Angela Rae Harris's Blog, page 16

Shelter services and transportation on Denver City Council agenda

On Monday, the Denver City Council will consider multiple resolutions tied to the city’s homeless shelter operations.

Of particular interest is Council Resolution 25-1383, which amends an agreement with U.S. Motels Denver North, Inc. by adding nine months and $2.5 million to provide non-congregate shelter units, as well as congregate shelter space when the city’s shelter beds are full.

According to city documents, this funding will be used during times of severe weather activation or other emergencies, as deemed by the city and the Department of Housing Stability. The amendment, if approved, will extend the contract through Dec. 31, 2026, and bring the total agreement value to $6.19 million.

Then there’s Council Resolution 25-1381, which proposes adding 12 months and $950,000 to an existing agreement with Busco, Inc. to provide daily bus transportation to individuals experiencing homelessness using 54-passenger motor coaches. 

The buses depart and arrive from designated locations every morning and evening, and will also support the city’s cold weather sheltering operations. 

City AGENDA 1006Download

In District 11, Denver International Airport is seeking approval of a $10 million cleaning contract with Wright Choice, Inc. Should the resolution be approved, the airport would receive professional tunnel cleaning services for five years. 

The proposed maintenance contract includes the removal of trash, dust, debris, soot, graffiti, and other surface contaminants.

There will be one proclamation issued honoring LatinasGive! and Latinos Impacting our Future Together (L.I.F.T.) in observance of Hispanic Heritage Month. 

In the 5:30 session, the City Council will host two public hearings.

The first, a required public hearing, will consider changing the zoning classification for 800 15th St. in Denver’s Central Business District. 

The second is a 30-minute courtesy public hearing regarding a proposed ordinance naming an unnamed park at Kittredge Street and E. Bollinger Drive as Amache Prowers Memorial Park.

The Denver City Council will hold its regular meeting on Monday at 3:30 p.m., with the general public comment session scheduled to begin at 5 p.m.

Most Denver city and county offices will be closed on Monday, Oct. 13, in observance of Indigenous Peoples’ Day. Emergency services, the airport, and Denver’s police and fire departments will operate as usual. 

How to watch: Colorado Buffaloes football at TCU

Colorado at TCU

Kickoff: 5:30 p.m. Saturday

TV: FOX

Stream: foxsports.com/live

Broadcast crew: Connor Onion (play-by-play), Robert Griffin III (color analyst), Alexa Landestoy (sideline reporter)

Radio: 94.1 FM & 850 AM

Buffs broadcast crew: Mark Johnson (play-by-play), Gary Barnett (color analyst), Bobby Pesavento (sideline reporter)

5 storylines to watch as Deion Sanders, Colorado storm TCU in important Big 12 matchup | Buffs Gameday

FORT WORTH, Texas — Deion Sanders appreciates every time he returns to Texas. It’s the place he’s called home for many years and the fitting site of his debut as the head coach at Colorado.

But after starting his tenure with consecutive wins in the Lone Star State, Coach Prime and the Buffaloes have lost back-to-back games here, including the Alamo Bowl last season.

When the Buffs face TCU on Saturday (5:30 p.m., FOX), Sanders and his team are hoping to get back to winning ways, not just down south but in the 2025 season, as well. A loss would drop CU to 2-4 overall, marking the worst first half of the season since Coach Prime took over.

Here are five storylines to watch:

Finding offensive consistency

Colorado offensive coordinator Pat Shurmur in the first half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Oct. 26, 2024, in Boulder, Colo. AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

Paging Pat Shurmur. Whatever worked in the first quarter against BYU, get back to that. The first 15 minutes of last Saturday’s game was the best the Buffs offense has looked and came against the best defense they’ve faced. CU allowed quarterback Kaidon Salter to make quick decisions with plenty of run-pass-option plays (RPOs). CU even incorporated “Wildcat” formations with wide receiver Dre’lon Miller taking direct snaps out of the backfield. That creativity and versatility is what the Buffs need to have at all times.

