Key injuries hit Broncos this week
The Denver Broncos (6-6) are scrambling on two fronts heading into Sunday’s game at San Francisco (2-10) after losing star cornerback Chris Harris Jr. and veteran wide receiver Emmanuel Sanders to injuries within days of each other. Harris is expected to miss at least a month after breaking his right fibula in last Sunday’s win at Cincinnati. Sanders suffered a torn Achilles tendon while running a route in practice Wednesday. He was placed on season-ending injured reserve later that day. The Broncos, who will be seeking to extend their winning streak to four straight to stay in the thick of the wild-card hunt, are leaning on youthful replacements on both fronts.
Isaac Yiadom is expected to fill in for Harris, joining Bradley Roby on the corners. Yiadom, a third-round pick out of Boston College, has already seen increased playing time in the last five weeks but now will be at the forefront as he moves into an every-down presence. While he has made some mistakes related to inexperience, he has also shown a willingness to go toe to toe with top flight receivers lining up opposite him and he has held his ground. He has earned his chance to fill in for Harris.
Cornerback Brendan Langley, who was promoted from the practice squad three weeks ago after the Broncos waived veteran cornerback Adam Jones, figures to see time as the nickel back, along with the possibility that safety Justin Simmons could move into the slot. Meanwhile, the loss of Sanders leaves a corps of youthful wide receivers. That was certainly not how Denver began the year. They initially had Demaryius Thomas and Sanders at wideout to start the season only to trade Thomas away on Oct. 30 and lose Sanders to injury this week. Part of the reason the Broncos were willing to trade Thomas was the ascension of Courtland Sutton, who moves into the role of the go-to receiver now that Sanders is out.
Sutton, a rookie, has shown a knack for stretching the field and making big plays downfield. He also has good speed and can go after a jump ball tenaciously. But he has to become more consistent as a pass catcher. Tim Patrick and DaeSean Hamilton figure to take the bulk of the snaps in the place of Sanders.
“Anytime you get an injury in this league, it’s tough,” Broncos quarterback Case Keenum said. “But its next man up, and I’ve said it before, and I know it’s cliche. I’m a product of somebody getting a chance when somebody gets injured. It could be a great start for somebody’s career, one of these young receivers who we trust. They’ve been working a long time, Court (Courtland Sutton), DaeSean (Hamilton), Tim Patrick, all of those guys. What a great opportunity for those guys, depending on what’s at stake here.”
SERIES HISTORY: 14th regular-season meeting. Broncos lead series, 7-6. The Broncos won the last meeting between the teams 42-17 in October 2014 in Denver. Sunday’s meeting marks Denver’s first regular-season encounter at San Francisco’s stadium in Santa Clara, though the Broncos have played there in the preseason.
