was riding high at Dove Valley the morning after his Broncos’ turn-around Monday night victory over the at Sports Authority Field. Then his players started limping back into the locker room.
“We came out of a real physical game,” Kubiak said Thursday. “So we’re kind of playing catch-up with our preparation right here and trying to get everybody back feeling good.”
The list of pending Broncos injuries remained at its longest this season when the team practiced Thursday. Beyond the most-pressing problem, running back , Kubiak ran through an injury report that included several starting players: linebacker (left hamstring), center (hip) and cornerback (lower back strain), did not practice. Nose tackle (ankle), fullback Andy Janovich (right hand), wide receiver (left hip) and (right forearm) were all limited.
The Broncos were holding out hope that Ware, their No. 2 pass-rusher last season, might return Sunday against the . But that idea is losing hope.
“I don’t know if he’s ready yet,” Denver defensive coordinator Wade Phillips said. “He’s kind of in preseason (mode) right now.”
Marshall, Denver’s second-leading tackler with 28 tackles and 10 assists, said he will wait until the weekend to test his hamstring and he, like several players, might not find out his game status until Sunday.
Paradis, one of three Broncos to play every offensive snap this season, and Talib likely will be ready by kick-off to face the Chargers. Williams, Janovich and Thomas, too, likely will play.
“We’re trying to get some guys to Sunday,” Kubiak said. “We could be gametime (decisions) with a few guys this week.”
Sweep-able. The Broncos have been swept in a season by a divisional opponent five times since 2001, the fifth-lowest mark in the NFL. But they’ve been swept most often by the Chargers — three times, in 2006, ’07 and ’10.
Chargers return. San Diego tight end Hunter Henry, who torched the Broncos for six receptions, 83 yards and a touchdown in his team’s 21-13 victory on Oct. 13, returned to practice Wednesday after suffering a concussion Sunday. He was limited in action, but told reporters he expects to play.
Rivers sees important game. The Chargers (3-4) face a swing game against the Broncos. A victory would move them to .500, while a loss would drop them three games behind Denver at the halfway point.
“We don’t need to exhale now that we’ve won two in a row,” Rivers told reporters in San Diego on Thursday. the Chargers travel to Denver looking for a second victory over their AFC West rival within three weeks.
“I don’t think either of us are a ton different in a one-week span,” Rivers said. “It will be about what team out-executes the other team, protects the football and manages field position.”
