Broncos Training Camp Day 13 Report: Offensive Line Shuffles Around

Denver's offensive line was shuffled around at practice on Thursday.

The Denver Broncos were back on the practice field on Tuesday for their final full-padded practice before traveling to San Francisco for their Week 1 preseason match up against the 49ers on Thursday.

The offensive line was shuffled around and the offense as a whole rebounded after a poor team showing on Monday.  Notes and quotes below. 

Attendance and injury report

Tight end Jacob Tamme (quad) was back on the practice field in shorts on Tuesday but did not participate.  Middle linebacker Nate Irving was also back after being excused from practice yesterday. Safety Quinton Carter (knee) was also back, but did not participate.

Offensive tackles Orlando Franklin (hip) and Ryan Clady (shoulder) were both present, while Clady was limited and Franklin participated only in walk-through sessions with the offensive line.

"He’s a pretty tough player and thankfully he ended up OK," coach John Fox said of Franklin.

Broncos Training Camp Day 12 Report: Injuries, Offensive Struggles

Guard Louis Vasquez spent time at right tackle on Monday when Orlando Franklin went down with an injury.

After getting Sunday off, the Denver Broncos returned to Dove Valley on Monday for their twelfth day of training camp.  The team was hit again by the injury bug and the offense at times looked sloppy, as the defense came to play and a surprise receiver turned heads.

Attendance and injury report

Middle linebacker Nate Irving was not present (excused for personal reasons), tight end Joel Dreessen (knee) did not participate as cornerback Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie (ankle), wide receiver Greg Orton (ankle), and running back Jeremiah Johnson (toe) also sat out.

Tackle Ryan Clady was limited.

Left tackle Ryan Clady (shoulder) and safety Quinton Carter (knee) practiced on a limited basis, while right tackle Orlando Franklin (hip) and receiver Quincy McDuffie (hamstring) left the field during practice with injuries.  An MRI after practice for Franklin came back negative.

"(Franklin was) bumped and is being evaluated, so we'll keep you updated," an unworried coach John Fox said of Franklin's injury after practice.

Broncos Will Place O-Lineman Chris Kuper and J.D. Walton on PUP List

When the Denver Broncos begin training camp practices on Thursday, they will place both guard Chris Kuper and center J.D. Walton on the physically unable to perform (PUP) list, according to the Denver Post.

Both players are recovering from ankle surgeries and will not be back until at least six weeks into the season.  In Walton's absence, veteran Dan Koppen is expected to start at center and free-agent signee Louis Vasquez is expected to start at guard, where Kuper had been a starter since 2007.

Meanwhile, left tackle Ryan Clady, who just signed a five-year deal with the team earlier this month, is recovering from shoulder surgery and may miss up to three weeks of training camp, also per the 'Post.

In the meantime, Denver's starting five may look something like this:

                         LT             LG              C                   RG                RT

Chris Clark, Zane Beadles, Dan Koppen, Louis Vasquez, Orlando Franklin

Broncos players reported to Dove Valley on Wednesday and will hit the practice field on Thursday.  Their first preseason game will be played on Thursday, Aug. 8 in San Francisco against the 49ers.

Prior to their game against the 49ers, the Broncos will hold a team scrimmage at Sports Authority Field at Mile High on Saturday, Aug. 3—admission is free.  To buy tickets to Denver's preseason and regular season matches, check out Denver Broncos tickets from GoTickets.

Twitter Reactions and Updates to Ryan Clady Signing with Broncos

A day before the franchise tag signing deadline, the Denver Broncos came to terms on a multi-year deal with All-Pro left tackle Ryan Clady.  The news was first reported by ESPN's Adam Schefter, CBS4's Vic Lombardi, and ProFootballTalk.com's Mike Florio.

