ENGLEWOOD, Colo. — The Denver Broncos’ newest playmaker had just run his first route of training camp when the voice bellowed from the bleachers positioned just outside the field.“Jay-len Waaaaaddle!” the fan yelled … and then yelled again … and again.As Waddle ran another route and caught a ball near the sideline adjacent to the seating area for fans, the cheers for the wide receiver reached a fever pitch. After the practice, the line of kids waiting to get autographs from players expanded like a water balloon as No. 17 in orange made his way over to the outstretched arms holding Sharpies and mini footballs and shouting his name.Bo Nix may be the beloved franchise quarterback, but there’s been no more popular figure in this Broncos camp than Waddle.Jaylen Waddle was all Denver Broncos needed this offseasonDerrik Klassen“Broncos fans have been great,” Waddle said with an almost blushing grin. “Taking time out of the middle of the day during a workweek just to come out here and see us compete against each other is great. It’s been packed every day. They’ve been very loud. We hear them, and it gives us a lot of energy.”Waddle has been wrapped in a particularly warm, welcoming embrace by Broncos fans because they are well aware of what he represents. The Broncos traded first- and third-round picks in April’s draft to acquire Waddle from the Miami Dolphins in March. They viewed him as a missing piece for an offense that has developed an intriguing cast of young playmakers around Nix — another proven producer at receiver alongside Courtland Sutton.They needed a guy, as Nix put it, who “is really good at what he does.”There’s been no more popular figure among fans in this Broncos camp than Jaylen Waddle. (Ron Chenoy / Imagn Images)One week into training camp, it has become clear to see how the Broncos believe Waddle’s electric skills can fit into their offense. Take a common scene through one week of training camp: Waddle lines up in the slot, fires off the line of scrimmage and starts breaking on a slant route as soon as the ball hits the quarterback’s hands. He consistently wins inside on those quick-hit plays — even as defenders adjust themselves attempting to disrupt that angle — and then gobbles up yards after the catch in a flash.“We happen to be a match defense, at times, so there are a lot of times where, in base formation, we (as safeties) will have to cover slot (receivers),” Broncos safety Brandon Jones said. “I’m like, ‘Ah, can’t wait. I’ve got Jaylen Waddle in the slot. This is awesome.'”Jones relayed that experience with a not-so-subtle hint of sarcasm, suggesting that “awesome” as it relates to defending Waddle is another way of saying, Here comes a headache. The veteran defensive back began his career with the Dolphins and played with Waddle in Miami for three seasons. Waddle had nearly 3,400 yards receiving during those three seasons (2021 to 2023), a human blur inside what was a high-octane offense for the Dolphins during much of that stretch.But Jones believes his two-time teammate may be even more dangerous now.“He might be a little faster, which is insane,” Jones said. “I didn’t think that was possible. He just brings a different kind of juice.”What should make Waddle particularly dangerous for Denver’s offense is his ability to use that speed as a setup for the proverbial off-speed pitch that can buckle defenders at the knees. Waddle, during a one-on-one drill during Tuesday’s practice, was matched up with All-Pro corner and former Alabama teammate Pat Surtain II, who covers ground as well as any cornerback in the league. Waddle burst off the line, selling a deep route, before powering down as if he had just had his cord pulled out of the wall. He then quickly redirected to the sideline to haul in a pass from Nix as Surtain gave chase. It is a set of traits that can bend the geometry of a defense, even when Waddle doesn’t end up as the target.“Usually, fast guys can’t really stop that well,” said nickel Ja’Quan McMillian, who has routinely matched Waddle out of the slot during camp. “But he can do both. He can run fast and stop, which makes him very dangerous. It’s been great competing against him. I know he’s making me better, and that’s what we want.”Nix has made it clear that Waddle has delivered a different element to Denver’s offense, saying he added an explosive component “we’ve lacked for a couple of years.” The 27-year-old receiver has looked in these early days of camp like a player who can unlock new areas of the field for the third-year quarterback. Nix last season averaged only 6.8 yards per pass attempt on throws between the numbers, according to TruMedia. Only the Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ Baker Mayfield and the New Orleans Saints’ Spencer Rattler had a lower average on those throws. Only seven teams threw fewer passes between the hashes than Denver did last season (44).Broncos safety Brandon Jones is impressed by Jaylen Waddle’s speed. “He just brings a different kind of juice,” Jones said. (David Zalubowski / Associated Press)Broncos coach Sean Payton talked after the season about finding “the meat on the bone,” areas that could be targeted to boost a team that was a win away from a Super Bowl appearance last season. Creating more catch-and-run explosives in the middle of the field would certainly qualify, but Nix scoffed at the notion that Waddle will be a boon in only one area.“Middle of the field, outside, vertically, behind the line of scrimmage — anywhere,” Nix said of Waddle’s impact. “We’re going to utilize him, and whatever the defense is giving us, we’re going to attack.”As seamless as Waddle has appeared to move within Denver’s offense, he conceded Tuesday there has been an adjustment period as he works to digest a Payton offense that can be cumbersome for receivers learning it for the first time. That’s where Nix, who was part of the welcoming party for Waddle when he arrived in Denver during the spring, has been a reassuring sounding board.“Last week, he had seen me thinking about the plays, and he kind of walked up to me and said, ‘Hey, brother. Don’t think. Just play. I got you,'” Waddle said. “And he’s been having me, so I love Bo.”The feeling is clearly mutual. Nix said last week that he can already feel how Waddle’s presence — and the defensive attention it demands — is opening things up for Denver’s other playmakers, from the tight ends to the running backs. If it all results in a leap this season for the Broncos’ offense, the honeymoon phase for Waddle and a new fanbase’s adoration don’t figure to end anytime soon.News and notes• Edge rusher Nik Bonitto left practice early Tuesday with an undisclosed injury and did not return, but Payton said afterward he expected the All-Pro to be fine.Bonitto appeared to suffer the injury during a team period focused on short-yardage rushing. He walked gingerly with a medical trainer on both sides as he left the field and entered the locker room. Payton had no other immediate update on the injury.• Center Luke Wattenberg, who left Monday’s practice with an apparent arm injury, attended Tuesday’s workout but did not have pads on and did not participate in individual or team drills. Wattenberg spent time working on a side field with Denver’s other rehabbing players. Payton said after Monday’s practice that he expected Wattenberg to be fine.• The first skirmish of camp took place during the day’s final team period. McMillian knocked down a pass intended for tight end Evan Engram on an out route, and Engram ended the play by shoving McMillian. McMillian then shoved Engram, and teammates from both sides of the ball converged around them. There was some shoving, but no punches appeared to be thrown.