INDIANAPOLIS — Another close loss poured gasoline on the trade rumors surrounding cornerback Chris Harris Jr. and defensive end Derek Wolfe, the two Broncos players considered to have the most value on the trade market.
And while both Harris and Wolfe expressed their desire to remain with the Broncos, the reality of the team’s 2-6 record after Sunday’s 15-13 defeat ensures that the hours until Tuesday’s trade deadline will be unsettled ones.
Neither wants to go.
Both have reasons that are personal, not just professional. Wolfe became a father this past summer. Harris noted that his wife will be delivering another child — the fourth for Harris and his wife, Leah — in “a couple of days.”
“I want to be here for my baby,” Harris said. ” definitely want to continue to play here. I don’t have no issues here, like I said. [Vic] Fangio and Ed Donatell, I’ve had great working relationships with them. We’ve worked great together.
“It’s up to them upstairs. I can’t really control it. I know what type of player I am. I know I’m not slowing down. Regardless of what people say, I’m great.”
But when asked whether that desire to stay extended beyond this season, Harris was guarded in his sentiments.
“Hey, man, I tried to do that — to get a deal done at the beginning of the year. It didn’t work out,” Harris said. “So now the rule is in my contract that I’ve got to play the year out, so I’ll just play the year out and see what happens at the end of the year.”
Wolfe, who had perhaps his best game of the season with two sacks, a forced fumble, and a tackle for a loss, reiterated his desire to play only for the Broncos. However, he accepted that his short-term future is out of his hands.
“Whatever. It is what it is. I don’t want to go. I want to retire a Bronco, but, obviously I want to win, as well,” Wolfe said. “At the end of the day, I’m not going to ask for a trade. That’s not something I’m going to do.
“I’m loyal to this team. I’m going to keep playing like we’ve got a chance, until we don’t.”
Harris acknowledged that it was difficult to focus this week.
“I’m not going to lie to you, it was the hardest week to focus for me,” he said. “It was hard to play the game but I got through it.”
The question now is whether Wolfe and Harris will have the chance to suit up for the Broncos again.
JAMES’ RETURN A SHORT ONE
Ja’Wuan James’ return to the lineup lasted just 20 plays.
It was twice as many snaps as he had in the regular-season opener at Oakland before injuring his knee the first time, causing him to miss the Broncos’ next six games. But early on the third drive, the right tackle had his left leg rolled up on and left the game.
“Maybe we should have given him another week, I don’t know,” Fangio said. “He was cleared. He felt good about playing and he went out and got injured again. I don’t know the severity of it yet.”
While James was on the field, the Broncos had their longest drive of the season in terms of plays run, a 17-play, 86-yard march that was extended by two Indianapolis penalties. That drive ended in a field goal after the Broncos bogged down in the goal-to-go sequence that followed the second of those drive-extending infractions.
Elijah Wilkinson replaced James in the lineup and remained at right tackle.
QUICK BITES
— Juwann Winfree was active for the first time since Week 1. He worked mostly on special teams, but did get on the field during the Broncos’ first second-half possession.
— Indianapolis committed a season-high 10 penalties for 103 yards in the game, including four from rookie cornerback Rock-Ya Sin, who struggled in his one-on-one coverage against wide receiver Courtland Sutton.
— The Broncos finished the game with 279 yards of total offense, giving them three games this month with under 300 yards of offense, matching the Giants and Washington for the most by any team.
