MILLER BLAMES CHEESE STICKS FOR ILLNESS
All- pro outside linebacker Von Miller revealed Thursday the reason for his surprise absence from Broncos practice Wednesday— bad mozzarella sticks.
Miller said he sneaked away to go see “StarWars: The Force Awakens” at a movie theater Tuesday and decided to break his diet to get two Icees and an order of mozzarella sticks.
He began to start feeling sick near the end of the movie, and it caused him to miss practice Wednesday as he recovered.
“Can’t put regular gas in a Ferrari. I learned that,” Miller said.
The good news: Miller said he is back to 100 percent, and he is going to stay away from movietheater food for a while.
“I don’t know what kind cheese was in those mozzarella sticks. Please don’t eat them again,” outside linebacker DeMarcus Ware said. “I told him to just stick to the popcorn and the little Goobers.”
Ware joked that defensive end Malik Jackson must have eaten cheese sticks from the same batch because he left practice early Wednesday.
Warm up, rookie.
Backup quarterback Brock Osweiler didn’t participate in practice for the second consecutive day Thursday.
Osweiler is nursing a right medial collateral ligament sprain that has limited him to working with trainers during the Broncos’ practice time.
Coach Gary Kubiak said the plan is for Osweiler to be the No. 2 quarterback for Sunday’s playoff game against Pittsburgh, but worries about his knee injury are increasing the chances that rookie Trevor Siemian also could suit up.
Osweiler has not practiced since suffering the injury Jan. 3 against San Diego, but Kubiak said he is confident Osweiler will be fine by Sunday. Siemian has one snap in his career, a kneel- down play Dec. 20 at Pittsburgh.
Ware update.
Ware was fitted for a brace on his left knee Thursday and plans to wear it Sunday against the Steelers. Ware wore a brace when he had a similar injury in 2008 and made 20 sacks. That season, he hyperextended the same knee. He finished this season second on the team with 7 ½ sacks.
Safety first.
The biggest difference in the Dec. 20 matchup with the Steelers and Sunday’s playoff game is the health of key players.
Kubiak expects safeties T. J. Ward ( ankle) and Darian Stewart ( hamstring) to play Sunday. They were sorely missed in the first Broncos- Steelers game this season.
Defensive coordinator Wade Phillips called Ward a “heat- seeking missile” and said having him and Stewart back is vital to the Denver defense.
Footnote.
Steelers wide receiver Antonio Brown ( concussion) and running back DeAngelo Williams ( foot) missed practice again Thursday. Their status for Sunday’s game is up in the air. Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger ( shoulder) was limited in practice, but he is expected to play against Denver.