PLAYER NOTES
–Tight End Jeff Heuerman was placed on injured reserve this week. He suffered a bruised lung and three broken ribs in the win over Pittsburgh on Nov. 25.
–LB Brandon Marshall returned to practice this week after missing three games with a knee injury. His status for Sunday’s game has not been announced.
–LB Shaquil Barrett suffered a torn hip flexor against Pittsburgh and has been ruled out for Sunday. He could return before the end of the regular season.
–CB Tramaine Brock (ribs) did not practice Wednesday and could miss Sunday’s game. If he can’t go, rookie Isaac Yiadom would step into the starting spot opposite Chris Harris Jr.
–WR Emmanuel Sanders needs just 25 receiving yards to reach 5,000 as a Denver Bronco. Sanders had seven catches for 86 yards against Pittsburgh.
–RB Phillip Lindsay needs 33 yards from scrimmage to become the first Denver rookie to reach 1,000 total yards since Knowshon Moreno in 2009. He would be the eighth Broncos rookie to reach the mark.
PLAYER SPOTLIGHT: TE Matt LaCosse is going to get a chance to prove himself against Cincinnati. LaCosse becomes the de facto starter after Jeff Heuerman was placed on injured reserve with a bruised lung and three broken ribs. Heuerman was playing well after another starting tight end, Jake Butt, was lost for the season in September. LaCosse has shown flashes of pass-catching talent over the past couple of weeks. He had a 44-yard grab against the Houston Texans in Week 9 and caught the first touchdown pass of his career in the win over Pittsburgh. LaCosse played in just seven games before this season, five with the New York Giants, but has seen action in all of Denver’s games this year. He could be a weapon against Cincinnati, especially if offensive coordinator Bill Musgrave opts to use more two-tight end sets instead of lining up with three wideouts.
GAME PLAN: Denver’s offense might have a breakout day against the NFL’s last-place defense in yards allowed. Cincinnati gives up an average of 439.6 yards per game, so quarterback Case Keenum has a chance for a big day and the Broncos’ ground game can get big chunks of yards. Rookie running back Phillip Lindsay has gained 780 yards on the ground but without a ton of carries. Look for him and fellow rookie Royce Freeman to attack the Bengals’ suspect defense. If the ground game can get going that should open up things in Cincinnati’s secondary. Rookie wideout Courtland Sutton is coming off one of his worst games but has an opportunity for a big game.
Cincinnati has solid running backs in Joe Mixon and Giovani Bernard and will probably have wide receiver A.J. Green back from a toe injury that cost him three games. Denver can limit their effectiveness by getting pressure on quarterback Jeff Driskel, who is making his first NFL start for the injured Andy Dalton. If the Broncos can bottle up the running game that will give edge rushers Von Miller and Bradley Chubb plenty of opportunities to get to Driskel.
MATCHUPS TO WATCH
–Broncos running game vs. the Bengals could give Denver a chance to control the clock and keep QB Case Keenum off the turf. The Bengals allow 147.5 yards rushing per game and Denver’s two rookie backs will bring different styles to attack the Bengals. Phillip Lindsay has emerged as the primary back, gaining 780 yards on the ground and 167 more receiving yards. Lindsay hasn’t been overused and should be fresh while Royce Freeman, who was slowed by a high ankle sprain that cost him a couple of games, could find his rhythm against the porous Cincinnati defense.
–The Bengals’ offensive line will be tested against arguably the best edge rusher in linebacker Von Miller. Miller has sacks in six straight games despite being constantly double-teamed. The attention on him has opened up opportunities for rookie linebacker Bradley Chubb on the other side of the line. Cincinnati might have to keep a back in for extra protection for quarterback Jeff Driskel.If Miller and Chubb can do some damage it could create turnovers and give Keenum a short field to work with.
