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‘We have a defense full of young guys who are mostly self-made’: Fueled by a young and hungry roster, Denver’s defense continues to make strides

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‘We have a defense full of young guys who are mostly self-made’: Fueled by a young and hungry roster, Denver’s defense continues to make strides


ENGLEWOOD, Colo. — The Broncos’ defense is no longer flying under the radar.

Entering the 2024 season, Denver’s defense may have been easy to overlook. The unit features only one first-round draft pick in cornerback Pat Surtain II and is made up of many late-round picks and undrafted players.

But for Defensive Coordinator Vance Joseph, this is not a limiting factor. Rather, it’s part of what he believes is allowing the unit to find so much success.

“We have a defense full of just young guys who are mostly self-made,” Joseph said Thursday. “We have one first-round pick, and that’s Patrick, who’s a really good player. Everyone else, [they] are pretty self-made guys who are just grinders. And that’s helped our process of working hard and being smart, studying and just doing it right. Playing together and being team-first guys. It’s a group of self-aware, young hungry guys who are still trying to reach for more. I don’t have a problem of motivating guys [or] keeping guys humble, because it’s there every day.”

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For Joseph, there are few better examples of this than outside linebacker Jonathon Cooper. A former seventh-round draft pick in 2021, Cooper currently leads the Broncos with three of the team’s 16 sacks this season. And while Cooper has certainly made his presence known on game days, Joseph stressed that his impact is one that can be felt day in and day out.

“He’s the same person every day,” Joseph said. “His energy, his toughness [and] his focus is always on point. So, he’s a guy that allows you to change the culture because how he works every day on and off the field is contagious, and guys have to match his intensity. He’s been that way for two years I’ve been here, and it doesn’t change on game day. He is a fully engaged, full speed, physical player.”

Cooper said there’s “no secret” to how the defense has been performing this season; it comes down to developing culture by bringing that mindset to practice each and every day.

“It’s how we show up today at practice,” Cooper said Wednesday. “… Show up and make sure we execute the game plan that Coach [Joseph] just installed. Go out there, practice hard. If you practice hard and take care of the stuff that you’re supposed to during the week, then the game becomes a little bit easier, and that’s what we have to do every day.”

Cornerback Riley Moss, a former third-round draft pick in 2023, is a player that seems to have bought into this mindset. Moss has played opposite Surtain in Denver’s first four games of the season, and he has regularly spoken of his desire to study the game and his commitment to self-improvement. While Moss has shown steady progression throughout the season — recording a forced fumble in Week 3, as well as a fumble recovery in Week 4— the young and hungry culture of the defense is one that resonates. Moss noted that there is still plenty of work to be done as Denver looks to reset each week.

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“My goal is to take one thing every week and get better at it,” Moss said Wednesday. “Keep building and chipping away. I think as the season has progressed — it’s Week 5 — I think I’ve gotten better as the season has gone on. It’s good, but it’s not great. There [are] still things to work on.”

As Denver’s defense currently ranks second in the league in sacks and total defense, the unit may no longer be being overlooked. But the way the players approach their preparation has remained unchanged — with a desire to continue to get better and reach their full potential each time they have the opportunity to step on the field.

“I think there’s always going to be room for growth, no matter how well you’re doing or what kind of defense that you have,” Cooper said. “There’s always going to be areas that you need to improve on. Even the areas that have been our strengths, we can make them even more efficient. Just making our strengths more prevalent out there when we’re out there. … It just comes back to doing work.”



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Denver, CO

Broncos vs. Raiders: Wednesday practice participation report

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Broncos vs. Raiders: Wednesday practice participation report


The Denver Broncos have a mix of good and bad news to start their Week 14 preparation to take on the Las Vegas Raiders on Sunday. First, the good news. Edge rusher Jonah Elliss is a full participant to start this week after a multi-week rehab on a hamstring injury. It sure looks like he’ll be ready to return to action barring any setbacks there.

The bad news is interior defensive lineman D.J. Jones was a non-participant in practice on Wednesday. He was seen watching practice without a helmet, but no other status update on his potential availability for Sunday’s game.

Here is your full practice report for Wednesday.

Denver Broncos Injury Report

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Las Vegas Raiders Injury Report

BOLD – Indicates change in status; NIR­- Indicates not injury related; *- Team conducted a walk-through / report is an estimation
STATUS DEFINITIONS: Did not participate (DNP); Limited: means less than 100 percent of a player’s normal repetitions; Full—100 percent of player’s normal repetitions; Out: will not play; Doubtful: Unlikely to play; Questionable: Uncertain to play



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Hundreds of flights delayed in Denver. Is yours one of them?

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Hundreds of flights delayed in Denver. Is yours one of them?


