Emmanuel Sanders gives an update on his recovery from a torn Achilles

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DENVER — Emmanuel Sanders tore his Achilles in December, less than a month remaining in Denver’s 2018 season.

In May, less than six months after the dreadful injury, the speedy receiver was back to sprinting at full speed.

Now, just one month after hitting full speed—which he says is the same top speed he had last year—Sanders is not only cutting, he’s running routes at full speed. All of this work, however, has been on the side, not during the team’s practice.

“Body-wise, I’ve always been a fast healer. I know a lot of people say, ‘the older you get, you don’t heal as fast,’ but I guess I kind of proved that wrong,” Sanders said on Tuesday afternoon at UCHealth’s third-annual “Healthy Swings Charity Home Run Derby” in support of The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. “I’ve still got a month and a half to go and I still got to keep striving to get better.”

On Tuesday, the Broncos released their training camp schedule, which will officially begin on July 18, just over a month away.

With Ron Leary and Phillip Lindsay expected to be ready to go for the start of training camp, all eyes will be waiting to see if No. 10 steps out on the field at the beginning of camp.

“When I’m ready, I’m ready,” Sanders said when asked how he’ll determine when to step on the field for the first time. “We’re just taking it one day at a time.”

Sanders didn’t rule out the possibility of being placed on the Physically Unable to Perform list (PUP), which would mean he wouldn’t be able to practice as long as he remained on that list.

Earlier in the offseason, Sanders stated he won’t return until he’s 100 percent, but from the looks of it, he’s not too far off.

To the outside eye, specifically those that follow the star receiver on social media, it’s hard to believe Sanders ever experienced such a brutal injury, let alone just seven months ago.

Sanders hasn’t been shy posting his recovery on Instagram “to show the fans that I’m working my butt off to get back.”

“When I step into that locker room, when I step on that field I know a lot of people are going to be looking to see if I still have it,” Sanders said, beaming with confidence. “I’m going to be prepared for that moment. I know me, coming off an Achilles injury, the moment I step into this offense, they are going to expect a lot out of me and I’m going to expect a lot out of myself. So I’m preparing for those moments and hopefully the opportunity meets the preparation, which I’ve been doing.”

Despite having nearly all of the cards stacked against him—a 32-year old coming off a torn Achilles with a new quarterback—the elusive receiver still has his expectations sky high.

“For me, I want to go to the Pro Bowl,” the three-time 1,000-yard receiver stated. “I want to get back in the NFL’s Top 100. I feel like I’m still one of the best receivers in the NFL right now. I work like it, so therefore I’m going to feel like it. And I want to get back into the playoffs. I want to make a Super Bowl.”

“In order for me to do that, and being a starting receiver for the Denver Broncos, I know what type of numbers I’ve got to put up. I know what I’ve got to do. I’m willing and capable of doing that. I’ve got a month and a half to continuously get better and try and do that.”

Emmanuel’s on the clock. Come July 18, all eyes will be on him, too.