The toughest defensive test yet

TCU quarterback Josh Hoover (10) throws a pass under pressure from SMU linebacker Justin Medlock (20) in the first half of an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Sept. 20, 2025, in Fort Worth, Texas. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)

Only Oklahoma State has a worse run defense than CU through the first month of the season. TCU presents a different challenge. With arguably the best passing attack in the Big 12, the Horned Frogs will look to attack a Buffs secondary that has struggled in coverage when called upon this season. 

Defensive line injuries

Colorado defensive tackle Amari McNeill (88) reacts after making a stop against Delaware in the first half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Sept. 6, 2025, in Boulder, Colo. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

A group that goes seven deep when healthy, the CU defensive tackles will once again be limited to a short rotation due to injuries. The Buffs have already ruled out regulars Tawfiq Thomas and Tavian Coleman, while starter Anquin Barnes is doubtful. The only defensive tackle who regularly sees playing time not on the injury report is Taurean Carter. They’ll need Carter, Brandon Davis-Swain and Amari McNeill to give them everything they have or CU is going to have to get creative at that spot.

A vulnerable TCU defense

Brigham Young cornerback Evan Johnson, right, tackles Colorado quarterback Kaidon Salter after a long gain in the second half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Sept. 27, 2025, in Boulder. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

It might be time for Salter to show off his arm. The Horned Frogs have the second-worst passing defense in the conference, ahead of only OK-State, and the Buffs have playmakers out wide that should be able to create separation downfield. Like he did two weeks ago against Wyoming, Salter might be best served chucking it deep to give players like Omarion Miller, Joseph Williams and Sincere Brown chances to make game-changing plays.

The revenge factor

TCU head coach Sonny Dykes, left, and Colorado head coach Deion Sanders shake hands after an NCAA college football game Saturday, Sept. 2, 2023, in Fort Worth, Texas. (AP Photo/LM Otero)

It can’t be ignored. Even though the TCU roster is completely different from 2023, coach Sonny Dykes will be quick to remind his group what happened the last time the team from Boulder was in their stadium. The fans certainly haven’t forgotten and they’ll be begging the Horned Frogs to put up as many points as possible to heal the wound from two years ago. 

King’s Prediction

TCU 38, Colorado 21
Somehow, even the Buffs are only a two-touchdown underdog this time around (as opposed to three touchdowns in 2023), if Coach Prime’s team is able to storm into Amon G. Carter Stadium and take down TCU once again, this would feel like an even bigger upset. Yes, the Buffs are deeper than they were two years ago, but they’re lacking stars. The Horned Frogs have those, as well as depth, and they cruise to a win behind a prolific passing attack led by stud QB Josh Hoover.

Broncos ready to show their mettle in big game at Philadelphia: ‘We’re going there to win’

ENGLEWOOD — As far as outside linebacker Nik Bonitto is concerned, there is no interest in the Broncos earning a moral victory Sunday.

Denver is a 4.5-point underdog at Philadelphia, the defending NFL champion. The Eagles are 4-0 and have won 20 of their last 21 games while the Broncos are 2-2 and searching for a rare marquee road win.

“I just know how we already kind of feel about ourselves,’’ Bonitto told The Denver Gazette at Broncos Park. “We’re not trying to go in there and make it a close game, make it seem like, ‘Oh, we’re in a close game, we’re a good team.’ Like, we know we’re a good team. We’re going there to win.”

The Broncos came close in a road game last November against a defending Super Bowl champion, losing 16-14 at Kansas City when Wil Lutz’s 35-yard field goal attempt was blocked on the final play. Other than that, the going mostly has been rugged on the road against top teams since Denver became a playoff-caliber team last season.

Yes, the Broncos did win 26-7 in Week 3 of 2024 at Tampa Bay, but the Buccaneers were on their way to a 4-6 start before finishing at 10-7, the same record as Denver. Yet the season also included road losses against heavyweight foes, 41-10 at Baltimore and 31-7 at Buffalo to open the playoffs.

