The Broncos have listed wide receiver Eddie Royal as questionable for today’s game against Jacksonville.
Royal injured his left ankle last Sunday against Tampa Bay. He missed practice Wednesday and was limited in workouts Thursday and Friday.
The good news for Broncos fans is receiver Darrell Jackson fully participated in practice all week and is listed as probable. If Royal does not play, Jackson will start opposite Brandon Marshall.
Jackson has not played since the season opener against Oakland. He injured his calf in a walk-through before the San Diego game.
The other Broncos who are questionable for today’s game are defensive end Ebenezer Ekuban and defensive tackle Josh Shaw. Both have groin injuries and were limited in practice last week.
Denver had already ruled out running back Selvin Young and tight end Tony Scheffler with groin injuries.
College teammates abound.
There will be no shortage of old friends on opposing sidelines today, with many of those connections starting in the state of Florida.
Jacksonville and Denver each have two members of the University of Florida defense that won the national championship in 2006 — defensive end Jarvis Moss and defensive tackle Marcus Thomas for Denver and safety Reggie Nelson and defensive end Derrick Harvey for Jacksonville.
Denver kicker Matt Prater and Marshall spent three years at the University of Central Florida with Jacksonville receiver Mike Walker. Walker and Marshall were roommates at the school in Orlando and remain best friends.
And going back more than a decade, Denver’s Jackson and safety Marquand Manuel were teammates with Jacksonville running back Fred Taylor.
Manuel and Taylor spent only one year at UF together before Taylor left for the NFL, but the two have remained friends and attend the same church in Miami during the offseason.
“Fred was a hard worker when I met him, and to this day, I’ve always respected his game,” Manuel said.
Footnote:
Running back Andre Hall was not fined by the NFL for a chop block against Tampa Bay. Earlier this season, rookie left tackle Ryan Clady was fined $5,000 for a chop block against San Diego.
Lindsay H. Jones, The Denver Post
