Three days after punter Britton Colquitt agreed to a reduced salary for 2015, the Broncos waived punter/kicker Karl Schmitz and brought back defensive tackle Sione Fua.

Schmitz, a 28-year-old rookie punter who gained a following with his kicks on YouTube, signed with the Broncos in March, but hadn’t played a game since 2008.

Special teams coach Joe DeCamillis reiterated Tuesday that the team didn’t want to keep four players for kickoffs, and with Colquitt having signed a restructured deal, his place appeared to be secure for the season.

“It stresses your roster in other places,” DeCamillis said. “We want to have a guy that can kick off and kick field goals, or a guy that punts and kicks off.”

DeCamillis said kicker Connor Barth has been working on kickoffs, which could make him the dual kickoff/field-goal threat the team is seeking.

Colquitt signed a three-year, $11.7 million extension in 2013 that made him the league’s highest-paid punter with an average salary of $3.9 million per year. His new $1.6 million salary, down from the $3 million he was set to earn, applies only to 2015; his salary for 2016, the final year on his deal, remains at $3.25 million.

Fua, a 6-foot-1, 310-pound lineman, spent time with Denver during the 2013 season and played in two games for the team. He also played for the Panthers (2011-13) and Browns (2014) after being drafted by Carolina in the third round (No. 97) in 2011 from Stanford.

In 40 career games, Fua has 35 tackles (15 solo) and one forced fumble.

His addition bolsters a line that defensive coordinator Wade Phillips had expressed concern about after Tuesday’s practice.

With defensive end Derek Wolfe suspended for the first four games of the season because of a drug violation, and Malik Jackson (calf) and Marvin Austin (groin) dealing with injuries at the start of camp, the line has become thin in recent weeks.

“The other day we only had six defensive lineman,” Phillips said. “We were down to six practicing. That’s certainly a concern just with the numbers themselves.”

The kicking group and defensive line weren’t the only units with a noticeable change Thursday.

Rookie guard Max Garcia and second-year center Matt Paradis received snaps with Peyton Manning and the first unit to open the morning workout, while Ben Garland and Gino Gradkowski moved to the second unit.

“Those two guys have been playing well, and they deserve to play with the ones,” coach Gary Kubiak said after Thursday’s workout. “We’re going to be young — we know that — but we’re going to play our best five, and believe me, those two are in the mix to be in the best five.”

Kubiak said he planned to rotate players across units throughout camp, so Garland and Gradkowski still could see first-team reps as the coaches continue to evaluate the line.

Ryan Harris, for the fifth consecutive practice, took the bulk of the first-team reps at right tackle over Chris Clark.

“We just felt like he’s picked it up,” Kubiak said. “He’s done some really good stuff. I think he sees an opportunity and is taking advantage of it. It’s nothing against Chris, but I think Ryan is deserving of more reps right now.”

Quick hits:

• Emmanuel Sanders walked off the field early Thursday with a trainer during 11-on-11 drills. Sanders grabbed his hamstring after a play and went over to the sideline to stretch it. He walked back to the locker without a limp, and Kubiak said afterward Sanders still is being evaluated.

• Wolfe was carted off and helped back to the locker room with a trainer on each arm and a wet towel over his head. He is being evaluated for a concussion.

• Vance Walker was excused from practice for personal reasons and linebacker Danny Trevathan was out sick. Kubiak said Trevathan trails Brandon Marshall a bit as both recover from surgery. The two entered camp at the same point, but Marshall has progressed slightly faster, he said. Backup inside linebacker Steven Johnson exited early with a quadriceps injury.

• Defensive end Malik Jackson returned to team drills after being limited with a calf injury he sustained the first day of camp. Fellow defensive end Antonio Smith was integrated in team drills after taking it slowly the first week to improve his conditioning. Smith missed most of the offseason program because of an ongoing criminal investigation in Texas.

• Offensive lineman Michael Schofield did not practice Thursday. He left Tuesday’s workout early because of a back issue. Kubiak said Schofield could have returned Thursday, but the coaches felt it was best he take another rest day and return Friday.

• Austin was again limited (groin). Tevrin Brandon (shoulder), Ross Madison (groin) and Lerentee McCray (groin) did not participate.

• The Broncos opted for just shells and helmets Thursday, instead of full pads.

Nicki Jhabvala: njhabvala@denverpost.com or twitter.com/nickijhabvala