensive line room, tight end room, receiver room, running back room. It takes all 11 guys to run the football well, and it all takes a big part in that and big pride in that. It was a good step forward today.”
Additional Noteworthy Plays and Player Status Updates
Various other impressive moments included a touchdown pass from Jarrett Stidham to Trent Sherfield Sr., a key third-down conversion from Nix to Devaughn Vele, a long touchdown catch by Kyrese Rowan off a Sam Ehlinger pass, and an interception by Devon Key during team periods.
Regarding personnel, coach Payton noted that linebacker Dre Greenlaw, who did not participate in Thursday’s practice, is unlikely to play in the preseason opener scheduled for Saturday.
“He will be back working full speed on Monday,”
Payton confirmed.
Implications for Broncos’ Season Outlook
The strong showing from Bo Nix, especially his capacity for big completions and making plays on the move, provides the Broncos with an encouraging signal as they continue training camp. Holding their own against a highly talented 49ers team during a physically demanding practice reflects well on Denver’s potential to compete in a tough AFC landscape.
With continued focus on refining both the offense and defense, the Broncos appear positioned to build on this foundation as they head toward the regular season. The lessons learned from facing a top-tier opponent in practice will likely translate into improved performance when the games truly count.