PLAYER NOTES
–CB Adam Jones has yet to practice this week because of a lingering thigh injury and with the quick turnaround it seems likely he could miss a second consecutive game. Cornerback Tramaine Brock returned from injury last week and is expected to play in place of Jones in nickel packages.
–LB Shane Ray suffered an ankle injury in last week’s loss to the Rams and he has missed practice so far this week. His status for Thursday night’s game against Arizona is uncertain.
–S Dymonte Thomas missed practice this week because of a chest contusion suffered last Sunday against the Rams. His status remains questionable for Thursday night’s Arizona game.
–TE Matt LaCosse returned to practice in limited fashion Tuesday. His status for Thursday’s game remains uncertain.
PLAYER SPOTLIGHT: LB Bradley Chubb, the Broncos’ top draft pick, is coming off a breakout performance last week. He had three of the team’s five sacks in the 23-20 loss to the Los Angeles Rams, emerging as a forceful complement to Pro Bowl pass rusher Von Miller. Chubb, who had made little impact in previous games, said he’s getting accustomed to playing at the NFL level. “I’m getting more comfortable, understanding my job and my role on this team,” Chubb said. “Whatever the coach asks me to do, I’m just trying to do right now.” Opposing teams have focused their pass protection on containing the dominating Miller, but with Chubb’s play on the rise on the other side, opposing clubs will also have to take him into account in their pass protection scheme.
GAME PLAN: The Broncos will be looking to execute a more balanced offensive attack against the Cardinals after a one-dimensional effort figured in their loss to the Rams last week. Denver threw the ball 41 times last week and ran it just 17 times, despite having a pair of productive rookie running backs in Phillip Lindsay and Royce Freeman. The tendency to put the ball in the air resulted in a lopsided time of possession disadvantage for the Broncos (35:10 to 24:50), who can’t afford to repeat that problem against the Cardinals.
Denver has to clamp down against the run after allowing consecutive 200-yard rushers in losses to the Rams and Jets. The Broncos’ nickel package has been most susceptible to running plays that turn into big gainers and it remains an open question whether the Broncos have to adjust the scheme or just get better at making tackles. There’s at least a possibility that Denver will more frequently deploy its base defense and the coaching staff has been particularly intent this week on stressing the importance of “want” in defenders when making a tackle.
MATCHUP TO WATCH
–Cardinals WR Larry Fitzgerald continues to play at a high level and his reliability has helped spur the development of rookie quarterback Josh Rosen. Fitzgerald figures to be matched up at times against Broncos CB Bradley Roby, who is trying to bounce back from a shaky performance two weeks ago against the Jets in which he was beaten for two long touchdown passes. Roby had a pass defensed and a tackle for a loss in last week’s 23-20 loss to the Rams but he’ll have his hands full against one of the NFL’s most polished and dynamic receivers in the accomplished Fitzgerald.
