Denver Broncos Week 13 Injury Report: Ward, Ware, and Williams all ruled out

The Denver Broncos will be traveling to sunny San Diego to take on the division rival Chargers without key players on defense.

Linebacker DeMarcus Ware, safety T.J. Ward and nose tackle Sylvester Williams have all been ruled out for the 2:05 p.m. MST start against the San Diego Chargers; Ward and Williams will not travel with the team.

“We’re going to leave three guys back,” head coach Gary Kubiak said Friday. “We’re going to leave T.J. [Ward], ‘Sly’ (NT Sylvester Williams) and Peyton [Manning] back and leave a couple of our trainers back with them to work them through the weekend.”

Both Ward and Williams suffered high ankle sprains early in the first quarter when they collided with one another in the 30-24 overtime win against the previously unbeaten New England Patriots. The collision has left both players in walking boots and using crutches all week.

With Ward missing time, Denver has signed safety Josh Bush. Bush played three games this season for the orange and blue on defense and special teams until being waved on Oct. 1. Expect Bush to not see much field as he gets reacquainted with the Denver defense; look for both Darian Stewart and Bradley Roby to see extended time Sunday.

Vance Walker and Antonio Smith, as well as Derek Wolfe should be able to handle the Chargers offensive line in Williams’ absence. They are going to have to contain Chargers quarterback Philip Rivers, who is having a stellar season. Despite being on a 3-8 football team, Rivers has a 68.5 completion percentage, second highest of his career, and 23 touchdowns to only eight interceptions.

Ware, who was active at practice all week, was expecting to play but Kubiak had other plans for his star linebacker.

“Even though we’ve ruled DeMarcus out, he’s had a good week,” Kubiak explained. “He’s made good progress. We don’t think this is the week to start, but we want to keep him through the routine and go out there Sunday morning and really work him out as if he’s playing some that day. His progress, everything is trending toward next week. He’s doing a good job.”

“Yeah, he was really close,” Kubiak said on the status of Ware. “He practiced well yesterday, even better today. I think he’s very confident. I think we kind of made up our mind yesterday that we’re going to stay the course. It’s not time yet.”

With Ware out, look for the “Dirty Duo” of Shaquil Barrett and rookie Shane Ray to see extensive playtime.

Ware is expected to return next week when Denver hosts another AFC West foe, the 5-6 Oakland Raiders. Ware originally injured his back in Week 5 against those very Raiders.

Broncos’ sheriff and 18-year veteran Peyton Manning has also been in a walking boot after a partially torn plantar fascia suffered in a loss to the Kansas City Chiefs Week 10; a game in which Manning had a total QBR of 0.0.

When asked about the Manning situation, Kubiak was hesitant.

“I don’t know,” Kubiak said of if Manning was still in the boot. “I have to talk to head athletic trainer Steve ‘Greek’ Antonopulos. I know it was still on this morning when I saw him, so I don’t know if they’ll leave it on through the weekend. When he rehabs, it’s off anyways. I don’t know that for sure.”

With Manning out for an undisclosed amount of time, the team is riding on the tall shoulders of fourth-year professional Brock Osweiler, who has played out of his mind in his first two career starts.

Denver has been able to play well most of the season, despite numerous injures, this game shouldn’t be any different as the Mile High crew looks to extend their road division winning streak to 15 games.

Notable Chargers injures:

OUT: Guard D.J. Fluker and tackle King Dunlap.
PROBABLE: Quarterback Philip Rivers and tight end Ladarius Green.