The Broncos took their lumps and bruises coming out of the Kansas City game. At practice Wednesday, Denver was missing many of its key players.
Quarterback Peyton Manning (foot), outside linebacker DeMarcus Ware (back), receiver Emmanuel Sanders (ankle/finger) and tight end Owen Daniels (knee) all sat out practice with pre-existing injuries.
Manning will not play Sunday against Chicago. Brock Osweiler will get his first career start and rookie Trevor Siemian will be the backup.
WATCH:
“Now the fire starts,” Kubiak said about Osweiler.
Some will see his first start as an opportunity for the team and his own future to grasp the team by its horns.
“Right now, I’m not out to prove anything. I’m just trying to get a win this week in Chicago,” Osweiler said.
The 6-foot-8 quarterback said he hasn’t had the change to truly pick Manning’s brain, yet, but plans to do so before Sunday.
Osweiler talked about how Sunday’s start will be a dream come true from growing up in Montana and watching John Elway and Jake Plummer.
Pick 6:
“Anybody I’ve ever met in Montana I think I’ve heard from this week,” Osweiler said.
Ware missed Sunday’s game against the Chiefs after aggravating his back injury against the Colts two weeks ago.
“He’s improved,” Kubiak said of Ware. “He may do some field work at the end of the week.”
Kubiak said Ware and Manning both had similar plans with “just rehabbing and not even in the meetings.”
Sanders did enough to convince trainers that he was healthy enough to play last Sunday against the Chiefs, but he was visibly limited by his ankle injury. He left the game after a hard hit by two Chiefs’ defenders in the third quarter and never returned.
Kubiak said Sanders didn’t practice because the team was in the indoor facility. He expects the wide out to get back on the field Thursday.
Paige:
Sanders finished the game with no catches on four targets. Kubiak said he came out of the game with a finger injury.
Defensive ends Antonio Smith (hip) and Vance Walker (shoulder) also did not participate in practice during the Broncos’ open period.
“Hopefully, both of him will be back tomorrow,” Kubiak said. “Probably Antonio before Vance.”
Receiver Jordan Norwood (hamstring) returned to practice Wednesday. He has been inactive for the last three weeks.
Cameron Wolfe: cwolfe@denverpost.com or
