ENGLEWOOD – As Josey Jewell was conducting an interview Monday, teammate Alex Singleton walked by and said, “Yes, he’s coming back.”

Jewell is a key Broncos’ impending free agent following their 8-9 season and fellow linebacker Singleton is his best friend and bucking for his return.

“There is still a lot more work to be done here and that’s why I want to come back,’’ Jewell said while players cleaned their lockers out at the Centura Health Training Center. “I think there’s a great opportunity with the players we got, and I’m sure a bunch of new players we’re going to get.”

Jewell said “everybody loves each other in the locker room” and he believes the Broncos will continue to improve under Sean Payton, who in his first year as head coach led them to a three-game improvement over last season’s 5-12 record.

Jewell is coming off a two-year, $11 million deal he signed in 2022 and Denver has salary-cap issues. So it remains to be seen if a deal can be reached.

“That’s goal number one for me,’’ Singleton said of wanting Jewell back. “Obviously, to have us back together, we can only get better. … I’ll be on him every single day.”

The Broncos will have 14 unrestricted free agents. In addition to Jewell, center Lloyd Cushenberry III, fullback Michael Burton, tight end Adam Trautman, kicker Wil Lutz, defensive lineman Mike Purcell, safety P.J. Locke, cornerback Fabian Moreau and wide receiver Lil’Jordan Humphrey also played key roles in 2023.

Cushenberry said after Sunday’s 27-14 loss at Las Vegas in the finale he hopes to re-sign. That was echoed Monday by Purcell and Locke.

“I’m towards the end of my career,’’ said Purcell, 32, a Denver-area native. “I still feel like I have a lot of ball left. Injuries prevented me to participate in the whole offseason. I still turned around and played 16 games … and I played well. If I can finish my career here, that’d be great.”

Locke was less expansive about his desire to return.

“If everything works out the way it does, for sure,’’ he said. “I’d love to be here.”

Denver’s other unrestricted free agents will be cornerback K’Waun Williams, tackle Cam Fleming, running back Dwayne Washington and linebackers Justin Strnad and Ben Niemann. Williams and Fleming have indicated an interest in returning.

The Broncos will have three restricted free agents in defensive tackle Jonathan Harris, offensive lineman Quinn Bailey and linebacker Jonas Griffin

DiNucci among futures signees

As expected, quarterback Ben DiNucci signed a futures contract to remain with the Broncos in 2024.

DiNucci had told The Denver Gazette last Thursday he would sign his deal Monday, the first day eligible.

DiNucci spent the entire season on the practice squad. He was offered a chance to sign to the 53-man roster of the New Orleans Saints in September but elected to remain with Denver because it wasn’t considered a long-term situation. The Broncos then promised to elevate him for three games later in the season, which they did, but he was not active for any.

The Broncos locked up 11 other players off the practice squad to futures deals. Others signing were defensive lineman Jordan Jackson, who played at Air Force, wide receivers Phillip Dorsett II and David Sills V, defensive backs Devon Key, Reese Taylor and Keidron Smith, running back Tyler Badie, linebacker Durell Nchami, outside linebacker Ronnie Perkins, tackle Demontrey Jacobs and guard Will Sherman.

Denver also is looking into signing tight end Johnny Lumpkin off the squad to a futures deal.

A Lumpkin signing would leave three players on the practice squad not having signed futures deals in nose tackle Tyler Lancaster, wide receiver Tre’Quan Smith and defensive lineman Haggai Chisom Ndubuisi, a native of Nigeria who did not count against the squad roster limit due to being an international player. A source said Lancaster, a five-year veteran, will be looking at options with other teams. Smith, a six-year veteran who only was elevated for one game, said he will do the same.

“I just let upstairs make the decisions they made,’’ Smith said of his inactivity. “I’m not the type of player that gets mad if I’m not up.”

Manhertz’s illness

Tight end Chris Manhertz said he missed the finale at Las Vegas after catching hand, foot and mouth disease from one of his kids.

“I got blisters on my hands, foot and mouth,’’ said Manhertz, who sat out the entire week of practice. “It’s contagious. It was bad enough for me not to enter the building. I was quarantined.”

Manhertz returned to the training facility Monday. He said it was a “tough” health situation but he “made it through it” and was feeling a “lot better.”

Briefly

Broncos tackle Mike McGlinchey, who sat out Sunday, said that was due to his injury Dec. 31 against the Los Angeles Chargers being diagnosed as a fractured rib. … Rookie receiver Marvin Mims Jr., who caught 22 passes for 377 yards and was named a Pro Bowl starting kick returner, was asked to grade his season. “I’d give it like a B,’’ he said. “Somewhere in the 80s. It’s pretty good. … I always want more.” … Jerry Jeudy joked about Sunday’s 24-yard touchdown reception from Jarrett Stidham. “Finally getting a touchdown, he said. “It’s been six months.’’ It actually was Jeudy’s second score of the season, the first being Oct. 29 against Kansas City.