ENGLEWOOD – Now it’s John Franklin-Myers’ turn to point the finger at himself. 

Head coach Sean Payton on Monday took the blame for a special teams call that resulted in a critical leverage penalty on outside linebacker Dondrea Tillman in the Broncos’ 29-28 loss at Indianapolis the day before. The infraction allowed Spencer Shrader to win the game with a 45-yard field goal on the final play after he had missed a 60-yard attempt. 

The loss to the Colts also featured Denver’s vaunted defense giving up a whopping 473 yards a week after allowing just 133 in a 20-12 win over Tennessee in the opener. 

“If anyone has to take the blame, it’s on me because I feel I can play better,’’ Franklin-Myers told The Denver Gazette after Thursday’s practice at Broncos Park about the team’s defensive issues. 

The defensive lineman is off to a rough start in his eighth NFL season. After being rated the NFL’s No. 12 interior defender by Pro Football Focus in 2024, he is ranked No. 80 after two games this season. 

In the loss to the Colts, Franklin-Myers played 42 of the 71 defensive snaps. He didn’t have a single tackle and was disappointed he “missed a couple.” 

“I expect more out of myself,’’ said Franklin-Myers, whose Broncos (1-1) play Sunday at the Los Angeles Chargers (2-0). “I always feel like there’s more to do. The fans deserve it, the teammates deserve it, and my family deserves it.” 

Franklin-Myers suffered a knee injury against the Titans and sat out a Sept. 10 practice before the game at Indianapolis. Franklin-Myers had a brace on his right knee after Thursday’s practice, but said the injury has not been an excuse for his play. 

“It’s cool,’’ he said of his knee. “I’m a soldier.” 

Franklin-Myers last season played 46% of Denver’s defensive snaps while starting 16 of the 17 games he played. With defensive lineman Malcolm Roach on injured reserve and out for at least the first four games with a calf injury, Franklin-Myers played 61% of the defensive snaps in the first two games. 

Franklin-Myers said he is “much appreciated about” his increased role but knows more is expected from him. 

“Getting the snaps is the first step, and making my routine plays and not missing those tackles is the next step, and I’m going to be better,’’ he said. 

Greenlaw, Engram sit out 

Broncos linebacker Dre Greenlaw and tight end Evan Engram both sat out practice Thursday, putting their availability in doubt for Sunday’s game. 

Greenlaw, who suffered a quad injury July 31, didn’t play in the Broncos’ three preseason games or in their first two regular-season games and hasn’t taken part in a full practice since the start of the regular season. He worked on a side field for the second straight day. 

Engram has a back injury that apparently was suffered against the Colts and sat out his second straight practice. He has not been seen either day during the practice period open to the media. 

Linebacker Justin Strnad, who sat out Wednesday’s workout due to a foot injury, took part in Thursday’s practice on a limited basis. 

Safety Talanoa Hufanga, who was limited in practice Wednesday with a chest injury, was a full participant Thursday. 

Strnad steps up 

Denver’s sack leader through two games is not Nik Bonitto or Jonathon Cooper, outside linebackers who had 13.5 and 10.5 sacks, respectively, last season. 

It’s Strnad, who has looked good replacing Greenlaw. He has one sack in each of the first two games. 

“It’s nice (someone in) our room is leading the team in sacks,’’ said fellow inside linebacker Alex Singleton. 

Strnad, a fifth-round pick by the Broncos in 2020, didn’t play a single defensive snap in 2022 and 2023 before he took over for Singleton last season after he suffered a season-ending torn ACL injury in Week 3. 

“He’s awesome,’’ Singleton said of Strnad. “He’s playing great. I love watching him play. I think he did well last year when he played for me. … He’s a mainstay and I’m really happy for him.” 

Another chance for Thomas  

For the third straight year, wide receiver Thayer Thomas began an NFL season on a practice squad. But he’s happy now to be with the Broncos. “It’s been awesome,’’ said Thomas, signed to the squad before the opener against the Titans. “I was kind of upset just about how things ended in Minnesota, and just having this opportunity was truly a blessing.” After being undrafted in 2023 out of North Carolina State, Thomas spent the past two years on the Vikings’ practice squad and had been hopeful of making the 53-man roster this season. But he was waived, and when it came to getting an invitation to again be on their practice squad, he said the Vikings put him “kind of on hold.” He later jumped at the chance to come to Denver. “I couldn’t be happier to be here,’’ said Thomas, who called it a good opportunity to learn from some of the Broncos’ top receivers.  

Briefly  

Broncos defensive coordinator Vance Joseph called Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert “probably the MVP” in the NFL after two games. Herbert has thrown for 560 yards and five touchdowns with no interceptions. “He’s a special athlete,’’ Joseph said. “He’s playing at a high level right now.” … Not practicing the past two days for the Chargers have been tight end Will Dissly (knee) and defensive back Elijah Molden (hamstring). They put star linebacker Khalil Mack on injured reserve Wednesday with an elbow injury, and he must miss at least four games. … The Chargers, who swept the Broncos last season, are a 2.5-point favorite in the battle for first place in the AFC West.