Multiple fights broke out during a joint practice session between the Denver Broncos and Dallas Cowboys, hosted by Denver on Thursday. The Denver Post reported that the Broncos’ side initiated the fights.
The brawls mostly occurred between the Broncos’ defense and the Cowboys’ offense.
Marquiss Spencer, a defensive lineman for the Broncos, was reportedly involved in some of the fights. Spectators reported that Spencer threw several punches to the opposing side’s offensive line, but there was no ejection from the referee.
Broncos linebacker Bradley Chubb told the media that his team considered their practice facility as “a sanctuary”, thus they would not tolerate rudeness from their visitors.
Chubb knocked down Cowboys running back Ezekiel Elliot and celebrated it with “a little dance”. Tackling the opponent to the ground was not allowed in a practice session. He apologized to Elliot when they walked past each other.
The linebacker also knocked off the ball from Cowboys receiver Noah Brown, who was setting up for the next snap. Brown had earlier caught the pigskin from teammate Dak Prescott.
“Tempers flared a little bit,” Chubb said. “But that’s just the nature of football.”
Denver safety Kareem Jackson said he attempted to be a “peacemaker” so the situation would not worsen.
“99 percent of the time, I’m usually the one pouring gasoline on the fire,” Jackson said.
Broncos head coach Nathaniel Hackett said after the practice that he was relieved that nobody from his team was hurt in the scuffles.
Practice highlights
Thursday’s practice session was Russell Wilson’s first official practice since joining the Broncos in March. He was seen greeting every Cowboys defensive starter on the field.
The star quarterback made sharp passes to wide receiver Courtland Sutton, which earned them at least 15 yards. Wilson also showed partnership with other new teammates, including Kendall Hinton and Javonte Williams. He and Hinton landed a touchdown at the end zone.
Wilson complimented the Cowboys, saying there were several great players on their side. He also expressed joy about his own team’s performance.
On the Broncos’ defensive line, DeShawn Williams managed to penetrate the Cowboys’ offensive side multiple times. Williams was caught in the middle of several scuffles, but he did not participate.
On Cowboys’ side, quarterback Dak Prescott said he was satisfied with the joint practice. He said his team “got better”, especially because they played in another team’s base. Prescott completed three passes with teammate CeeDee Lamb.
“Tensions are high. Emotions are high, first time going to get somebody else,” Prescott said. “But when you put all that to the side, look at the X’s and O’s, the way we executed, the way we communicated, we definitely took a step.”
At least two players from the Cowboys’ side got hurt in the practice—Ian Bunting and John Ridgeway. Bunting collided with the Broncos’ Aaron Patrick. Meanwhile, Ridgeway’s cause of injury is unknown.
The joint practice session was meant to prepare the teams for the upcoming preseason game on August 13. The game will be held at Empower Field in Denver, CO. It will be the first exhibition game between the two teams since 2014.