“It’s hard to say, ‘We want to win the Super Bowl, we want to do that stuff,’ when you haven’t put the best film, best tape, best effort against some of these top teams,’’ said Broncos outside linebacker Jonathon Cooper. “I’m going back to the Bills last year and our playoff game. So for us it’s just getting ready. I feel like everybody’s confident, everybody’s sure about what we have. … We know we have a good team, so it’s going to be two good teams on Sunday.”

Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts sets his team up for the tush push during an NFL football game against the Los Angeles Rams, Sunday, Sep. 21, 2025, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Chris Szagola)

Cooper said what the Broncos have learned facing top teams on the road at least has helped.

“We’ve been in this game before, going against the reigning Super Bowl champs in the Chiefs last year, going to their place,” Cooper said. “So we’ve been in these type of games before and we’re more experienced this time, and yeah, I feel like we’ll be even more ready for the moment.”

The close loss to the Chiefs, then the two-time defending champions, came a week after the blowout at Baltimore. However, two months later, the Broncos were flattened by the Bills.

Before coach Sean Payton arrived in 2023, the Broncos had lost four straight games to defending Super Bowl champions and they lost a fifth in a row 19-8 at Kansas City in Week 6 that season. But the Broncos rebounded to beat the Chiefs 24-9 at home later that season. They also defeated Kansas City at home 38-0 in the 2024 regular-season finale, although the Chiefs rested their starters.

The Eagles a month later walloped Kansas City 40-22 in Super Bowl LIX. And they remain the hottest team in the NFL.

“It certainly has an added weight when they’re the defending champs, they’re undefeated this year, they’ve got talent all across the board,’’ Broncos tackle Mike McGlinchey said. “It’s an opportunity for us to play a really great football team and get a huge win for our program and that’s what we’re trying to do.”

Previous trips to the City of Brotherly Love mostly have not gone well for Denver. Since the Broncos from the AFL joined the NFL in the 1970 merger, they are 1-6 at Philadelphia. That includes a 51-23 wipeout in 2017 in their last trip to Lincoln Financial Field, when Vance Joseph was Denver’s head coach.

Joseph is now the Broncos’ defensive coordinator. And it helps now that he will face Philadelphia with one of the better defenses in the NFL.

The Eagles return most of their key players on offense from last season, including Jalen Hurts, a run-and-pass threat at quarterback, and running back Saquon Barkley, who had 2,005 yards on the ground last year. But Barkley has just 257 yards this season and the Eagles are just No. 30 in the NFL through four games in total offense, although they are No. 7 in scoring offense.

“I think it’s their way of winning,” Joseph said Friday. “It’s not by accident. … Obviously, how we rush (Hurts) is important and how we stop Saquon is important. They have a lot of weapons we have to account for, but the quarterback is obviously the main guy. That’s where it starts.”

Denver Broncos head coach Vance Joseph walks the sideline before an NFL football game, Sunday against the Philadelphia Eagles, Nov. 5, 2017, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke)

On the other side of the ball, Philadelphia also has modest team statistics, being No. 15 in scoring defense and No. 22 in total defense. Still, Broncos center Luke Wattenberg spoke highly of the Eagles defenders, including saying their “interior is some of the best in the NFL with Jalen Carter and Jordan Davis” at defensive tackle.

“We’ve got a big challenge ahead of us,’’ Wattenberg said.

Yet the Broncos are a very confident group. Linebacker Alex Singleton, who played for the Eagles from 2019-21, is relishing the challenge in his first game against his former team.

“They were the best in the world (in 2024),’’ Singleton said. “If we want to be that, say that we can be that, this is the game to go prove that.”

Bonitto agrees.

“Obviously, they’re an undefeated team,’’ he said. “Eventually, they’re going to have to be due for one. So why not us to be the one to give them the first loss?”

