The Broncos not only will be without quarterback Peyton Manning on Sunday, but also starting outside linebacker DeMarcus Ware.
It will be the second consecutive game Ware will miss because of a back injury.
“We had hoped maybe at the end of this week that we’d start to do some field work and stuff,” coach Gary Kubiak said. “I don’t know. It’s a day at a time.”
Ware injured his back at Oakland in Week 5, then reinjured it at Indianapolis in Week 9. He has been absent from practice for the past week and a half.
Shaquil Barrett will again start in Ware’s place, and rookie Shane Ray will again see more time at backup.
Kubiak said he has yet to decide if Manning and Ware will travel with the team to Chicago, but expects to know “in the next day or so.”
“I’ll sit down with (head athletic trainer Steve Antonopulos),” Kubiak said. “We have two guys where, obviously, treatment is the most important thing for them.”
Ronnie Hillman to start. Ronnie Hillman will start at running back for the Broncos on Sunday at Chicago.
Hillman, who has started the past three games, played 34 snaps against Kansas City and made a 1-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter.
He and C.J. Anderson have split time at running back as the offense tries to find a spark on the ground. The Broncos have averaged only 86 rushing yards per game, the fourth-fewest in the league.
“Hopefully we get enough touches to give them an opportunity,” Kubiak said. “The last two weeks have kind of been few and far between.”
Broncos injury updates. Tight end Owen Daniels (knee/shoulder) and receiver Emmanuel Sanders (ankle/finger) were limited at practice Thursday after not participating in Wednesday’s workout.
Defensive ends Antonio Smith (hip) and Vance Walker (shoulder) did not practice for the second consecutive day because of injuries.
Kubiak said he was surprised by the absences of Smith and Walker, but expects Sanders to practice in full on Friday.
Nicki Jhabvala, The Denver Post
