Broncos and Chargers injury report: DT, Sanders, Marshall, and Watson sit out practice

A week ago, the Broncos were coming off their bye at 3-1 and were looking healthy. Just one week later they are now 3-2 after being upset by the then winless New York football Giants and are a bit banged up. They have a total of six starters(Not counting the NIR’s) listed on the injury report and five of them are listed as DNP’s. So things change quickly in the NFL, and unfortunately for the Broncos, it did not change for the better.

Veteran wide receiver Emmanuel Sanders and rookie returner/receiver Isaiah McKenzie have already been ruled out for this weekend’s game. Bennie Fowler will get the start next to Demaryius Thomas while Hunter Sharp has been activated off the Broncos practice squad to provide depth at receiver and returner for this weekend’s game.

The two notable injuries to keep an eye on this week are to Brandon Marshall and Menelik Watson. If Marshall is not able to go, Corey Nelson will get the start against Melvin Gordon and the Chargers offense. If Watson is unable to go, it will be either Alan Barbre or Donald Stephenson to replace him in the starting lineup against pass rushers Joey Bosa and Melvin Ingram. There figures to be a roster move there at some point this week, but seems doubtful it is anything substantial.

As for the Chargers, they enter without any major injury questions. Star running back Melvin Gordon was limited with a shoulder injury but figures to be good for Sunday afternoon’s game.

Here is your full Wednesday injury report for the Denver Broncos and the Los Angeles Chargers.

BOLD - Indicates change in status; NIR­- Indicates not injury related

STATUS DEFINITIONS: Did not participate (DNP); Limited: means less than 100 percent of a player’s normal repetitions; Full: 100 percent of player’s normal repetitions; Out: will not play; Doubtful: Unlikely to play; Questionable: Uncertain to play