Baron Browning stays off social media for the most part.
That’s good for sanity’s sake any time of the year, but particularly when the NFL trade deadline is on the horizon — to say nothing of the fact that it happens to fall on Election Day.
Browning, the fourth-year Broncos outside linebacker, has been mentioned as a potential trade target by NFL Network and ESPN over the past week. The rationale: He’s in the final year of his contract, Denver may not be able to keep both him and Jonathon Cooper long-term and the Broncos’ production at outside linebacker held up for the most part even when Browning missed four games due to a foot injury.
Browning’s aware his name is out there but told The Post he doesn’t spend much time thinking about what-ifs and will try not to between now and the Nov. 5 deadline.
“I really don’t try to stress myself with stuff I can’t control,” he said. “Worrying about that won’t do me no good. I just try to stay in the moment and stay where my feet are.”
The 2021 third-round pick said he’ll be happy if the deadline comes and goes without anything happening.
“I love it here,” Browning said. “I love my teammates. This is where I was drafted. And I hate moving.”
Browning also said he hadn’t heard anything about talks regarding a potential contract extension — “my agent handles that stuff,” he said — and that his focus is just on getting back in a groove after the foot injury.
Browning played 46 snaps in Denver’s opener at Seattle and then was hurt 12 snaps into a Week 2 game against Pittsburgh. He avoided structural damage to his foot but landed on short-term injured reserve and returned Week 7 at New Orleans.
Browning was able to jump right back into playing about 50% of Denver’s defensive snaps, logging 31 snaps against the Saints and 33 against Carolina.
“The Saints week, it was me just kind of trying to feel it back out. I obviously didn’t practice that week,” Browning said. “It’s one thing to do rehab exercises and field work on Field 3 vs. actually playing. So New Orleans week was me feeling my foot out and my foot getting used to the workload.
“Then each week it’s been feeling better and better.”
Nix named NFL Offensive Rookie of the Month >> After Bo Nix took his game to another level in October, he was rewarded for his efforts.
Nix was named the NFL Offensive Rookie of the Month, becoming the third player in franchise history to receive the honor and first since former running back Clinton Portis in 2002.
This month, Nix threw for 870 yards, seven touchdowns and an interception while completing 66.7% of his passes. The former Oregon quarterback also had 29 carries for 149 rushing yards (5.1 yards per carry) and two touchdowns to help the Broncos go 3-1 in October. His performance was a complete turnaround from September when he threw for 660 yards, a touchdown and four picks.
“He’s just getting more comfortable,” Denver offensive coordinator Joe Lombardi said Thursday. “Every bit of experience you get is helpful. Some of the fundamentals become easier — just calling the plays and getting out of the huddle — and you just have more bandwidth for everything else that comes with playing the position.
“As he gets more and more experience, he’ll get better and better.”
Nix is fresh off his best game of the season. He went 28 for 37 with 284 yards and three touchdowns in a 28-14 win over the Carolina Panthers last week. He has thrown for at least 200 yards in three of the last four games.
Through eight games, the 12th overall pick has totaled 1,530 passing yards, eight touchdowns and five interceptions with a 63.2% completion percentage. Nix has 52 carries for 259 yards and four scores.
Locke remains out >> Broncos safety P.J. Locke (thumb) was the only active player who didn’t practice at all Thursday. He’s been out since Oct. 23.
RT Mike McGlinchey (knee) and FB Mike Burton (foot) were limited while S Delarrin Turner-Yell (knee) bumped up to full participation along with CB Pat Surtain (ankle) and RT Alex Palczewski (ankle).
Linebacker Alex Singleton (knee) is back in Denver, too, and watched practice Thursday. He had ACL surgery performed by Dr. Neal ElAttrache on Oct. 15 in Los Angeles and spent the first two weeks after the operation in California. Now he’s back to continue his rehab in Denver and be around the team.