Historic restaurant The Fort to be sold to former Elitch Gardens, River Mile owner

The Fort, Colorado’s historic restaurant and full-scale replica of an adobe fur-trading fort, has been in family hands since its opening in 1963. Soon, it’ll have a new owner.

The restaurant listed on the National Register of Historic Places announced Friday that current owner Holly Arnold Kinney entered a purchase agreement with Revesco Properties, the former owner and partner with Kroenke Sports & Entertainment for the River Mile development project and Elitch Gardens.

In June, Kroenke Sports bought the rest of its stake from Revesco Properties and is now the sole owner.

The Fort sale is expected to close in early 2026, a news release said. The restaurant did not disclose a price.

Revesco will partner with Denver-based development and restaurant firm City Street Investors to run The Fort and continue its legacy. 

Arnold Kinney has been preparing to retire and was looking for a new owner to take over The Fort, according to a spokesperson for The Fort.

“After searching for a successor for The Fort for many years, I’m delighted to be passing the tomahawk to this team,” said Arnold Kinney.

“They embody many of the same values I’ve been looking for in a successor, as it relates to operating The Fort’s business, caring for my Fort family of employees, and taking The Fort to the next level,” she added.

Courtesy photo, The Fort

The Fort is located in Morrison, south of Red Rocks Park and Amphitheater. It’s a replica of the Bent Fort, a fur-trading fort in Southeastern Colorado that existed from 1833 to 1849.

It was built by Arnold Kinney’s parents, Elizabeth and Samuel Arnold. The restaurant said it has hosted a variety of celebrity guests and presidents including Julia Child, Luke Wilson, Bill Clinton and George Bush.

The Fort serves regional meats and fishes including bison, elk, quail, salmon and trout inspired by Native American and “Mountain Man” cuisine, according to the restaurant.

Arnold Kinney said The Fort has an easement on the property held by the Colorado Historical Foundation.

“The Revesco and City Street teams are honored to become the next stewards of such an iconic and revered institution in the Denver market,” said Rhys Duggan, CEO and president of Revesco.

Aurora police to ask City Council for approval to use facial recognition tech

The Aurora Police Department will ask Aurora councilmembers at Monday night’s study session for approval to use facial recognition technology.

The technology would give police opportunities to enhance productivity, crime solvability, effectiveness and safety, according to council documents.

If approved, facial recognition technology would cost about $171,000 over four years.

Access to facial recognition search results would only be provided to Aurora officers who are authorized to have access and complete applicable training, council documents say.

Authorized uses of facial recognition technology include the following, as stated by council documents:

A reasonable suspicion that an identifiable person committed or plans to commit a crimeActive or ongoing criminal investigationsMitigating imminent threats to health or safetyAssisting in identification of a person without capacity to identify themselvesInvestigating tips and leadsAssisting in the identification of potential witnesses or victims of violent crimeSupporting law enforcement in critical incident responses

Aurora police are authorized to use Lumen, which is a system that can compare a single “probe” image against criminal justice record images, and Clearview IA, which uses machine-learning facial recognition to search uploaded “probe” images against a database of more than 30 billion publicly available images.

Also in Monday’s study session, councilmembers will hear a proposal to raise the current E911 surcharge rate, which was last adjusted in April 2024.

If the ordinance passes at a future regular council meeting, the maximum allowed rate would go from $2.12 to $2.17.

Monday night’s study session is open to the public via livestream at 4:30 p.m. The public comment listening session will start at 6 p.m. and the regular meeting of the council will follow at 6:45 p.m.

Meetings are livestreamed at the Paul Tauer Aurora Council Chambers, 15151 E. Alameda Parkway, and on AuroraTV.org, YouTube.com/TheAuroraChannel and cable channels 8 and 880.

Tight end Lucas Krull to miss several games with foot injury | Broncos notebook

ENGLEWOOD — The Broncos will be without tight end Lucas Krull for several weeks. 

