Broncos Briefs SANDERS AND LATIMER ARE DONE FOR 2017
The season has officially come to an end for Broncos wide receivers Emmanuel Sanders and Cody Latimer.
Along with defensive end Zach Kerr (ankle), the wideouts were ruled out for Sunday’s finale against the Chiefs because of lingering injuries that kept them out of practice all week. Sanders has dealt with an ankle sprain he suffered in Week 6 against the New York Giants, and Latimer has been working through a bruised thigh.
Neither player was active in Week 16 against the Redskins, leaving the Broncos with only four wideouts — Demaryius Thomas, Bennie Fowler, Jordan Taylor and rookie Isaiah McKenzie. The Broncos will stick with those four for the last game against Kansas City.
This was Sanders’ fourth season with the Broncos. He signed a $33 million contract extension in 2016 and has two years remaining on that deal. In 2018, he is due about $8.2 million in base salary and carries a salary cap hit of $10.9 million and a deadmoney value of about $5.4 million.
Latimer, who morphed into a key special-teams player for the Broncos this season, is slated to be an unrestricted free agent in March.
“Cody is a guy that made big plays down the field for us, contested plays. And that’s huge,” coach Vance Joseph said. “Most of the time, the balls are going to be contested, but he came down with them, from the Philly game to the Indy game two weeks ago. So I’ve been impressed with him. … He had a good year for us, in my opinion.”
Offensive tackle Donald Stephenson was listed as questionable to play Sunday (finger injury).
Honor for Davis.
Inside linebacker Todd Davis was named the Broncos’ 2017 Ed Block Courage Award Winner for exemplifying “commitments to the principles of sportsmanship and courage.”
Davis played through multiple injuries to start 13 games and ranks second on the team with 78 total tackles (48 solo).
Davis, an undrafted free agent out of Sacramento State, was claimed by the Broncos in 2014 and worked his way into the starting lineup when Danny Trevathan, a former Ed Block Courage Award winner, left in free agency.
“Todd is special. Todd is one of our best leaders. He’s the same guy every day,” Joseph said. “Todd is an example of being a great pro. Through the good times, through the bad times, Todd hasn’t changed. His work ethic never changed. … He’s want I want all of our guys to aspire to be.”
Gone bowling.
Broncos general manager John Elway, director of player personnel Matt Russell and senior personnel adviser Gary Kubiak were set to attend the Cotton Bowl in Arlington, Texas, on Friday as top quarterback prospect Sam Darnold and Southern California took on Ohio State.
Hill sidelined.
Kansas City ruled out receiver and returner Tyreek Hill for Sunday’s game in Denver. In his three career games against the Broncos, Hill has posted a kick return for a touchdown, a receiving touchdown and two rushing touchdowns.