CROWDED RUNNING BACK PICTURE COMING INTO FOCUS

The crowded picture in the Broncos’ backfield is beginning to take shape. Difficult decisions at the running back position are rapidly approaching.

Devontae Booker will be on the 53-man roster when it’s finalized ahead of the Sept. 2 deadline and won’t begin the season on an injury list, coach Vance Joseph said Thursday.

The news was not unexpected. Booker, the secondyear player who had surgery to repair a hairline fracture on his right wrist in July, should miss “two weeks, three weeks max,” of the regular season, Joseph said. If the Broncos were to leave Booker on the physically unable to perform list, he would have to miss the first six weeks of the regular season. But Joseph has taken that option off the table.

The decision as to what other running backs will be on the roster behind Booker and starter C.J. Anderson could be among the toughest for Joseph and his staff as the roster deadline nears. Rookie De’Angelo Henderson and veterans Stevan Ridley and Juwan Thompson have all had their moments during training camp and the preseason.

And one of the Broncos’ most notable offseason acquisitions, running back Jamaal Charles, will play for the first time this preseason Saturday. His performance against the Packers could be the last data point Joseph and his staff need before finalizing the backfield picture.

“Vance uses the term ‘juice’ all the time, and (Charles) is the definition of ‘juice,’ ” said special-teams coach Brock Olivo, who held the same position with the Chiefs during a portion of Charles’ nine years in Kansas City. “I see it out here. I’m excited to see Jamaal play again. It’s going to be fun.”

Kick-returner spot open.

Rookie Isaiah McKenzie was among the first players to win a starting job during training camp when he was named the starting punt returner.

As the Broncos enter Saturday’s pivotal third preseason game, they are still auditioning players for the role of kick returner.

Wide receiver Cody Latimer is the front-runner for the position, Olivo said, but he’s yet to return a kick in the preseason. He missed Saturday’s game at San Francisco with a knee injury.

“We have to give him some returns and touches and see what he does with it,” Olivo said. “We have a really good group of returners; we’re fortunate. Hopefully, those guys get opportunities.”

Henderson, wide receiver Kalif Raymond and cornerback Brendan Langley are among the other candidates for the kick-return job, and Olivo suggested that multiple players could be used in the role throughout the season.

Roster philosophy.

With the deadline for roster cuts less than two weeks away, Joseph gave insight Thursday into factors he’ll use to determine battles for the last few spots.

“I want the best guys for the roster,” Joseph said. “Sometimes, when you’re building a roster, you make decisions on how well they’ll play for (the special-teams coach), smarts, guys staying healthy. Those things come into play when you’re building a roster, not just the promising, talented guy. It could be a smart guy who can help you in all phases. It’s about building the best roster overall from top to bottom.”

Footnote.

Safety T.J. Ward (hamstring) missed his second straight day of practice after returning from a twoweek absence to practice Tuesday.