Krull was ruled out Sunday against the Eagles due to a foot injury suffered in practice this week. The team intends to place him on short-term injured reserve, a source confirmed Friday to The Denver Gazette. He will miss at least four games, with his earliest possible return in Week 9 against the Texans.  

Krull is a depth tight end with two receptions for 15 yards over three games. He was inactive as a healthy scratch last week against the Bengals. Krull was a full practice participant on Thursday, but he did not practice on Friday. The Broncos typically make IR placements on Saturday before games days.  

The Broncos played tight ends Adam Trautman, Nate Adkins and Evan Engram in a win over Cincinnati. Adkins was a full practice participant Friday after missing Thursday with a concussion. 

Krull’s injury might open the door for linebacker Garret Wallow to earn a roster spot. Wallow is out of practice squad elevations after three consecutive call-ups from the practice squad. He’s been a strong contributor on special teams.

Right guard Quinn Meinerz missed practice Thursday with an illness. But he returned Friday as a full participant and does not have an injury designation. Krull is the only active player who will not play Sunday against the Eagles.  

Trust in Mims 

Marvin Mims has been uneven so far this season as a punt returner. The two-time Pro Bowler lost a muffed punt in the season opener against the Titans. He also bobbled a punt return last week against the Bengals but kept possession due to a fair catch. 

“I’m pretty confident with Marvin,” special teams coordinator Darren Rizzi said. “I know he’s been working extra hard on it the last few weeks, getting some extra catches out here off the Jugs machine and off the live foot. So, I’ve got a lot of confidence in Marvin still.” 

Mims has scored offensive touchdowns in two of the past three games. He caught a 23-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Bo Nix against the Colts. Mims also took a reverse 16 yards for a rushing touchdown vs. the Bengals. 

Lessons in tempo 

Coach Sean Payton has identified something that Nix prefers early in games. 

“He likes tempo, tempo to the line (of scrimmage),” Payton said at Broncos Park. “Certainly, last week I think we had two or three third-down conversions with tempo. He’s at the line with 26 seconds now instead of breaking the huddle with eight. You adapt because that’s something that a lot of these college quarterbacks are. … Reducing the verbiage and getting to where we can call plays with just one name, one syllable. Those are some of the things that have changed.” 

But there are times within the game when tempo — moving between plays as quickly as possible — is not the correct strategy.  

“I may not want tempo. My defense might be tired,” Payton said. “So, if I’m going tempo, I want to be able to control that.” 

Briefly 

Defensive lineman Malcolm Roach (calf) and inside linebacker Drew Sanders (foot) did not practice this week. Both were eligible to return from injured reserve. Neither is expected to play against the Eagles. … Rookie defensive lineman Sai’vion Jones made his NFL debut last week against the Bengals. On Friday, defensive coordinator Vance Joseph said that Jones “looked fine” over six defensive snaps. Joseph added: “That should increase for him moving forward. He’s had great weeks of practice. That’s why we decided to put him up finally. He’s growing fast, so hopefully he gets better and better each week.” … The Eagles ruled out linebacker Nakobe Dean (knee) against the Broncos.

Denver housing numbers head the wrong way in realtors’ newest report

Anyone waiting for the right moment to sell their home and move into something that better fits their current needs will find little cheer in the newest figures on the housing market, released Friday by the Denver Metro Association of Realtors.

That Market Trends Report for the 11-county Denver metro area shows home inventory climbing slightly entering a season where agents typically see a pickup in activity, as kids return to school and potential buyers settle back from vacations.

Agents were hoping last month that the Federal Reserve Board’s quarter-point cut in the premium lending rate might trend over into the mortgage market. That could nudge the cost of financing a home out of the six-percent range where rates have hovered for the past year, into a number closer to what buyers saw three years ago.

But despite the Fed’s action, current mortgage rates are hanging in the low-to-mid-six range — a consequence, agents say, of the rate cut having already been anticipated by lenders back in August.

