Byline: Lee Rasizer, Rocky Mountain News
Today in camp
The Broncos will practice twice today at their Dove Valley facility. The morning practice will begin at 8:30 with the gates opening at 7:15.
The afternoon practice will begin at 3:50 p.m. with the gates opening at 3 p.m.
Admission to practice and parking on the west side of the team's facility are free.
Day in review
Wide receiver Romar Crenshaw has taken a few more repetitions during the team period the past couple of days because of injuries and attrition at his position. The speedster from Division II Southeastern Oklahoma State made a leaping grab over fellow rookie Jeremy LeSueur during the morning practice. The raw talent, who averaged 25.4 yards a catch his senior year of college, appears to be a long shot for the regular roster but has a good chance at a practice squad spot.
Rookie running back Tatum Bell continued to work toward his preseason debut, running for the second consecutive day in goal-line drills and actually getting popped to the ground Wednesday.
The coaching staff continued to generally ride the receivers because of all the drops in games and practice. Only Rod Smith has been immune, but he also has been sure-handed.
Safety Nick Ferguson ran with the first-team dime package, providing Denver with more range in pass coverage than regular starter Kenoy Kennedy.
The afternoon practice was devoted to special teams.
Turning heads
Jason Elam leads the NFL with five field goals this preseason. Bad news for Denver's offense. Good news for Elam. Elam's kicks all have been at least 30 yards, with a long of 47 in the Aug. 9 game vs. Washington. In practice, Elam has been almost as sharp. By his count, he has made 47 of 50 field-goal attempts, which included a morning session Wednesday. 'The last couple years I feel I've developed a routine to where I feel comfortable with it, and it works for me. And not having to do the kickoffs is a tremendous help,' he said. 'So I always feel pretty fresh. And they've been pretty good about, 'Hey, Jason's going to do what he needs to do to be ready.' So that's what I'm doing. I feel good.'
Injury report
Defensive tackle Luis Almanzar (hip flexor), wide receiver Atnaf Harris (low back strain), wide receiver B.J. Johnson (left ankle), linebacker Jashon Sykes (sprained left knee), cornerback Scott Turner (left hamstring), cornerback Lenny Walls (right ankle surgery) and linebacker Terry Pierce (right knee sprain) missed Wednesday's lone full practice.
Meet . . . Jed Weaver
He wouldn't exactly describe himself as a daredevil.
But Weaver, a Broncos tight end who signed this spring as a free agent, does appreciate the outdoors and relishes in participating in sporting activities on both land and sea.
He rides his motorcycle through the mountains. And he likes to snowboard in the off-season, where Vail is a popular destination.
'It's all under control and everything,' Weaver said. 'I go snowboarding with my girl and we just cruise on the slopes. I'm not jumping or doing tricks or anything like that.'
Weaver also has a home in Florida and is eager to get scuba-certified and begin spear fishing. He remains friends with several of the Miami Dolphins players, with whom he was a teammate from 2000-02. They share parts of their off-seasons together doing various ocean activities.
When he got married in Maui last year, he did 'snuba,' like scuba but viewing the underwater scene while tethered to a boat.
'Those are fun things,' Weaver said. 'I'm definitely not going to go surfing in Australia any time soon with the great whites, but I'll go hang out around the ocean and do those kinds of things.'
On the field, Weaver figures to be part of a three-player rotation at tight end along with Byron Chamberlain, Jeb Putzier and possibly Patrick Hape. He'll be easy to spot because he's wearing Ed McCaffrey's abandoned No. 87 jersey.
'I think everyone is going to be like, 'McCaffrey's slow out there. He should have retired last year,' (or) 'He didn't retire. He got fat and slow,' ' Weaver said shortly after signing.
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Broncos backup QB Mike Quinn appears to levitate a football Wednesday morning while waiting for the next drill. The Broncos will break camp Friday. MARC PISCOTTY / ROCKY MOUNTAIN NEWS
CAPTION: Jed Weaver
