Starting right guard Montrae Holland was held out of Friday’s first practice because he showed up at training camp overweight.
Instead of working out with the team, Holland spent several hours of one-on-one time with strength and conditioning coach Rich Tuten, running and pushing a sled on a separate practice field.
“I didn’t make weight,” Holland said. “I’ll be back in a few days.”
Holland is listed at 6-foot-2, 322 pounds, weighing more than any offensive lineman except rookie left tackle Ryan Clady, who is 6-foot-6.
“We’re not going to have him practice until he gets back to his reporting weight,” coach Mike Shanahan said.
With Holland out, Chris Kuper practiced for the first time at right guard, with Ryan Harris at right tackle. Kuper and Harris are expected to battle for the starting job at tackle.
Veteran center Tom Nalen was back with the first-team offense. Nalen, entering his 15th season, had his left knee scoped during mini-camp in early June. With Rod Smith’s official retirement on Thursday, Nalen is the only remaining player from the Broncos’ two Super Bowl championship teams.
Cutler being monitored
Quarterback Jay Cutler opened camp wearing a new blood sugar monitor strapped to his upper left arm. The monitor feeds a signal to head athletic trainer Steve Antonopulos every minute.
“He (Antonopulos) just walks by me and tells me where I’m at,” Cutler said.
Cutler, diagnosed with Type I diabetes in the offseason, is not wearing an insulin pump during practice.
“When it gets really hot out it gets a little sticky and I don’t like messing with it,” Cutler said.
No sleep till Dove Valley
Clady’s agent Pat Dye and Broncos officials worked until the wee hours of Friday morning to finalize the contract for the team’s first round draft pick.
The five-year deal with a maximum of $17.5 million with about $11 million guaranteed, was completed around 4:30 a.m., which was when Clady said he received a text message from Dye. “I slept a lot better after that,” Clady said.
Rookie tackle out for the year
Rookie defensive tackle Carlton Powell will miss the season after injuring his right Achilles tendon during conditioning work earlier this month. “His Achilles popped,” Shanahan said. “Obviously he’s out for the year.”
Powell, the team’s second fifth-round pick, signed with the team on July 8, with a signing bonus of about $180,000. Powell will be placed on the Physically Unable to Perform list.
WR Shepherd injured
Wide receiver Edell Shepherd injured his left knee late in the morning session and did not practice in the afternoon. A team spokesman said the injury is still being evaluated. Shepherd is in his first season with the Broncos. He was cut from Detroit after training camp last season, but previously played for Houston and Tampa Bay. Before hurting his knee Friday, Shepherd made one of the prettiest catches of the morning session on a deep pass from quarterback Darrell Hackney.
Mike Bell trying out
Running back Mike Bell, released by the Broncos on Monday, will get a tryout with the New England Patriots.
