The Broncos arrive at a crossroads with quarterback Peyton Manning sidelined and linebacker DeMarcus Ware likely to join him Sunday.
It reflects the fluid nature of an NFL season, and the importance of young players contributing. Manning and Ware have played 29 seasons, earned 11 first-team All-Pro honors and started 427 games. Their replacements, Brock Osweiler and Shaquil Barrett, have made two starts.
There’s no timetable for the return of Manning, whose status will be revisited on Monday, and Ware, who hasn’t practiced this week because of a structural issue in his back.
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Manning remained behind the closed doors of the athletic trainer’s room Wednesday, receiving treatment for a plantar fascia tear in his left foot and sore ribs. A magnetic resonance imaging exam of Manning’s ribs Monday came back “fine,” according to coach Gary Kubiak. Asked if Manning would be available for New England next week, Kubiak remained non-committal.
“I am locked in on Chicago. He’s focused on his rehab. That’s what’s best for him this week,” Kubiak said.
Ware aggravated his back injury in a loss at Indianapolis Nov. 8, and sat out a loss to the Chiefs on Sunday. There remains a chance he will practice later in the week, but he appears unlikely to play as he spends time with the athletic training staff and strength coaches.
“I think there’s some progress there,” Kubiak said
Running to nowhere. The Broncos played their best game against the Green Bay Packers, rushing for 160 yards on 34 carries. In the past two games, they have run for 104 yards on 30 attempts. Regardless of the quarterback, the Broncos must improve on the ground as they rank 29th overall.
“It’s been poor the last two weeks,” Kubiak said. “If we’re going to get back to playing the way we had played, it’s going to start with us finding some effective ways to run the ball.”
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Footnotes. Receiver Emmanuel Sanders (left ankle) is expected to return to practice Thursday. … Defensive lineman Antonio Smith (hip) and Vance Walker (shoulder) did not practice. Smith should return to practice before Walker, Kubiak said. … Kubiak plans to continue using Max Garcia to spell offensive guards Evan Mathis and Louis Vasquez, and hopes Garcia’s versatility will allow the Broncos to carry only seven offensive lineman on game day.
