Sanders among three listed as questionable to play
The Broncos head into Sunday night’s home game against the Patriots with three players listed as questionable to play: offensive tackle Donald Stephenson (calf), inside linebacker Todd Davis (ankle) and wide receiver Emmanuel Sanders (ankle).
Stephenson and Davis practiced on a limited basis this week after missing the past two games because of injuries.
Sanders, who played last Sunday in Philadelphia, was limited Wednesday but practiced in full Thursday.
All three participated in the Broncos’ walkthrough Friday.
Defensive end Derek Wolfe (neck) and running back C.J. Anderson (sickness) are expected to play Sunday after missing Thursday’s workout.
Center Matt Paradis, who was held out of a practice this week because of his back, also is expected to be ready.
Blocking options. With starting right tackle Menelik Watson on injured reserve for the remainder of the season, the Broncos are weighing three options to take his place Sunday: Allen Barbre, who has split duties at left guard with Max Garcia and started at right tackle in the lone game Watson missed this season; Stephenson, who should be healthy enough to play; and Elijah Wilkinson, a former practice squad player who was promoted to the active roster in Week 7.
“He’s coming along well,” coach Vance Joseph said of Wilkinson. “He’s a young player, he’s a physical player, he’s a smart player. So if he had to play, I’d be OK with that.”
Saluting the military. The Broncos will honor the U.S. military throughout Sunday’s game against the Patriots.
The Marine Corps Silent Drill Platoon will perform at halftime, and approximately 300 representatives of the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines and Coast Guard will be honored before the game.
During pregame introductions, 35 men and women from the Colorado National Guard will run out of the tunnel with Denver players.
The Broncos also will have a moment of silence before the national anthem to thank veterans and active-duty service members.
Bennett plan. The Patriots claimed tight end Martellus Bennett off waivers from Green Bay on Thursday and listed him as questionable to play Sunday because of a shoulder injury. (Joseph said the Broncos weren’t interested in claiming him.)
“Their system won’t change,” Joseph said of the Patriots. “He played with those guys last year, so going back and watching the film from last year, they had more two-tight end sets on third down. That could be a different deal than we’ve seen in the last couple weeks. We have a plan for that.”
Footnotes. Trevor Siemian will again serve as Brock Osweiler’s backup at quarterback Sunday. … Specialteams coordinator Brock Olivo said running back Devontae Booker will continue to return kickoffs for the Broncos. Booker returned five kickoffs for 105 yards last Sunday in Philadelphia.