Safety position has taken the hardest hit from injuries in recent weeks for the Broncos, and that didn’t change Friday.
T.J. Ward (ankle) and Omar Bolden (hamstring) were both absent from practice, which was held outdoors for the first time this week. Coach Gary Kubiak said after that both would be ruled out for Sunday’s game at Pittsburgh.
“I think he is ready to go back next Wednesday,” Kubiak said of Ward. “The progress has been good. He needed another week. We’ll give him that. Omar is a little different for us. We thought that he would be ready to go. He practiced on Wednesday. He came out on Thursday, went about five minutes and said it was bothering him, so we shut him down.”
Outside linebacker Lerentee McCray, who is dealing with a hamstring injury, was also absent from practice and was also ruled out for Sunday’s game.
Fellow safety Darian Stewart, who hasn’t practiced all week because of a hamstring injury, observed from the side of the field and is listed as questionable to play Sunday.
Peyton Manning, limited the previous two days, observed Friday’s practice because Kubiak said he was experiencing soreness in his foot. He will still travel with the team to Pittsburgh, though.
Running back C.J. Anderson was limited and will be listed as questionable, but Kubiak said he expects him to be a full-go Sunday.
Other players questionable to play at Pittsburgh: guard Evan Mathis (ankle), inside linebacker Todd Davis (shoulder), and receivers Andre Caldwell (quadricep) and Bennie Fowler (ankle).
Nicki Jhabvala: njhabvala@denverpost.com or @NickiJhabvala
