Broncos get key returnees back in practice as Chargers’ session slips on Thursday

The Denver Broncos’ weekly health trend looked better on Thursday’s practice session, according to a Broncos-versus-Chargers practice report. Denver brought back two familiar pieces into full participation, a move that can help stabilize both the pass rush rotation and the tight end workload going forward.

Edge rusher Dondrea Tillman was listed as a full participant, which matters because Denver’s defensive front typically leans on consistent edge snaps to pressure opposing quarterbacks and force quicker decisions. A full practice also suggests the team was comfortable with his ability to handle the rep volume that comes with normal on-field preparation.

Tight end Adam Trautman also returned as a full participant. For a tight end unit, full participation is more than availability, it is the difference between limited work and being able to run routes and work in timing with the rest of the offense. In practice weeks, that can be particularly important for third-down efficiency and red-zone packages where tight ends often factor into coverage checks and mismatches.

The report indicated that wide receiver Pat Bryant and cornerback Pat Surtain II were expected to be out for Denver’s Thursday session. When a wideout is sidelined, it can change how defensive backs are coached through coverage looks and how quarterbacks distribute targets in team periods. When a shutdown corner is absent, defensive practice plans often have to reshuffle matchups, since the team loses one of its primary references for press coverage and man responsibilities.

On the other side of the practice field, Los Angeles’ session was described as getting worse rather than healthier. Without specific names tied to the changes in the report details provided here, the practical takeaway is straightforward: the Chargers’ preparation could be less stable if more players were limited or unavailable compared with earlier sessions.

Practice reports like this often serve as the first public check of a team’s week-by-week injury management. Even when no game-day decisions have been announced, full participation frequently becomes a baseline for whether a player is trending toward being ready, while players listed as out are usually still behind in their recovery timeline.

What to watch next is how Denver and Los Angeles move from Thursday into the next session window. If Tillman and Trautman remain full participants, it strengthens the case for them to hold meaningful roles in the Broncos’ week planning. If Bryant and Surtain II continue to be held out, Denver’s coaching staff may have to rely on alternates to cover responsibilities in both the passing game and the defensive backfield. For the Chargers, continued negative movement on the practice injury front would be a red flag for how coherent their preparation can remain as the week progresses.

As always with practice reports, the most important reality is that participation status can change quickly from day to day. The next update will show whether Thursday’s health picture becomes the one that carries into the rest of the week, or whether additional limitations emerge for either team.