Interesting point from Broncos offensive coordinator Rich Scangarello today in terms of what the Broncos' lineup against the Chargers looked like after guard Ron Leary left the game with a concussion. Looking at the game video there a large group of snaps when the Broncos had four rookies, four second-year players, two third-year players and the 26-year-old Connor McGovern was most tenured player in the formation, now in his fourth season.
Broncos LB Von Miller will be limited in Thursday's practice. "We expect him to do a fair amount, I think,'' coach Vic Fangio said. Miller said he has an MCL injury and "cried real, grown-man tears'' when he couldn't play last week against the Chargers. About playing this week in Houston, Miller said "I'm still taking it day by day ... like I said if I can't get my exotic movements back then, in my opinion, I don't think I need to be out there .. I'm doing everything I can possibly do.''
Bridgewater, Newton, Trubisky, Rivers, Mariota -- all could change teams this offseason. And that's just the start.
The Broncos are two losses away from three consecutive seasons of double-digit defeats, something that hasn't happened since the 1960s.
Get the latest scoop from inside NFL locker rooms on who's in and who's out this weekend.
Wednesday Broncos quarterback Drew Lock said rookie guard Dalton Risner is the one who talks the most in the huddle, other than Lock: "Dalton Risner likes to give me a lot of crap in the huddle. Especially in practice, he'll go up to the ball and he'll ask me, and say the exact opposite of the play pretty much, just trying to get me all riled up ... Buzz Lightyear was used 'Infinity and Beyond' with the (wristband), they got all of it ready for me.''
Vic Fangio said Broncos guard Ron Leary remains in the concussion protocol and will not practice Wednesday.
Vic Fangio said Wednesday linebacker Von Miller (knee) would practice on a limited basis. On tackle Ja'Wuan James (knee), who hasn't played since re-injuring his knee 10 plays into the Broncos' Week 8 loss to Indianapolis, Fangio said: "I expect that he should be ready to go, how we'll play him, if we play him, remains to be seen. One of the things is Elijah (Wilkinson) has been playing pretty damn good too. (James) is not ready to play an entire game anyway, so we'll figure that out.''
Lock said he got his first look at this week's gameplan Tuesday night and that he reviewed it more Wednesday morning. On last week's gameplan, he said: "I wouldn't necessarily say last week was simple, but we definitely tried to keep a clear head for me, make some of our plays, you know, what we're checking to and this and that, a little easier. I might get a little more this week.''
Also Wednesday, Lock said one of his biggest takeaways after reviewing the win over the Chargers was "in college I might have been away to get away with a couple decisions like (his interception). These guys are quicker, these guys are faster, these guys are smarter, I'm not going to get away with things as much as I did in college ... Being able to realize the little decisions throughout the game can really affect the big picture of the game.''
Wednesday Broncos quarterback Drew Lock said Archie Manning and Peyton Manning were among those who reached out to him after his first start Sunday against the Los Angeles Chargers. Lock said Archie Manning sent him a text "you can't win them all if you don't win your first.'' ... It was pretty cool to get a text from him, Peyton as well,'' Lock said.
Dan Quinn and Jason Garrett could get fired after successful runs, but they're not alone. Adam Gase? He's safe. Same with Matt Nagy ... for now.
It's a tight race for Defensive Player of the Year. Who will get the nod? Plus, our insiders picked underdogs who could surprise this weekend.
These players, coaches and executives won't be playing out the string, as the final month of the season could make or break their futures.
Here are the "my cause, my cleats" selections for the Broncos. The players participating will wear these this weekend in Houston.
The hard work is just beginning for the Broncos' quarterback of the future in a town that regularly chews up those with that designation.
Broncos defensive end Derek Wolfe is likely done for the season after dislocating his elbow.
Derek Wolfe, with his sixth and seventh sacks on the season Sunday, has set his single-season high for sacks. Wolfe, who is likely headed to injured reserve, will be an unrestricted free agent at season's end. Asked Monday if he hoped Wolfe was back next season, coach Vic Fangio said: "Sure.'' Fangio doesn't have oversight over contracts with the team -- John Elway does -- but in recent weeks Fangio has said he'd like to see Wolfe, Chris Harris Jr. and Justin Simmons all back next season
Broncos coach Vic Fangio confirmed Monday what defensive end Derek Wolfe said following Sunday's game -- that Wolfe suffered a dislocated left elbow with 2:22 left in the game. Fangio said Monday he did not expect Wolfe to play again this season and Wolfe could be moved to injured reserve in the coming days. "Right now it's now official, but I don't know that he'll be able to play again this year,'' Fangio said. "I don't think that it needs surgery.''
Furious at being denied a chance for the NFL record for longest field goal just before halftime, McManus settled for the winning kick as time expired.
Drew Lock and the Broncos' offense were the beneficiaries of two Chargers turnovers for an early 17-3 lead, and they held on for a 23-20 victory.
Brandon McManus’ 53-yard field goal as time expired, set up by a long interference call, capped a furious final 14 seconds and gave the Broncos a 23-20 victory over the Los Angeles Chargers.
Today Drew Lock will be the seventh quarterback to start a game for the Broncos since Week 9 of the 2017 season -- a span of 37 games including today's affair, or a different quarterback every 5.3 games.
This will be the first game Broncos linebacker Von Miller has missed since 2013 when he missed the last regular-season game and all of the Broncos' playoff games, including Super Bowl XLVIII, due to a torn ACL.
Broncos inactives: T Calvin Anderson, DL Johnathan Harris, T Ja'Wuan James, LB Von Miller, CB Shakial Taylor, DE DeMarcus Walker, WR Juwann Winfree.
| TEAM | W | L | T | PCT | PF | PA |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kansas City | 8 | 4 | 0 | .667 | 348 | 265 |
| Oakland | 6 | 6 | 0 | .500 | 237 | 324 |
| Denver | 4 | 8 | 0 | .333 | 198 | 237 |
| Los Angeles | 4 | 8 | 0 | .333 | 244 | 241 |
| RD(PK) | PLAYER | POS | SCHOOL |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1(20) | Noah Fant | TE | Iowa |
| 2(9) | Dalton Risner | OT | Kansas State |
| 2(10) | Drew Lock | QB | Missouri |
| 3(7) | Dre'Mont Jones | DT | Ohio State |
| 5(18) | Justin Hollins | OLB | Oregon |
| 6(14) | Juwann Winfree | WR | Colorado |