Prices remain elevated

Meanwhile, new numbers show the median price of a home in the area as down slightly over the previous month to $589,900. However, that remains 2-1/2% higher than prices were running in September 2024, despite this year’s growing inventory of homes for sale.

Detached homes saw a slight month-over-month drop to $638,250, down 1.7% from the August price, but still more than a percent higher than a median single-family home cost a year back. The number of single-family homes on the market remains almost 18% higher than a year back, following lackluster sales.

In the condo and townhouse market, the median price was holding steady, but pending sales of those dropped to 5.56% over the month, while the number on the market climbed slightly, up 17% from a year earlier.

Coldwell Banker agent Amanda Snitker, who chairs the Realtors’ Market Trends Committee, said that the new numbers mark a notably steady course over the past year, a period when agents and sellers would have hoped for a pickup in sales.

Micro adjustments

“The seasonality and economic conditions of our market today are micro adjustments compared to a market where we saw large swings in demand and prices during 2020 through 2022,” Snitker noted in the report.

“The subtle adjustments show a nuanced buyer and a nuanced seller, requiring tenacity, trust and expertise to make the perfect match.”

For homebuyers, Snitker said, the opportunities are wider now with the increase in homes available.

Active inventory at month’s end was up 70% from the number of homes on the market back in 2022, when too many buyers were chasing too few houses. That led to intense competition for listings that had barely come on the market, driving prices skyward.

Buyers prefer detached

Snitker noted that sales numbers show buyers leaning toward detached homes over attached. Numbers of sales climbed 6.55% for single-family homes over the year, while sales for condos and townhomes fell almost 17%.

“Pricing strategies remain critical,” she added. The number of days on the market it took for a median-priced home to sell stretched slightly this past month, to 35 days on average, up from 30 in August.

She added that although rates remain above six percent, the newest rates do show a downward trend following the federal funds rate cut and are currently the lowest rates seen in 2025.

Uptick in luxury detached sales

For home sellers in the luxury price ranges, where inventory has been building fastest this year, the latest trends held slightly better news, agents reported.

Sales of single-family homes priced above $1 million saw an uptick in activity, rising 5%. However, attached homes in the higher range struggled with a falling number of contracts and a sharp drop in price-per-square-foot values.

Do the new numbers confirm Denver’s drift from a seller’s market to a buyer’s market?

“Generally, four months of inventory is considered moving into a buyer’s market,” Snitker told The Denver Gazette. “We’re starting to see that happening in the detached market in the million-dollar-and-up range, and in all price points in the attached home market.”

The picture in the higher range is complex, added Compass agent Colleen Covell, a principal in the Peter Blank Collective. Generally, the luxury range has been considered as those homes priced a million dollars and up; but rapid price increases have made that breakpoint less valid now, as Denver homes priced from $1 million to $1.5 million become more commonplace.

Focusing on the days-on-market as a threshold between a seller’s or a buyer’s market can miss a broader problem growing, as homes that remain unsold continue to linger while not being reflected in the sold stats, Covel said.

Misleading numbers

“In reality, houses are sitting much longer than that,” Covell told The Denver Gazette. “Buyers aren’t buying. We’re in a gridlock.”

Last month, Covell transacted the most expensive home sale recorded in the city of Denver over the past two years, a new-built modern design at 1860 E. Cedar Avenue, just south of Denver Country Club. The price was $8.35 million.

The DMAR Market Trends Report covers data from Adams, Arapahoe, Boulder, Broomfield, Clear Creek, Denver, Douglas, Elbert, Gilpin, Jefferson and Park counties.  DMAR represents over 8,000 Realtors in the metro area.

Denver area events for Oct. 3

If you have an event taking place in the Denver area, email information to carlotta.olson@gazette.com at least two weeks in advance. All events are listed in the calendar on space availability.

