The Sports Xchange

ENGLEWOOD, Colo. — During the Denver Broncos’ one practice before scattering for the bye week, head coach Gary Kubiak elected to emphasize giving his younger players additional repetitions rather than giving veterans extra work.

“The guys that don’t have the 400 reps under their belt — that was the focus,” Kubiak said. “Just to go back and correct some simple things that we’ve been making some mistakes on and let the young guys go through it for the most part. Just to get a good workout in more than anything. A good weight workout today and a good running workout.”

Most of the work for veterans was on the mental side. Before receiving a five-day break, Kubiak and his coaches held meetings with position groups where they tried to focus on the team’s strengths and weaknesses.

Their meetings with players were dialogues.

“We want feedback, too,” Kubiak said. “We sat down and watched all of the cut-ups with the players and got a lot of feedback. We need to narrow down. The deeper that you get into the season, I think, the more you narrow down on, hopefully, what you do best.”

–As dominant as the Broncos’ defense has been so far this season, one problem rankles the unit: penalties, particularly of the 15-yard variety.

One-third of the nine touchdown drives permitted by the Broncos through six games saw penalties keep them alive.

“Penalties. Mainly just penalties and then penalties again and then penalties,” said linebacker Von Miller. “The timing of them is just bad. After a quarterback gets to third down, we get a roughing the passer and then boom, 15 yards, and then they use that momentum to go down and score. That’s really the only way that we’re getting beat right now.

“If we can knock that down — it sounds easier than what it really is — but if we can knock that down, we should see everything else get a little bit better.”

Notes: outside linebacker DeMarcus Ware is expected back after the bye. Ware missed the Cleveland game with back spasms that set in during the Week 5 win at Oakland. … Left tackle Ty Sambrailo is targeting the Packers game for his return. Sambrailo practiced on a limited basis all last week and also worked during the Oct. 20 bye-week practice. … Running back Juwan Thompson spent Tuesday’s practice working out with a strength and conditioning coach as he recovers from a hamstring injury. The Broncos hope to have him back after the bye. … Outside linebacker Shane Ray is expected to miss a few weeks after suffering a sprained medial collateral ligament against the Browns. With Ray sidelined, Shaquil Barrett, Lerentee McCray and Kenny Anunike will see more time rotating in at outside linebacker.

Wide receiver Emmanuel Sanders was held out of Tuesday’s practice after suffering a shoulder injury while diving for a reception late in regulation play Sunday. … Receiver Demaryius Thomas will continue to be monitored as he deals with a neck injury he suffered in the Oct. 4 win over Minnesota. Thomas practiced Tuesday.