Sean Payton knows Garett Bolles’ game well at this point.
He just didn’t know his age.
That, of course, was no hindrance to Denver signing the left tackle to a four-year extension worth $82 million on Thursday. Payton, though, insisted he didn’t realize Bolles was already in his 30s.
“The way he’s played, he’s available, he’s in incredible shape. I didn’t realize he’s (32),” Payton said Friday. “(General manager George Paton) and I were talking. I just had never paid attention to that.”
Payton, naturally, pays close attention to his offensive line’s production. He’s a believer in a team being built from the inside out. And Denver now has a key piece secured.
“He does a great job in taking care of his body and then besides that, the most important thing, is he’s one of the premier pass-blockers in our league,” Payton said. “He stays in front of his man. There’s times where we’ve got to help elsewhere and that’s hard to find. He’s excited about it and we are as well.
“It’s much deserved.”
Moss out vs. Indy. The Broncos will be without cornerback Riley Moss for a second straight game because of a right MCL injury he suffered against Las Vegas.
The team ruled Moss, a second-year player out of Iowa, out officially on Friday after he hadn’t practiced all week.
“We’ve got plenty of depth on the back end and we just have to understand who we’re playing and how we’re playing this game,” Payton said Friday after the team allowed 497 passing yards to Jameis Winston and Cleveland before its bye week. “I think we made a pretty good point of that.”
The question will be whether Denver continues with veteran Levi Wallace on the outside opposite Pat Surtain II or goes with rookie Kris Abrams-Draine or third-year man Damarri Mathis instead.
“Defend the tape.” One of the interesting sub-plots to Sunday’s critical game is that both teams are coming off their bye week.
That means each side can expect more of the unexpected given the extra preparation time.
“You’ll see some things, wrinkles, but you’ve got to defend the tape,” Payton said of his approach to planning. “I’ve known (Colts defensive coordinator Gus Bradley) for a long time, so we’ve got this year’s defense, last year’s defense. How much do you want in the cut-ups? If there’s a play we remember running against Seattle when he was there or Jacksonville.
“Now, offensively, you’re defending the offense and the offense with (quarterback Anthony Richardson). That’s different than the offense with Joe Flacco. And so he’s a run threat and that becomes more challenging. There’s a different challenge with it.
“You’ve got to defend the tape and what you’ve been seeing and then handle the adjustments.”
Hot hand? The Broncos have been rotating three running backs in Javonte Williams, Jaleel McLaughlin and rookie Audric Estime.
McLaughlin had a season-high 14 carries for 84 yards plus one catch against Cleveland. Each of the three backs has led Denver in carries over the past four games.
Williams has been in a rut, totaling minus-1 yards on 12 carries the past two games.
“All of them need something to get going in a rhythm,” Payton said. “They’re used to playing. So it’s hard to evaluate Javonte or Audric on four touches. So we’ll keep working through that.”
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