Friday

The Life of a Showbird: Taylor Swift Dance Party — With themed cocktails, friendship bracelet making, costume contest and more, 3-11 p.m., Rare Bird, atop Halcyon, a hotel in Cherry Creek, 245 Columbine St., Denver. Tickets: tinyurl.com/ymjwaftv.

Madeon — With Sam Gellaitry, 7 p.m., Red Rocks Amphitheatre, 18300 W. Alameda Parkway, Morrison, $63 and up. Tickets: axs.com.

Haim — With Dora Jar, 7:30 p.m., Fiddler’s Green Amphitheatre, 6350 Greenwood Plaza Blvd., Greenwood Village, $66 and up. Tickets: axs.com.

The Comedy Studio with Rick Bryan — 7:30 p.m., The Comedy Studio, 1 E. Memorial Parkway, Northglenn, $15-$20. Tickets: northglennarts.org.

Madilyn Mei — With Scrawny, 8 p.m., Bluebird Theater, 3317 E. Colfax Ave., Denver, $112 and up. Tickets: axs.com.

Wolf Alice — With Willy Mason, 8 p.m., Ogden Theatre, 935 E. Colfax Ave., Denver, $49.42. Tickets: axs.com.

Scott Levi Jones — With Ronjo V, Joe Teichman, 8 p.m., The Black Buzzard at Oskar Blues, 1624 Market St., Denver, $24.53. Tickets: theblackbuzzard.com.

William Black — With Cayman, Glox, 8 p.m., Boulder Theater, 2032 14th St., Boulder, $36.81-$38.87. Tickets: axs.com.

Durand Jones & the Indications — With The Psycodelics, 9 p.m., Gothic Theatre, 3263 S. Broadway, Englewood, $45.59. Tickets: axs.com.

Friday-Saturday

Dana Gould — 7 and 9 p.m. FridayOct. 3, 6:30 and 8:30 p.m. SaturdayOct. 4, Comedy Works South at the Landmark, 5345 Landmark Place, Greenwood Village, $25-$30. Tickets: comedyworks.com.

Friday-Oct. 26

“The Thin Place” — Presented by Boulder Ensemble Theatre Co., Dairy Arts Center, 2590 Walnut St., Boulder, $17.25-$48.30; betc.org.

Friday-Nov. 2

“Cat on a Hot Tin Roof” — Kilstrom Theatre, 1400 Curtis St., Denver, go online for prices; denvercenter.org/tickets-events.

CARLOTTA OLSON, The Denver Gazette

Broncos RB Jaleel McLaughlin ‘working harder’ since benching, says ‘better days’ to come

ENGLEWOOD – Running back Jaleel McLaughlin used to get to Broncos Park around 5 a.m. on most days. Now he arrives even earlier.

“At 4:45, 4:30 some days,’’ he told The Denver Gazette after practice Thursday.

McLaughlin rushed for 410 yards as a rookie with Denver in 2023 and 496 last season. But he was inactive the first four games this season in favor of Tyler Badie as the No. 3 running back behind starter J.K. Dobbins and rookie RJ Harvey.

Broncos coaches have said one reason for that has been Badie’s ability as a pass blocker. Regardless, since his benching, McLaughlin has been working overtime to again be active on game day.

“I’m just working every day,’’ he said. “There’s always going to be better days when I come back (to being active). … I’m working harder, man.”

Broncos coach Sean Payton recently said McLaughlin has been “doing extremely well” in practice. McLaughlin said he has been doing all he can on the scout team and that he was named a Scout Player of the Week leading up to the Sept. 7 opener against Tennessee.

McLaughlin was asked if he has been surprised at being inactive, considering his production the past two seasons. He also has 55 career receptions for 236 yards.

“Man, I’m just going to support those guys,’’ he said of his teammates. “I’m going to cheer on those guys. They’re playing great ball.”

