If needed, Broncos' secondary wideouts have a unique advantage

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Demaryius Thomas hobbled through practice Wednesday due to a hip injury suffered in the win versus the Carolina Panthers. While Head Coach Gary Kubiak stated he believes the Pro Bowl receiver will be available to play, the possibility of a game without Thomas brings about questions regarding the previously praised depth of the wide receiver group.

Trevor Siemian will make his second career start Sunday when the 0-1 Indianapolis Colts come to town with their already injury-riddled defensive secondary. Emmanuel Sanders is likely to lead the Broncos charge if “DT” can’t go, but the third, fourth and fifth options for the team are preparing to help out their relatively inexperienced quarterback.

“You never know, [Demaryius Thomas] should be ready to go but he might tweak it first quarter, second quarter, so you have to prepare like you were the starter all week,” backup wide receiver Jordan Taylor said Wednesday.

The Broncos have been looking for a third wide receiver for several seasons; Bennie Fowler III emerged as that in 2015. Fowler, though, was sidelined Aug. 13 in the preseason opener against the Chicago Bears with a fracture to his right elbow. The 2015 breakout player has now recovered and was a limited participant in practice Wednesday.

“I don’t want any setbacks when I get back out there and start playing,” he said, hoping to play Sunday. “I don’t want anything lingering still. Most important thing is my health throughout the season, so it sucks that I had to miss the first one, but I feel good being out there now.”

Fowler will be questionable to return leading up to the game and the other two candidates for an increased workload are Taylor and Cody Latimer. Both played extremely well in the preseason and are looking to take that success into the regular season with Siemian, a familiar passer to them.

“It’s good,” Latimer said of his chemistry with Siemian. “Especially coming out the first game and catching passes with Trevor [Siemian] and the Chicago game working with him on the scout team. Coach [Kubiak] did a good job of switching quarterbacks in and out, so I have a good relationship with him.”

Siemian’s time spent on the practice squad in 2015 helped build a relationship with the receiver’s stuck behind Sanders and Thomas, working his way into the starting role this offseason coincided with their ascensions up the depth chart as well.

“I think you have to have a comfort level with everybody on the roster, and I think I have that,” Siemian stated Wednesday. “We’re really fortunate to have depth at receiver, tight end, and even our backs. We have a lot of guys. We don’t have enough footballs to get around to these guys. Just having a comfort level with those guys and just helping keep everybody in sync and in rhythm.”

If the Broncos are forced to play with a less than healthy Thomas or have him miss the game entirely, it seems it could not come at a better time. The Colts, in just week two, are dealing with several injuries to their secondary. Starting cornerbacks, Vontae Davis (ankle) and Patrick Robinson (concussion) were held out of practice Wednesday, and both backup cornerbacks, Antonio Cromartie (hamstring) and Darius Butler (ankle) were limited. First and second–string free safeties Clayton Geathers (childbirth) and T.J. Green (knee) also did not practice Wednesday.

“I think they got a few DB’s nicked up,” Taylor said of the Colts Wednesday. “They definitely have a lot of good athletes, but I just think they are a little short at cornerback and safety positions so last week they did let up a few deep balls and things like that but I know they are going to come back with those things corrected.”

In the 35-39 loss to the Detroit Lions in week one, the Colts allowed 340 passing yards and three touchdowns, quickly placing them 26th in pass defense. Lions’ quarterback Matt Stafford completed 31-of-39 attempts in the game. Last season the Colts allowed an average of 257.1 yards through the air per game, good for 24th best in the NFL.

Whoever lines up outside for the Broncos’ offense, it appears they will have ample opportunities to connect with Siemian. For his part, the quarterback seems prepared, and his lesser-known targets have been working for just this type of occasion.

“I have every bit of confidence in [Siemian], and I think he does the same with me,” Taylor declared. “I know when I do get in the game. Obviously he has his reads and progressions, but I know he is not afraid to throw it my way.”

The Broncos will need to take advantage of the Colts injuries Sunday, in spite of their own.