Ryan Clady and Denver have agreed to a five-year, $57.5 million contract, including $33 million guaranteed.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) July 15, 2013

Expect Broncos to Lock Up Ryan Clady Before Monday's Deadline

The Denver Broncos and left tackle Ryan Clady have until 4 p.m. ET on Monday to agree to terms on a long-term deal.  After that deadline, Clady's one-year, $9.8 million franchise tag would lock in.

It doesn't look like Clady will have to sign his tag, though, as the two sides appear to be making progress.

The Denver Post's Mike Klis is reporting that the team has made an offer better than the five-year, $50 million deal that Clady rejected last year, and CBS4's Vic Lombardi says the deal includes $33 million in guaranteed money.

Denver's offer would make Clady the third-highest paid left tackle in the NFL and his camp is "cautiously optimistic" that a deal will get done, per 104.3 The Fan's Brandon Krisztal.  With such progress being made, it appears likely that a deal will be finalized before the deadline.

Now, we wait.

Pasquarelli: Ryan Clady's Representatives Preparing a Counter Offer

Progress is being made on the Ryan Clady front.

Earlier this month, the Denver Broncos started up contract  negotiations with franchise-tagged left tackle Ryan Clady, who is seeking a long-term contract.

Since then, Coach John Fox has hinted at progress and Clady has hinted at being eager to get a deal done.  On Sunday, the National Football Post's Len Pasquarelli (via IAOFM) reported that the two sides "aren't close to a deal," but added:

"The representatives for Clady, who is key to the protection of (quarterback Peyton) Manning, are preparing a counter to Denver’s offer."

The fact that the two sides are negotiations and bouncing around offers is a good sign. These are just the early stages of a deal getting done, but they are necessary stages.

Ideally, the two sides will come to terms before the franchise tag deadline on Monday, July 15. If a deal cannot be agreed upon before then, Clady will likely sign his one-year tag.

Broncos left tackle Ryan Clady "Can't wait to get back to work"

The Denver Broncos and left tackle Ryan Clady have been unable to come to an agreement on a new contract for the veteran left tackle who will turn 27 this season.

Clady (6'6", 315 pounds) saw his five-year, $17.5 million deal that he signed with the team as a rookie in 2008 expire after last season.  After five consecutive seasons of 16 starts in which he allowed just 5.2 sacks per season and earned three Pro Bowl selections, Clady is seeking his first big payday.

But the Broncos have been hesitant to give it to Clady, choosing instead to slap their one-year, $9.8 million franchise tag on him.  Clady has until the July 15 franchise tag deadline to either agree to a long-term deal with the Broncos or he will be locked in with a one-year deal (alternatively, he could hold out the entire season).

But the Broncos have the cap room to come to terms with Clady on a multi-year deal and John Fox has hinted that "something good" will eventually get done.  Clady seemingly echoed those words on Tuesday.

"Can't wait to get back to work," Clady posted on his Facebook page earlier today.  "Patience is (a) virtue!"

Clady's teammates will return to Dove Valley on Wednesday, July 24.  Training camp will begin the next day, on the 25th.

It remains to be seen if Clady will be there.  It sounds like both sides want to get a deal done; only the details have to be worked out now.

Allotting Broncos' 2013 Cap Room to Ryan Clady and Sylvester Williams

Earlier today, the Denver Post's Jeff Legwold confirmed that center Dan Koppen's one-year deal is worth the veteran minimum of $940,000.  That puts Denver's remaining 2013 cap room at around $10,506,000.

Still to be signed by the team are rookie defensive tackle Sylvester Williams and Pro Bowl left tackle Ryan Clady.  At first glance, signing both players and still having cap room to spare sound like a difficult task, but it can easily be accomplished.

Last year, the Broncos were negotiating a contract with Clady in the range of five years and a total value of $50 million, but negotiations stalled and the two sides were unable to strike a deal.  Since then, the market for left tackles has dramatically decreased, as has Clady's value.

In hindsight, Clady and his agent should have jumped to sign for $50 million a year ago.