Broncos coach Sean Payton recalls two seasons coaching Jameis Winston: “He’s got this infectious personality”

Jameis Winston’s passionate speeches and radiant smile have made him a media darling since taking over as the Browns’ starting quarterback.

But those were traits Sean Payton saw every day while coaching him in New Orleans.

“You hear him before you see him,” the Broncos coach said about his former player, who he will face on Monday night at home. “I really enjoyed coaching him.”

Payton coached Winston for two of the four seasons the 30-year-old signal caller was in New Orleans. Winston served as Drew Brees’ backup in 2020 and then became the starter in 2021, playing in the first seven games before suffering a torn ACL. Winston had totaled 1,170 yards, 14 touchdowns and three picks until the injury kept him sidelined for the rest of that season.

Although Payton’s time with Winston lasted a couple of seasons, it was clear after Wednesday’s practice that the former Florida State standout made a strong impression.

“He’s got this infectious personality… A smile on his face every day he’s at work,” Payton said. “He’s got natural leadership abilities, and you feel that with him.”

Winston is 2-2 in four starts since replacing quarterback Deshaun Watson, who ruptured his right Achilles during Week 7’s loss to the Bengals. He has helped the Browns take down the Ravens and most recently the Steelers. He has thrown four 1,266 yards, seven touchdowns and four interceptions in nine games played.

When Winston was in Tampa Bay, Payton jokingly said he hated him since they were divisional rivals. Expect Payton to have that same energy towards Winston on Monday, as Denver seeks to improve to 8-5 and improve its playoff chances. Just not after the final whistle.

“He’s the ultimate pro,” Payton said.

Injury update: Payton declined to give an update on the availability of defensive lineman Zach Allen (heel) and cornerback Riley Moss (knee). Because the Broncos play on Monday night, the team will provide its first injury report of the week on Thursday afternoon.

Allen missed last week’s win over the Raiders and wore a walking boot on his right foot while in Vegas. Moss sustained an MCL injury during the second quarter but Payton provided a bit of optimism on the second-year defensive back’s health, saying the team considered putting him back in the game.

The Broncos will have a much-needed bye week after their Week 13. Still, that doesn’t change Payton’s approach to handling injured players.

“It always will be, if a player is healthy enough to play, he’ll play, and if the player is not then he won’t,” Payton said.

Lutz wins weekly award. Wil Lutz helped Alex Singleton’s fantasy football team and his own Sunday at Las Vegas.

The Broncos’ kicker made all five of his field goal attempts and both extra points in Denver’s 29-19 win against the Raiders, and on Wednesday he was named the AFC’s special teams player of the week.

Lutz’s work in the first half was particularly critical. He buried three field goals for the Broncos’ first nine points, including kicks from 54 and 53 yards. That doubled his season total of 50-plus-yard field goals to four on six attempts.

For Lutz, it’s the second weekly conference honor this season. He also won it after making all four field goal attempts and a pair of extra points against Tampa Bay in Week 3.

Since the Broncos had a game-winning field goal blocked at the end of Week 10 at Kansas City, Lutz and Denver’s field goal unit is perfect on six field goals and seven extra points.

Aside from the blocked kick against Kansas City — which special teams coordinator Ben Kotwica and head coach Sean Payton each said was a quality kick — his only misses on the season are from 60 yards against the Chiefs before halftime and a 50-yarder late in a 10-9 win at the New York Jets in Week 4.

Overall, Lutz is 24 of 27 on field goals and has made all 26 extra points.

Roster moves. The Broncos on Wednesday signed inside linebacker Zach Cunningham to the 53-man roster from their practice squad.

Cunningham, 29, had been elevated from the practice squad each of the past three weeks. He got the nod on the active roster over Kwon Alexander, another veteran who has been elevated from the practice squad the maximum of three times.

The pair have combined to cover six games since Alex Singleton tore his ACL in Week 3.

Promoting Cunningham opened a spot on the practice squad, which the Broncos filled by signing offensive lineman Calvin Throckmorton after he cleared waivers. Throckmorton had been waived by Denver on Tuesday.

So, in essence, Cunningham and Throckmorton just traded places for roster and availability purposes.

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