Evan Engram has missed games due to injury in five of his eight NFL seasons played.

Will the veteran tight end discover consistent health with the Broncos? Engram discussed his early impressions of Denver’s athletic training and medical staff following practice Monday in a teleconference call with reporters.

“This is probably the best I’ve been around,” Engram said. “Literally, anything we need, they supply it for us. Anything we need for our bodies. Anything we need for sleep. Anything we need for our recovery. This team is all over it. They’ve done nothing but help me.

“They educate me and just help me so much with my body. … This game is a violent game. But I feel like there are definitely things in my routine that can take care of the small soft-tissue stuff that can keep me off the field.

“But definitely, I’m always sending up prayers just to stay healthy throughout the year with just all the collisions and everything that goes on in the game.”

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The Broncos, who open the season at Empower Field at Mile High against the Titans on Sunday, took a chance on several high-profile free agents this offseason with past health issues.

Inside linebacker Dre Greenlaw missed almost the entire 2024 season with the 49ers while recovering from a torn Achilles and a subsequent calf injury. His San Francisco teammate, safety Talanoa Hufanga, played in only 17 games over the last two seasons after a torn ACL and wrist injury.

Running back J.K. Dobbins missed significant games with the Baltimore Ravens from a torn ACL and torn Achilles. He also sprained his MCL with the Chargers. Engram missed seven games last season with an injured hamstring and a torn labrum.

The Broncos are confident in their health for 2025 in large part because of Beau Lowery, vice president of player health and performance, and the team’s staff of athletic trainers and medical experts. Denver achieved a significant reduction in player injuries since Lowery was hired in February 2023 under coach Sean Payton.

“There are two years of proof,” Payton said back in January. “For those prior (years), they earned those numbers. When you have 134 (games missed) because of injury, something’s wrong. Then when you have 30-something two years in a row, something’s right. … When you can put those numbers up, that’s pretty substantial.”

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Cushenberry returns

The Broncos defensive line will see a familiar face against the Titans.

Tennessee center Lloyd Cushenberry was a third-round draft pick of the Broncos in 2020. He started in 57 games over four seasons in Denver before signing in free agency with the Titans.

“It’s football at the end of the day,” defensive tackle D.J. Jones said. “Whether I know you or not, it’s about who is more physical, especially at our position — center to nose (tackle). … It will be a dog fight. I love (Cushenberry). I love his game. So, I’m excited.”

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Greenlaw/Singleton debut

Broncos starting inside linebackers Dre Greenlaw and Alex Singleton did not play together in the preseason while recovering from injuries. Both players are on track for Week 1 against the Titans. Greenlaw is still dealing with a quadriceps muscle issue and might see reduced snaps early in the year.

“We are being smart,” Payton said. “We’re being conservative relative to the approach. It’s a long season. So, most importantly having (Greenlaw) — not only healthy early on — but for the long haul is the goal.”

Broncos teammates are looking forward to seeing their combined impact in 2025.

“It will be great,” Jones said. They’re both two veteran players and they know how to play the position. They know how to help us. I think having both of them out there is going to be amazing.”

Surtain No. 10

Pat Surtain II has earned the respect of his NFL peers.

The Broncos cornerback entered the NFL’s Top 100 list — as voted on by the players themselves — at No. 10 on Monday.

Surtain has quickly ascended the list in recent years. He ranked No. 49 in 2023 and No. 52 in 2024. He is the reigning NFL Defensive Player of the Year after a standout performance last season.

Surtain recorded four interceptions for an NFL-leading 132 return yards, including a 100-yard interception return for a touchdown in Week 5 against the Raiders. Surtain, among cornerbacks with at least 400 coverage snaps, ranked first in fewest yards allowed (306) and lowest target rate (10.9%), according to Next Gen Stats.

The NFL announced Surtain’s No. 10 ranking with a video including NFL players’ reaction.

“If I had to write a textbook on cornerback play, it would be Pat Surtain,” Ravens cornerback Marlon Humphrey said. “There are very few people that move that smoothly at his height and his size. It’s like poetry in motion. It’s honestly beautiful to see when he’s in press man (coverage).”

Surtain joins outside linebacker Nik Bonitto (No. 38), quarterback Bo Nix (No. 64) and defensive lineman Zach Allen (No. 90) as Denver players to make the cut.

Briefly

All Broncos were in attendance at practice Monday except for tight end Nate Adkins (ankle) and practice squad cornerback Reese Taylor (hamstring). … Rookie cornerback Jahdae Barron has changed his jersey number from No. 12 to No. 23, which was formerly worn by running back Audric Estime. Estime was waived and signed to the Eagles’ practice squad. … The Broncos held tryouts Monday, per the NFL transaction wire, for the following players: LB Seth Coleman (Illinois), LB Kylan Guidry (Western Kentucky), DB Alex Johnson (UCLA) and DB Clarence Lewis (Syracuse). … Ex-NFL coach Jon Gruden visited practice on Monday. He posted on social media: “Spending the day in Denver with the @Broncos. What a great operation they have!!”

Spending the day in Denver with the @Broncos What a great operation they have!! pic.twitter.com/817rUhMN7e

— Jon Gruden (@BarstoolGruden) September 1, 2025