Broncos’ Sean Payton – Josh Reynolds ‘shaken up’ after shooting

ENGLEWOOD, Colo. — Denver Broncos coach Sean Payton said wide receiver Josh Reynolds was “pretty shaken up” after being shot in Denver a week ago, and noted that the Broncos would make as many resources as needed available to help Reynolds in the weeks ahead.

“Josh Reynolds last week was involved in a very serious incident. … I’m kind of like you where I’ve got the initial details, [but] he’s fortunate,” Payton said after Friday’s practice. “I’ve had a chance to talk with him, he was pretty shaken up.”

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 located — after multiple 911 calls to report two people had been shot — near South Quebec Street and East Union Avenue in Denver. 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, has been present for team activities this week at the Broncos’ complex in south suburban Denver. The Broncos played the Saints in New Orleans on Oct. 17, and Reynolds did not make the trip given he is currently on injured reserve.

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

“They go into play, all of it,” Payton said.

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

Police said Reynolds and two others had reported they were at Shotgun Willie’s, 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 they were followed by multiple vehicles and shots were fired.

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

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

The two men are being held for investigation of attempted first-degree murder and first-degree assault. Documents show police investigators say Mendoza followed Reynolds and the two others out of the strip club when the group left.

Reynolds, 29, signed a two-year, $9 million deal with the Broncos in free agency this past April. He has not played since he fractured 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 a touchdown.