The Denver Broncos are a football team in flux.
After starting the season off with seven straight victories, they’ve lost two straight. But beyond losing games, they’ve lost starting quarterback Peyton Manning to injury and could be without starting wide receiver Emmanuel Sanders due to multiple injuries of his own, this Sunday.
While Manning has already been ruled out, Sanders was limited in practice both Wednesday and Thursday, with a finger injury reported. Of course, he also hurt an ankle in the loss to the Indianapolis Colts and then was hit hard in the loss to the Kansas City Chiefs last weekend; he has many bumps and bruises. And, about two hours before the game kicked off, it was announced Sanders would sit.
What that means for the Broncos struggling offense is fourth-year quarterback Brock Osweiler will get the start behind center, his first NFL start and it just so happens to come on his 25th birthday. Osweiler’s hoping to buck the trend of Broncos first-time starting QBs, and he will have the help of a close friend.
Because Sanders can’t play, it means more playing time for second-year wideout Cody Latimer.
Latimer and Osweiler have been backups together for the last two seasons together, and they made many connections notably this year in training camp. BSN Denver interviewed Latimer in training camp in what he hoped to be a breakout season and it looked like the youngster was on his way. But, what people must remember is he sits behind Sanders, the sensational play-maker at No. 2 receiver.
“Yeah, I had high expectations for this year, too, but things happen,” Latimer said Wednesday after practice. “You’ve got to remember I’m behind Emmanuel. It’s hard to throw me out there and pull him out. Opportunities come. It’s a long year, and you’ve just got to make the best of it.”
Last week, Latimer was on the field for 26 snaps with the offense, and received five targets. He caught three passes for 30 yards, his only three receptions of the season.
What will happen today when Latimer’s the starting receiver opposite of Demaryius Thomas and his buddy Brock is the one under center?
“Of course,” Latimer said of his connection with Osweiler. “Starting from last year, being on the scout team, doing reps all day together and then both preseasons both of my years I’m in there with Brock all the time, I feel like we’ve got a good connection.”
Look for No. 14 to have a big day if No. 17 can find a rhythm within the Broncos offense.
Denver (7-2) and Chicago (4-5) kickoff at 11 a.m. MT and the game will be televised on CBS. The game takes place in Chicago’s Soldier Field and it’s currently 29 degrees, half an hour before game time.
