Broncos Chargers Injury Report: C.J., DT, & JT are Probable; Hillman Questionable, Cornick, Latimer Out

It's week 15 in the NFL.

It's been 11 weeks since the Denver Broncos' bye week.

The Broncos have 16 players on their injury report this week.

There are three more games until the playoffs.

I feel tired and sore just writing this . . . no wonder the Broncos practice on Wednesday didn't include helmets or pads.

C.J. Anderson, Demaryius Thomas, and Julius Thomas are all probable to play on Sunday. Ronnie Hillman and Jacob Tamme are questionable. Ruled out for the Chargers game: Montee Ball, Cody Latimer, and Paul Cornick.

What about Trevathan? Danny Trevathan has not been activated yet so is not listed on this week's injury report. However ESPN's Jeff Legwold reported that Trevathan practiced fully this week and will most likely re-join the Broncos' roster on Saturday.

Let's break down the injury report and cross our fingers the Broncos players stay injury free on Sunday.

Broncos new to the injury report

There are only three new players to the injury report this week. While it's bad news to see any player on this report, none of these injuries look very bad.

David Bruton was a limited and then full participant in practice with a groin injury and Malik Jackson was limited with a knee injury. Quanterus Smith is dealing with a rib injury but was a full participant in practice.

Repeat Broncos on the injury report

This is where the action is this week. Some Broncos are doing better, some are about the same, others are doing worse. Let's start with the good news.

Doing better: Kayvon Webster (shoulder) and Ronnie Hillman (foot) have not been participating in practice for weeks. This week they were limited participants. With C.J. Anderson and Juwan Thompson a bit beat up I was thrilled to see Hillman making some progress.

Doing about the same: Demaryius Thomas (ankle) was limited in practice after not participating on Wednesday. Julius Thomas (ankle) was limited early in the ween in practice which is how he was listed last week. While Julius Thomas was active for the Bills game he didn't play. Things do look more promising for JT this week as he was upgraded to a full participant in Friday's practice.

Fox on Julius. "Saw even better progress this week" #broncos

— Troy Renck (@TroyRenck) December 12, 2014

Montee Ball (groin) is still not participating in practice and is out for Sunday.

Cody Latimer (concussion) did not officially participate in practice this week but he was seen working with trainers on the sidelines on Friday. It appears he is starting to make some progress working through the concussion protocol but he won't be playing this Sunday.

Center Will Montgomery is still on the report for a knee injury but was a full participant in practice.

Doing worse: C.J. Anderson was on the report last week for his ankle but was a full participant in practice. This week he didn't participate on Wednesday and was limited later in the week. Juwan Thompson has been on the report for weeks for a knee injury. However this is the first week he was listed as limited as opposed to a full participant.

Will the Broncos need to throw more and run less this Sunday because of these injuries? Will we see more of Jeremy Stewart? The good news: C.J. say the ankle feels good to go on Sunday and he's "ready to rock and roll." I'm much more concerned about keeping C.J. healthy for the playoffs than I am about his status this Sunday.

Wes Welker was on the report last week only because he had a "veteran day off". He had a day off on Wednesday as well but is also dealing with a new ankle injury and was limited in practice.

Jacob Tamme's ribs are giving him more issues after the hard hit (followed by a fumble) he took during the Bill's game. I had predicted Tamme as an inactive last week because of his rib injury. Maybe Tamme will be on there this week instead as he has not practiced this week.

Last week offensive lineman Paul Cornick was on the report for a lingering shoulder injury. This week he did not participate in practice due to a toe injury. No Cornick on Sunday that might be another speed bump for the Broncos running game as he is used an as extra blocker. Chris Clark has been inactive the last few weeks, perhaps he can fill in for Cornick this week.

And finally, Quinton Carter is still dealing with a knee injury and did not practice this week. He had participated in a limited way last Friday but was inactive during the Bills game.

