Broncos notes: Smith a bit shaky as returner

Denver has pushed Alphonso Smith to be the team’s kickoff and punt returner, but Smith’s ball security issues might prevent him from grabbing hold of the job.

Smith has been shaky catching punts and kickoffs in practice, and special teams coordinator Mike Preifer said that could cost him.

“He’s got all the skills,” Priefer said. “He’s got quickness, speed, toughness, he’s got good enough size, but if he can’t control the ball, he can’t be the returner, in my opinion.”

One problem is receiver Eddie Royal doesn’t appear to be an option as a full-time returner.

“If he could do all of it, I’d be jumping up on the table,” Priefer said. “But I was told on my interview back in January that Eddie wouldn’t be doing as much as he has in the past, which I understand.”

Tailback depth

Denver tailbacks Knowshon Moreno and LaMont Jordan haven’t practiced this week, so the Broncos will be a bit thin there for Sunday’s preseason game. More importantly, Moreno — who sprained his knee in the preseason opener — is running out of time to get up to speed before the regular season.

“I don’t want to put a date or anything on it, but I think he’s working hard to do everything he can every day to get back on the field as soon as possible, and I think everything is going as planned,” Broncos coach Josh McDaniels said.