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More than 300 flights at Denver International Airport were delayed, and three were canceled as of 10:45 a.m. on Dec. 3, according to flight tracking website Flight Aware.

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The first significant blast of wintry weather in Denver for the season could lead to ground stops through the day, with the need to de-ice aircraft already contributing to the delays, according to the FAA. Denver only saw its first measurable snowfall last week, one of the latest recorded first snows in the city’s history.

Delays were expected across the country on Dec. 3, as post-Thanksgiving travel was hampered by a series of storms.

How busy is Denver International Airport?

Denver International Airport was the third busiest in the U.S. in 2024, setting a record for passenger traffic with more than 82.3 million passengers using it. About 45% of those passengers were making connections there, with the rest using it as an origin or destination.

What to do if your flight gets delayed or canceled

Travelers passing through DEN can track their flight status in several places, including the airport website.

If your flight is canceled, Scott Keyes, founder of Going, recommended using the airlines’ mobile app to rebook as soon as possible. If passengers need to speak with someone by phone, Keyes suggested calling one of the carrier’s international lines.

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“The best thing travelers can do is to be as proactive as possible switching to a new flight,” Keyes previously told USA TODAY. “When a flight gets canceled, all of a sudden hundreds of passengers need new itineraries. There may only be a handful of seats left on the best flights, and it’s a first-come, first-(served) endeavor.”

If your flight is delayed, you should also contact the airline quickly and see if it offers any compensation or can rebook you for significant delays. The Trump administration eliminated a rule proposed under the Biden administration that would have required cash compensation for delays under certain circumstances, but airlines may still provide some kind of assistance if you’re going to be stuck for a while.

USA TODAY Staff writer Nathan Diller contributed to this report.

Nate Trela covers trending news in Colorado and Utah for the USA TODAY Network.

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Denver prepares for first big snow of the season; most residential streets won’t be plowed

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Denver prepares for first big snow of the season; most residential streets won’t be plowed


DENVER (KDVR) — Denver is bracing for the first significant snow of the season, and city officials warn the worst impacts could hit right during Wednesday’s morning commute.

The Denver Department of Transportation and Infrastructure says most residential streets — including many in the city’s core neighborhoods — will not be plowed overnight. Instead, crews will focus on main roads and known trouble spots as snow moves in late Tuesday into early Wednesday.

“This is definitely… that feeling of here we go, winter has begun,” said DOTI spokesperson Nancy Kuhn.

Kuhn says pavement temperatures ahead of the storm aren’t freezing yet, meaning light-to-moderate accumulations can be managed without deploying residential plows.

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“Since the pavement temperatures are not freezing yet, we don’t think that we’re going to need to deploy those residential plows,” she said.

Drivers should expect snow-packed and icy conditions in neighborhoods through the morning rush, she added.

“People may have forgotten … what it’s like to drive on snowy, wet roads, and so definitely we ask people to slow down,” Kuhn said.

DOTI says plow drivers will begin reporting at 10 p.m., with full staffing by midnight.

“Our drivers will start coming in tonight at 10, everyone will be in by midnight, so we will be ready to go when the storm hits,” Kuhn said.

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Denver metro commuters preparing for delays

Some residents tell FOX31 they’re already planning for a difficult commute.

“Tomorrow I am blessed that I don’t work until 3:00, so I am praying that some savior will shovel all the … all the snow away from my car,” said Capitol Hill resident Morgan Najm.

Westminster resident Celia Bell said she doesn’t expect to arrive on time.

“Yeah, I’m not … I am going to come in late. Because what is the point?” she said.

Bell urged drivers to take it slow.

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“Avoid it if you can, trust your brakes… don’t take them for granted,” she said. “I’ve been inches and seconds away from like a semi… and been like skidding into the intersection.”

Najm says leaving early can make all the difference.

“Just leave an hour earlier… even a half hour earlier… whatever you are comfortable with,” she said. “It gives you more time so you can casually get to your destination instead of being reckless on the road and risking it for others who are petrified!”

Reminder: shovel your sidewalks or risk a fine

Denver also requires residents and businesses to clear their sidewalks after the snow stops falling — or face potential fines.

“Businesses should start clearing as soon as they can; residents have 24 hours,” Kuhn said.

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When reminded of the rule, Najm joked she wasn’t fully prepared.

“We are reminding people they need to get their shovels out,” FOX31’s Hanna Powers told her.

“Is that me? Like, do I have to do that?” Najm laughed. “I should go buy a shovel right now.”

Some of the heaviest snow is expected before sunrise, creating potentially hazardous conditions on unplowed residential streets. FOX31’s Pinpoint Weather Beast will be out throughout the morning commute, providing live updates on road conditions across the metro area.

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