Incredible day! Cornick out. Tamme, latimer, ball working on side w Luke. Q carter not doing anything pic.twitter.com/eIQ1fuUxc7

— Darren McKee (@dmac1043) December 12, 2014

Broncos off the injury report

Three Broncos made it off the injury report this week. Aqib Talib (hamstring), Terrance Knighton (elbow), and Lerentee McCray (illness). I was surprised to see Talib off the list this week, but I'll take any good injury news I can get.

Odds and ends

Though the Chargers announced punter Mike Scifers suffered a shoulder injury, they fear he fractured his clavicle, per league source.

— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) December 8, 2014

10 year veteran punter Mat McBriar was signed by the San Diego Chargers earlier this week to fill in for Scifres. McBriar has been with the Cowboys, Eagles, and Steelers previously.

Chargers RB Ryan Mathews (ankle) didn't practice all week, is questionable vs. Den. McCoy didn't rule out Mathews playing w/out practice.

— Lindsay Jones (@bylindsayhjones) December 12, 2014

Last weeks Bronco inactives: Ronnie Hillman, Cody Latimer, Michael Schofield, Quinton Carter, Kayvon Webster, Chris Clark, Montee Ball.

My prediction for this week inactives: Montee Ball, Michael Schofield, Cody Latimer, Quinton Carter, Paul Cornick, Jacob Tamme, Mitch Unrein

Best John Fox non-answer this week. When asked if he had to make adjustments with the injuries at the tight end position Fox said the following:

"I would say it's fair that we have made adjustments but we're not going to announce them."

Friday Injury Report

Denver Broncos

Player	Pos.	Injury	Wed. Participation	Thur. Participation	Fri. Participation	Game Status
Anderson, C.J.	RB	Ankle	DNP	LIMITED	FULL	PROBABLE
Ball, Montee	RB	Groin	DNP	DNP	DNP	OUT
Carter, Quinton	S	Knee	DNP	DNP	DNP	DOUBTFUL
Cornick, Paul	T	Toe	DNP	DNP	DNP	OUT
Latimer, Cody	WR	Concussion	DNP	DNP	DNP	OUT
Tamme, Jacob	TE	Ribs	DNP	DNP	LIMITED	QUESTIONABLE
Thomas, Demaryius	WR	Ankle	DNP	LIMITED	FULL	PROBABLE
Welker, Wes	WR	Ankle	DNP	LIMITED	FULL	PROBABLE
Bruton, David	S	Groin	LIMITED	FULL	FULL	PROBABLE
Hillman, Ronnie	RB	Foot	LIMITED	LIMITED	LIMITED	QUESTIONABLE
Jackson, Malik	DE	Knee	LIMITED	LIMITED	FULL	PROBABLE
Thomas, Julius	RE	Ankle	LIMITED	LIMITED	FULL	PROBABLE
Thompson, Juwan	RB	Knee	LIMITED	LIMITED	FULL	PROBABLE
Webster, Kayvon	CB	Shoulder	LIMITED	LIMITED	LIMITED	QUESTIONABLE
Montgomery, Will	C	Knee	FULL	FULL	FULL	PROBABLE
Smith, Quanterus	DE	Ribs	FULL	FULL	FULL	PROBABLE

San Diego Chargers

Player	Pos.	Injury	Wed. Participation	Thur. Participation	Fri. Participation	Game Status
Freeney, Dwight	LB	Non-injury related	DNP	FULL	-	-
Green, Ladarius	TE	Concussion/Ankle	DNP	DNP	LIMITED	QUESTIONABLE
Liuget, Corey	DT	Ankle	DNP	DNP	LIMITED	QUESTIONABLE
Mathews, Ryan	RB	Ankle	DNP	DNP	DNP	QUESTIONABLE
Scifres, Mike	P	Shoulder	DNP	DNP	DNP	OUT
Carrethers, Ryan	T	Elbow	LIMITED	LIMITED	LIMITED	DOUBTFUL
Rivers, Philip	QB	Chest	FULL	FULL	FULL	PROBABLE

BOLD-Indicates change in status

STATUS DEFINITIONS:

Out – player definitely will not play Doubtful – at least 75% chance player will not play Questionable – 50-50 chance player will not play Probable – virtual certainty player will be available for normal duty