Broncos running back Phillip Lindsay describes offensive guard Dalton Risner as a “character.” He likes to talk smack — even to his own teammates.
Risner and quarterback Drew Lock were both selected in the second round of this year’s NFL draft and they roomed together in the spring. They formed a friendship and Risner, being the jokester that he is, has carried their banter into the huddle.
“Dalton Risner likes to give me a lot of crap in the huddle, especially in practice,” Lock said with a smile Wednesday. “He’ll go up to the ball after I call a play, he’ll ask me, and say the exact opposite of the play pretty much. ‘No, Dalton.’ He’s just trying to get me all riled up.”
Lock did not play calls in college while at Missouri so he has been wearing an armband to call plays. Risner couldn’t let that slide.
“That first time out there where I was in the huddle, Buzz Lightyear was used,” Lock said. “‘To Infinity and Beyond,’ with the play calls on my arm, they got all of it ready for me. It’s been fun. It keeps things light for sure in practice. Dalton likes to talk.”
Lindsay believes Risner’s talking is good for the team.
“Dalton gives everybody grief, but that’s just who he is,” the running back said. “That’s great when you have good character guys. You need that in the huddle, and you need that for your team. That helps build a franchise into being successful. You have to have different personalities.”
Through the first 12 games of his career, Risner has been penalized three times and has allowed 2.5 sacks. Not a bad start.
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