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.”