Broncos’ Sean Payton – Josh Reynolds ‘upset’ after shot

ENGLEWOOD, Colo. (AP) — Denver Broncos coach Sean Payton said wide receiver Josh Reynolds was “pretty shaken” after he was shot in Denver a week ago, noting that the Broncos would provide as many resources as needed to help Reynolds in the crisis weeks ahead.

“Last week, Josh Reynolds was involved in a very serious incident… I feel the same way you do, I have the initial details, (but) he’s lucky,” Payton said after Friday’s practice. “I did.” “I had a chance to talk to him, he was pretty upset.”

Reynolds, who is currently on injured reserve after undergoing finger surgery earlier this month, was one of two men injured in a shooting in Denver early last Friday.

According to police documents, Reynolds and another man were found near South Quebec Street and East Union Avenue in Denver after multiple 911 calls reporting that two people had been shot. Reynolds had been shot twice, once in the left arm and once in the back of his head.

Reynolds and the other man were then treated and released from a Denver-area hospital hours after the shooting with what police called “non-life-threatening injuries.”

Reynolds, who could not be reached for comment, was present at team activities at the Broncos complex in south suburban Denver this week. The Broncos played the Saints in New Orleans last Thursday night (October 17) and Reynolds was unable to make the trip as he is currently on injured reserve.

Payton said Friday that when he spoke with Reynolds, he made it clear that the Broncos have “so many resources available to them,” including counseling while Reynolds recovers from his injuries.

“They come into play, everything,” Payton said.

Payton also said Friday that he had spoken to the rest of the team about the shooting.

Police said Reynolds and two others reported they were at Shotgun Willies, a strip club in Glendale, Colorado, and left at 2:45 a.m. Friday morning. Reynolds and one of the men left the club in an SUV and later told police that they were followed by several vehicles and shots were fired.

Reynolds and the other man got out of the SUV when it could no longer drive on Interstate 25, the highway that traverses Denver from north to south. The SUV was later found by police with multiple bullet holes.

The third man in Reynolds’ group, who was not in the SUV, was injured by broken glass but not shot, according to documents. Denver police announced they had arrested two men in connection with the shooting: Burr Charlesworth, 42, and Luis Mendoza, 35.

The two men are being held on charges of attempted murder and assault. Documents show police investigators say Mendoza followed Reynolds and the other two out of the strip club as the group was leaving.

Reynolds, 29, signed a two-year, $9 million contract with the Broncos as a free agent last April. He hasn’t played since breaking a finger on a 9-yard touchdown catch in the Broncos’ Week 5 loss to the Las Vegas Raiders.

He has 12 receptions for 183 yards with one touchdown.