ENGLEWOOD — A half-dozen or so years ago on a hot Alabama practice field, Pat Surtain II and Jaylen Waddle discussed their hope for the future.

“We talked about this early on in our careers that eventually we would be (NFL) teammates,’’ Surtain said Tuesday. “Now it’s pretty cool, and we get to run it back.”

Surtain both played for the Crimson Tide from 2018-20 and became close friends. In 2021, Surtain joined the Broncos and became a star NFL cornerback and Waddle headed to Miami to become a star NFL receiver. They were reunited when Waddle was dealt in March to Denver.

“(Waddle) creates a whole new dynamic, and that’s pretty exciting,’’ Surtain said after the first day of a three-day mandatory minicamp at Broncos Park. “When you have a player like that on your team, iron sharpens iron, and we’re looking forward to those matchups and those battles (in practice). I’m looking forward to seeing him do his thing on Sundays.”

Surtain said Waddle has “speed, speed, speed” and more at receiver.

“(He also brings) playmaking ability and he also has a good feel for the game as well, how to beat certain coverages and certain looks,’’ Surtain said. “It’ll be fun to watch.”

Quarterback Bo Nix is also looking forward to having a new weapon.

“There’s an element of explosiveness that I think as an offense we’ve lacked for a couple years,’’ Nix said. “We’ve had plenty of explosive plays, plenty of points, all that kind of stuff. We’ve made great strides, but there was a level of explosiveness that a guy like that adds.

“That’s the kind of weapon that we added, and that’s I think what we all have been out here watching and sort of really enjoy watching. Just seeing him get out here and move and run around. You just can’t replace speed. … He looks like he doesn’t really slow down to make cuts, which is pretty tough to do for a fast guy. He’s just going to add an element of relief.”

Nix also got a good look at Waddle in college. The quarterback in 2019 and 2020 was then playing for archrival Auburn.

Broncos waive Woods, Manning

The Broncos on Tuesday made a pair of moves to clear room on the roster for two players signed out of the United Football League.

The Broncos waived wide receiver Michael Woods II with an injury designation and cornerback Paul Manning with an injury settlement. That comes after they signed wide receiver Hakeem Butler and defensive back Sean Fresch Jr. after both completed the season with the UFL’s St. Louis Battlehawks.

Butler and Fresch told The Denver Gazette they both signed Monday, and their contracts weren’t turned into the NFL until Tuesday. So the Broncos had until Tuesday to finalize the players they would let go.

Woods, a four-year NFL veteran who was signed after participating in a rookie minicamp last month as a tryout player, missed time the last two weeks in organized team activities due to a right leg injury. If he clears waivers, he will revert to injured reserve for Denver.

Manning, an undrafted rookie from Henderson State, also was signed after being a tryout player at the rookie minicamp.

Denver coach Sean Payton was thrilled with the additions of Butler and Fresch, who both worked out last week at Broncos Park.

“(Fresch) is really smart at the nickel, he’s a returner, got quick change of direction,’’ Payton said. “There’s a big receiver (in the 6-foot-5, 227-pound Butler). There are traits that you see at a position that I think sometimes as you head into (training) camp those are important looks. So both of them had success, and we felt that we helped upgrade the roster.”

Powers again replaced by Palczewski

Broncos starting left guard Ben Powers hasn’t participated this spring in team drills, with Alex Palczewski taking over that spot.

Payton touched upon Powers on Tuesday but didn’t offer any medical specifics.

“Ben’s doing well. … Ben’s right on schedule to where we thought he’d be at this point,’’ Payton said of Powers, who also watched Palczewski fill in for him during organized team activities.

Powers missed nine games last season due to a torn left biceps and has been wearing a brace this spring on his left arm. Palczewski started 10 games at left guard last season when Powers was either out or working his way back.

“The thing that we saw, and the thing that we’ve seen for a couple of years now, is flexibility, his football I.Q., his intelligence,’’ Payton said of Palczewski.

Other players not observed practicing Tuesday included offensive linemen Alex Forsyth, Calvin Throckmorton and Nick Gargiulo, tight end Caleb Lohner and cornerback Jaden Robinson.

Back-to-back big plays

Tuesday’s practice included back-to-back exhilarating plays.

With the line of scrimmage at the offense’s own 25, defensive lineman Matt Henningsen tipped a Sam Ehlinger pass at the line of scrimmage and ran in for a touchdown. He was mobbed by teammates on defense.

On the next play, Ehlinger threw a short pass to fullback Adam Prentice. He rumbled about 65 yards down the right sideline for a touchdown.

Payton lauded the play by Henningsen, who missed all of last season with a torn Achilles tendon.

“He does a great job of seeing those screens or underneath throws,’’ Payton said. “He’s doing really well. He’s exceptionally smart. He has great respect from his teammates.”

Sawyer among tryout players

Rookie quarterback Sawyer Robertson is among eight tryout players this week at Denver’s minicamp.

Robertson played at Mississippi State and Baylor before going undrafted in April. He threw for 3,681 yards and 31 touchdowns last season for the Bears.

The other tryout players for the Broncos are defensive backs Blake Cotton and DeCarlos Nicholson, defensive linemen Herbert Gums, Reid Holskey and Marlon Tuipulotu, tackle Reid Holskey and center Jack Walsh, who played at Wyoming.