ENGLEWOOD — Courtland Sutton is a self-described good soldier.

It’s a term the Broncos wide receiver used often Thursday when asked to explain his participation level over the last three days of training camp. Sutton only viewed practice on Tuesday and Wednesday. He participated Thursday during individual drills without pads but sat out of team periods.

Sutton, when asked if he is healthy, told reporters at Broncos Park: “Indubitably.”

So, why is the ninth-year NFL wide receiver not practicing? Sutton explained.

“I just try to be a good soldier,” Sutton said. “I had a lot of talks with the team. The strength staff, trainers, coaches and whatnot, about what this plan was going into this part of the season. Last year, I kind of got ran into the ground going into the end part of the season. … Just trying to make sure the body stays as fresh as possible, as long as possible.”

Don’t be surprised if more veteran Broncos players have similar load-management plans in training camp.

“How we look at the recovery of our players, you’ll start seeing that with not just Courtland,” coach Sean Payton said. “You’re going to see it with a number of guys in the next three days.”

Shanahan visits practice

Mike Shanahan coached the Broncos for 14 seasons (1995-2008) and won two Super Bowls. On Thursday, he returned to Broncos Park to visit the new training facility.

Shanahan and Payton both played college football at Eastern Illinois.

“He’s always been, for me, a really good resource,” Payton said. “We were both from the Chicagoland area and went to the same college.”

Payton is confident that Shanahan will eventually be voted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

“Mike’s going to be there,” Payton said. “It’s not if; it’s just what year.”

Nix development

Wide receiver Courtland Sutton is impressed with the continued development of starting quarterback Bo Nix entering his third NFL season.

“He’s in this spot where he’s understanding the game at such a different level,” Sutton said. “Now, he has two years under his belt of seeing what defenses do … and what kind of defensive schemes that guys are throwing at him. Listening to him talk and what he’s expecting from us, it’s been a lot of fun.”

Payton also discussed areas of improvement for Nix.

“He’s not someone who’s slow to progress and slow to process. It’s the other way,” Payton said. “So, there are sometimes where he’s through one so fast … but I’d rather deal with that than the slow processor who’s getting sacked.”

Briefly

Cornerback Riley Moss explained his mentality after a negative play. Moss said: “(Defensive coordinator Vance Joseph) will tell me: ‘Keep going out there. Keep playing aggressive.’ It happens. I know I need to do better as a whole this season, and I have been. It’s been a big focus of this camp. I’m still going to play aggressive and not shy away from it.” … The Broncos hosted tryouts with four players on Thursday, per the NFL transactions wire: DE David Ebuka Agoha, LB Andre Carter, DE Devean Deal and LB Jeremiah Moon.