ENGLEWOOD — Broncos offensive lineman Quinn Meinerz showed off a new haircut to begin training camp in his quest for constant improvement.

Say goodbye to long brown dreadlocks. Say hello to a buzz cut.

“I had a fun six years with the locks. It was just time to let them go,” Meinerz said on Thursday at Broncos Park after the team’s final acclimation practice. “Too much maintenance and too much of a distraction kind of thing. I’m just moving on to the next thing and the next journey. … I’ve picked them up off the ground in games and stuff. It’s good to have some short hair now.”

Meinerz is all business to begin his fifth NFL season. He earned validation last year as a first-team All-Pro selection at right guard. Meinerz allowed one or fewer pressures in 11 games, per Next Gen Stats. He also gave up just one sack with the lowest pressure rate (3.6%) among all NFL guards.

Meinerz still approaches the game with an underdog mentality of playing in college at Division III Wisconsin-Whitewater.

“I’m trying to create a gap of being the best and I can improve in all phases and continue to be more consistent,” Meinerz said. “That’s a big feedback part at the end of the season that I like to have with my coaches. There’s still a lot I can do to improve in the run-game specifically. Every single year you have to keep sharpening pass protection because these guys are incredible athletes across the entire defensive line. It’s an uphill battle every single year. But I feel really great about the teammates I have to push me to be the best along with our coaching staff.”

Meinerz used the same adjective — “incredible” — to describe the Broncos’ offensive line continuity and practicing against a talented defensive line. Meinerz also settled into a leadership role after being voted team captain for the first time last year.

“I feel a lot less pressure about any of that this year,” Meinerz said. “Who I am is more than good enough and that was something I struggled with last year. I’m excited to have that mentality moving forward and not having to battle through that.”

Broncos' Talanoa Hufanga 'excited to thrive,' jokes about fighting ex-49ers teammate Trent Williams

Fan information

Broncos training camp opens Friday with the first of 13 practices open to fans.

All practices begin at 10 a.m., and parking lots open at 8 a.m. The Broncos’ clear bag policy used at Empower Field is also required at training camp.

A free mobile ticket is required for entry, however, all open practices quickly sold out. Fans can return their tickets by emailing [email protected] up to 30 minutes after the start of practice each day. Refunded tickets will be made available to the general public through Ticketmaster on a day-to-day basis.

Public seating changed this year from the grassy berm on the west sideline to temporary bleachers on the south sideline because of ongoing construction. Fan attendance is capped at 800 each day.

Broncos' Bo Nix worked out in offseason with former star quarterback Drew Brees

Nix ranked No. 64

It took just one season for Broncos quarterback Bo Nix to crack the NFL’s Top 100 list.

Nix on Thursday was revealed to be No. 64 on the annual list put out based on votes from NFL players.

Nix was taken with the No. 12 pick in the 2024 NFL draft. He started all 17 games last season and threw for 3,775 yards with 29 touchdowns as the Broncos made the playoffs for the first time since 2015.

The list is being revealed this summer in a countdown to No. 1. Earlier this month, Broncos defensive end Zach Allen was named No. 90.

“It was kind of his team when he got here,” Meinerz said Thursday about when Nix arrived in Denver. “Our job as the offensive line is to make him feel comfortable (both) on the field and off the field. He’s done a great job himself preparing for his moments. I think we’ve all done our job around him to make him feel comfortable, players and staff, to continue to be behind him and let Bo Nix be Bo Nix.”

Safety Talanoa Hufanga joined the Broncos as a free agent in March. It hasn’t taken him long to become impressed with Nix.

“He’s just a smart player,” Hufanga said Thursday. “Then you get on the field and you see how accurate he is and what kind of arm he has. Especially at the first day at (organized team activities in May), the first ball was over everybody’s head and I was like, ‘Wow.’ You have to account for those kind of things.

“Not every game that you play in the NFL are you going to play a quarterback that can launch it that far. For him, he has that ability to just get it over the defense’s head and that changes your perspective on how to play him. … (Nix) is a great person and great player. Just seeing how he handles himself in the locker room and the cafeteria and all that, I’m excited to play with him.”

Briefly

Right tackle Mike McGlinchey did not participate Thursday in the acclimation practice. Coach Sean Payton did not speak with reporters to provide an update. … The Broncos’ defensive front was especially dominant during team periods. … Rookie wide receiver Joaquin Davis made several impressive catches.