As someone who throws for a living, and someone who has lived longer than any active non-kicker player in the NFL, Peyton Manning needs his legs.
And in recent weeks, Manning has been bothered by an upper thigh injury. It hasn’t caused him to miss any games. And it won’t. But after the Broncos earned a first-round AFC playoff bye, it only made sense for Manning, the Broncos’ star quarterback, to stay off his aching leg while the team went through light practices Tuesday and Wednesday.
“I’m trying to take advantage of the time and spend some time trying to get to feeling better,” Manning said in front of his locker Wednesday. “I know a lot of guys have done the same thing. A number of guys didn’t practice, and hopefully that serves us well. Everybody’s ready to go once we get back to practice next week.”
Manning tweaked his thigh late in the first half of the Broncos’ 22-10 victory at San Diego on Dec. 14. He returned to play in the second half, and in the Broncos’ final two regular-season games.
The thigh strain, though, caused Manning to miss back-to-back practices for the first time since he joined the Broncos in March 2012.
Also not practicing this week were Manning’s top two receivers, Demaryius Thomas (finger, bumps, bruises) and Emmanuel Sanders (back, bumps, bruises); starting left guard Orlando Franklin (concussion), backup safety David Bruton (concussion, neck sprain), backup offensive tackle Paul Cornick (toe) and backup running back Juwan Thompson (hip, knee).
The Broncos are off until Sunday.
Harris receives courage award. Wednesday, it was announced Broncos players honored cornerback Chris Harris with their annual Ed Block Courage Award. Named in honor of the longtime Baltimore Colts trainer, the award honors those who display “exceptional courage, great character and inspiring effort.”
Harris came back from a torn anterior cruciate ligament during the Broncos’ second-round AFC playoff victory last season to have a Pro Bowl season.
Barth honored. Broncos place-kicker Connor Barth was named AFC special-teams player of the month after he made 10-of-11 field goals in four December games.
It probably didn’t hurt that Barth preceded December by going 5-of-5 in field goals during a Nov. 30 game at Kansas City — his first with the Broncos. Two weeks later, Barth was 5-of-5 in field goals at San Diego.
Anderson offensive player of the week. Running back C.J. Anderson was named AFC offensive player of the week after he rushed for 87 yards and three touchdowns on 13 carries Sunday against Oakland.
Starting with the playoffs, it’s no longer about awards.
“It’s never about awards,” Anderson said. “It’s always about the ‘W.’ ”
