PLAYER NOTES
–RT Jared Veldheer could miss a second straight game with a knee injury. Veldheer suffered the injury in Week 4 against Kansas City and was inactive against the Jets last week. He missed practice Wednesday. Billy Turner likely would start again in his place at right tackle.
–S Darian Stewart was held out of practice Wednesday with a foot injury and his availability for Sunday’s game against the Rams is uncertain. Will Parks could see action in his place if Stewart is unable to play on Sunday.
–CB Adam Jones aggravated a thigh injury in last week’s loss to the Jets. He missed time in practice this week. Jones works as the nickel back and rookie Isaac Yiadom could see increased playing time if Jones is unavailable Sunday.
PLAYER SPOTLIGHT: CB Bradley Roby will be trying to bounce back from a nightmarish week. He was beaten for a pair of long touchdown passes by Jets wide receiver Robby Anderson and missed a tackle during a 77-yard scoring run by Isaiah Crowell. Then, on Monday, he missed part of a Broncos team meeting and was disciplined for the episode. “It was more about communication than a total miss, but it’s been fixed and handled internally,” said Broncos head coach Vance Joseph, who indicated Roby remains the starter. Fellow cornerback Chris Harris Jr. gave Roby encouragement even as he reminded him that he’ll be tested. “Cornerback, it’s one-on-one a lot of the times,” Harris said. “You can kind of control a lot of things on your own out there. Shoot, you’ve got to look at yourself in the mirror and know, ‘How bad do you want it?’ And if ‘Robe wants it bad enough, he’ll bounce back.”
GAME PLAN: Rams quarterback Jared Goff has thrown for better than 300 yards in each of the past four games but two of his primary targets, wide receivers Cooper Kupp and Brandin Cooks, are in concussion protocol this week and their playing status for Sunday’s game is iffy. Edge rushers Von Miller, Bradley Chubb and Shane Ray need to exert pressure on Goff, hurry his decision-making process to try to force mistakes, especially if his receiving options take on a different look because of injuries.
The Broncos have had a surprisingly productive running game all season with the rookie tandem of Phillip Lindsay and Royce Freeman forming a potent backfield tandem. But they haven’t been able to deploy the running game consistently because they have been playing from behind in the last three weeks, forcing them to lean on the pass. That hasn’t produced desirable results because Case Keenum has found himself under constant pressure. If the Broncos can sustain a semblance of a running game throughout the game, their passing attack under Keenum should open up, allowing downfield opportunities for Demaryius Thomas and Emmanuel Sanders.
MATCHUPS TO WATCH
–Broncos ILBs Todd Davis ad Brandon Marshall vs. RB Todd Gurley II. The Broncos defense has been gashed repeatedly on the ground, and it was especially evident in last week’s loss to the Jets. New York runners averaged 8.5 yards every time they touched the ball, and they carried it 38 times en route to 323 yards rushing on the day. If the Broncos’ defensive front loses in the trenches, allowing blockers to get to Davis and Marshall and prevent them from stuffing the run, Gurley could have another field day.
–Broncos Ts Garett Bolles and Billy Turner vs. Rams DTs Aaron Donald and Ndamukong Suh. Donald and Suh have combined for six of the Rams’ 10 sacks, and they have teamed to exert tremendous pressure on opposing quarterbacks. Bolles and Turner are going to have to hold up on the edges in pass protection if Case Keenum, who has struggled with his accuracy while trying to fend off pressure, is to get Denver’s passing game off the ground.
