Three starters on the Broncos defense are listed as questionable to play Sunday against the .
Inside linebacker Josey Jewell (hamstring), safety (hamstring) and defensive end (ankle) were all injured in last week’s loss to Green Bay.
Wolfe was limited in practice on Thursday and Friday, Jewell limited on Friday and Jackson missed all three workouts.
Also listed as questionable are fullback (pectoral) and inside linebacker Joe Jones (triceps). Janovich and Jones have been out since Aug. 8.
Rookie Dre’Mont Jones would start for Wolfe and for Jewell, who said he expects to play.
Jackson would be a big loss. He has moved to cover the slot receiver often in the first three games. If he can’t play, safety will play an every-down role and Duke Dawson takes over the nickel duties.
Jackson hopes to test the injury a few hours before the game.
“He just has to be able to go out there and run full speed,” coach said. “You can’t play (defensive back) if you’re not close to 100 percent and he has to get there.”
The Broncos ruled out cornerback Bryce Callahan (foot) and right tackle Ja’Wuan James (knee).
Fangio on PI. Fangio said he expected the confusion over the challenging of pass interference.
“There’s obviously some disconnection there,” he said. “I’m not surprised about it because the whole meeting about it (in March) when this was started was dysfunctional.
“In my opinion, it wasn’t well thought-out (or) well prepared and a little hap-hazard.”
Campbell vs. Lindsay. Jaguars defensive lineman Calais Campbell was asked this week if he has ever tackled a fellow Denver South alum?
“This will be the first opportunity I get,” Campbell said in a phone interview. “There aren’t many of us in the NFL. I’m eager to go against Phillip (Lindsay). When you respect somebody, you want to bring your ‘A’ game. I know he’ll come out with his hair on fire, too, and play with tenacity.”
Campbell graduated from South and attended Miami (Fla.); Lindsay attended CU after starring at South.
Lindsay and Campbell were able to visit during Pro Bowl Week in January.
“When I got to the NFL, he was able to really connect with me and we had a good conversation,” Lindsay said. “He’s a good dude (and) fun to be around.”
Said Campbell: “Very, very impressed with Phillip. I’ve been a fan of his since he was in high school. The way he’s come into the league and carved out a role for himself and become a force to be reckoned with, I’m so proud of him.”
Benson returns. Among the early surprises of Broncos training camp was the big-play ability of undrafted receiver Trinity Benson. But Benson was waived after the preseason.
Benson returned to the Broncos via their practice squad Tuesday.
“I knew if the cards were played right, I could be back,” Benson said. “When I talked to (the Broncos) once they released me, they said that they liked me. There were just some things that happened that didn’t go my way.
“A lot of people welcomed me back and I made a lot of good relationships in minicamp, OTAs and training camp. It was good to see some familiar faces.”
Etc. Asked if he calls plays differently against a rookie quarterback like the Jaguars’ Gardner Minshew, Fangio said: “Not really. There’s a common thought out there that you get after rookie quarterbacks. Sometimes thatap the wrong thing to do because you make it easier for them. They see pressure and it makes it easier for them to decide where to throw the ball.” … Broncos quarterback on the 6-foot-8, 300-pound Campbell (three sacks last week in win over Tennessee): “He’s just such a big guy. The ability that he has to do things like he can is pretty impressive.” … If Jaguars cornerback Jalen Ramsey is active, he could see a lot of Broncos receiver . “I want to go out and I want to face the best so I’m actually looking forward to going out and facing him,” Sanders said. “You want to play against the best. Right now, they say Ramsey is one of the best so I want to go against him and see what type of opinion I have after the game.” The Jaguars listed Ramsey as questionable on their final injury report. He did not practice Wednesday (back) and was then excused Thursday-Friday to attend the impending birth of his second child.
Staff writer Kyle Fredrickson contributed to this story.