Dobbins, signed as a free agent in June, has rushed for 323 yards while averaging 5.7 per carry and has caught five passes for 18 yards. Harvey has run for 138 yards and has nine receptions for 69 yards. Badie has one rushing attempt for three yards and five catches for 46 yards.

McLaughlin made the Broncos as an undrafted rookie in 2023 and Payton talked regularly that season about how early he reported to the training facility. Now, he’s arriving even earlier.

“I’ll be ready when I’m up,’’ he said.

Plenty of Tush Push talk

Entering Sunday’s game at Philadelphia, there has been plenty of talk about the Tush Push, the successful and controversial quarterback sneak Jalen Hurts does while being pushed by teammates.

But Broncos outside linebacker Jonathon Cooper shrugged off the play Thursday.

“We all know why it’s difficult to defend,’’ Cooper said. “We’ve seen the tape. Obviously, they’ve perfected it to a certain degree. But I mean the football game ain’t the Tush Push. … The game is zones and the play action, the passes and stopping the run and getting after the pass rush and stuff. So, the Tush Push, it’s whatever.”

“You got somebody pushing behind you. You got a a solid O-line pushing in front of you. I mean, I could get back there and get you a yard every time and then, what, I’d be famous off the Tush Push?” Cooper added.

While Cooper might have to defend against the Tush Push on Sunday, tackle Garett Bolles won’t. Still, he offered his take on the play.

“They mastered it,’’ Bolles said. “It’s what they do. Hats off to them. They got great offensive linemen. … We would all love to do it. I think it’s a special group of people that do it and they mastered it and everyone wants to complain about it. But as an offensive lineman, it’s probably one of the safest plays in football.

“(If) you’re going to complain about it, you got to stop it. Either you shut up and stop it and just don’t say a word because they’re going to keep doing it. … That’s their identity. They deserve to get the credit.”

Meinerz misses practice

Broncos star offensive lineman Quinn Meinerz missed practice Thursday due to an illness, but Payton was unconcerned about his availability for Sunday.

“He’ll be fine,’’ said Payton, who had Alex Palczewski fill in for Meinerz on the first team at practice.

All other Denver players on the 53-man roster took part in the workout. Listed as limited were outside linebacker Jonah Elliss (ribs), wide receiver Marvin Mims Jr. (hip, ankle) and tight end Nate Adkins (concussion). Adkins, hurt in Monday’s 28-3 win over Cincinnati, had been listed as a non-participant Wednesday, when the Broncos didn’t practice but put out an estimated injury report.

Having missed the first four games of the season, defensive tackle Malcolm Roach (calf) and linebacker Drew Sanders (foot) are both now eligible to come off injured reserve. But that isn’t expected to happen with either before Sunday’s game.

“We’ll see how we goes,’’ Payton said. “They’re doing good.”

Wattenberg’s penalties

Against the Bengals, Broncos center Luke Wattenberg was whistled for five penalties, with three accepted. He has spent time this week trying to correct matters.

“Just be cleaner up front,’’ he told The Denver Gazette. “Just keep my hands tight. I think they were tough calls, but I got to learn from them and be able to roll with it.”

Payton said some of the calls were suspect.

“I’m going to come to his defense because there were a handful,’’ Payton said. “We never sent it into the league, but there were a few of them that if you guys watched the tape, he’s been playing well. There are a couple we can clean up ourselves.”

Payton’s song selection

Practice began Thursday with Philadelphia’s fight song “Fly Eagles Fly” blaring out of the loudspeakers at Broncos Park.

“It got me revved up,’’ Cooper said of Payton playing the song to help acclimate players to what they will hear Sunday. “I’m ready to go.”

Tackle Mike McGlinchey who grew up in the Philadelphia area, long has been familiar with the tune.

“It’s a song I’ve been hearing since I’ve been in kindergarten, so I’m used to it,’’ McGlinchey said. “It’s one they sing to me when I go home to the Jersey Shore. It means nothing. It’s cool song when they win, but hopefully we don’t hear that song a lot this week.”