Broncos prep for rain in Cincinnati includes wet-ball drills for Bo Nix and more

The Broncos’ run of good weather fortune may be coming to an end.

Denver’s Saturday afternoon game at Cincinnati is forecast to be played in rainy conditions, which would mark the first time the team’s seen anything but dry since late September.

In Week 4 against the New York Jets, a round of surprise precipitation played a role in rookie quarterback Bo Nix throwing for minus-7 yards in the first half and struggling to grip the ball.

The difference this time around is that Denver’s expecting bad weather. The National Weather Service, as of Thursday afternoon, is forecasting an 80% chance of rain Saturday, though heavier precipitation later in the evening, and totals from a half inch to an inch. Denver and Cincinnati kick at 4:30 p.m. Eastern time.

“We prepped for it all week,” head coach Sean Payton said Thursday. … “Everything from not wearing the shields that get fogged up to understanding, every player who wears gloves will have 10 sets. Like, in (Formula 1), you change tires? Those gloves from a series go, get a new pair on. Special teams: understanding coverage, wind, ball security, all those things.”

Offensive coordinator Joe Lombardi said Wednesday that the team not only does drill work with wet footballs, but that the way the footballs themselves are prepared is different when precipitation’s expected.

“Sometimes what’s best in a dry game — there’s a lot that goes into preparing our footballs — and what you like for a dry game is not necessarily the same preparation for a wet game,” he said. “I’m not in there with the equipment guys, but they put a certain scuff on it or there’s a leather polish you use that makes it a little grippier, but maybe the rain reacts to that different.

“Rain balls you’re preparing a different way.”

Nix on Tuesday expressed confidence in his ability — and his offense’s — to handle whatever the weather delivers.

“If you’ve played football, you have to play in the rain,” he said. “We’re excited. I thought we ran the ball well against the Jets that day. We’re going to have to carry that over, have an open mindset and do whatever’s working.

“We’ll be able to handle the rain. We’re professionals, and they have to play in it too. It’s going to be good. It’s going to be a good environment. It will be fun.”

Moss set to return. Broncos cornerback Riley Moss is set to return from a monthlong absence due to an MCL injury.

Moss has been trending this way all week as a full practice participant and Payton made it just about official Thursday when he said of Moss, “He’s doing good. He’ll be ready to go.”

Moss was not made available for interviews in the locker room Thursday. He saw his practice work jump from limited last week to full this week.

He injured his MCL on Nov. 24 at Las Vegas. Since then, the since-waived Levi Wallace started two games and more recently Kris Abrams-Draine and Damarri Mathis have split time.

The Broncos have every player on the 53-man roster available for Saturday’s game after a clean Thursday injury report. The only question is whether they’ll activate running back Tyler Badie (back) from injured reserve.