If the Denver Broncos are going to sustain this wave of momentum, they’ll need a little luck by way of the injury bug. That fortune, ideally, needs to cut both ways.
The Broncos need to stay as healthy as possible, and along the way, it wouldn’t hurt for their opponents to have a little less injury fortune. That’s not to say anyone should wish Denver’s opponents ill, but it certainly helps a team’s outlook when an adversary is missing a key player.
With the 7-3 Cleveland Browns headed to the Mile High City, overall roster health could play a huge part in the outcome of this game. The Broncos, for what it’s worth, got a little good news relative to Cleveland’s final injury report for Week 12.
Let’s examine the overall health and well-being of both clubs.
Broncos
Questionable
- Dwayne Washington | RB | Illness
- P.J. Locke | S | Ankle
Full Go
- D.J. Jones | DT | Knee
- Nik Bonitto | OLB | Shoulder
- Baron Browning | OLB | Wrist
- Mitchell Fraboni | LS | Back
- Josey Jewell | LB | Back
- Samaje Perine | RB | Knee
- Mike Purcell | DT | Elbow
Analysis: The Broncos really, really need Locke to heal up quickly. He exited Week 10’s tilt at Buffalo early with an ankle and missed all of Week 11.
Denver weathered the storm in Buffalo sans-Locke — by the skin of their teeth — and a stroke of good fortune saw Kareem Jackson’s temporary return from suspension coincide with Locke’s absence from Week 12. With Jackson back in the NFL clink, the Broncos’ safety option, beyond Locke are the second-year Delarrin Turner-Yell and rookie JL Skinner, neither of whom has looked ready for starter’s snaps.
Turner-Yell has seen a lot of playing time this year, and the Broncos have paid the price. As you can see below, Locke went from not participating in Wednesday’s practice, to being limited Thursday, to being a full go on Friday. That’s a very optimistic harbinger for his Week 12 outlook.
Browns
Out
- Denzel Ward | CB | Shoulder
- Marquise Goodwin | WR | Concussion
Questionable
- Juan Thornhill | S | Calf
- Anthony Walker | LB | Hamstring
- Jordan Kunaszyk | LB | Knee
Full Go
- Matthew Adams | LB | Quad
- Joel Bitonio | OG | NIR/Rest/Knee
- Grant Delpit | S | Thigh
- Mike Ford | CB | Thumb/Ribs
- Myles Garrett | DE | NIR/Rest/Ankle
- Dawand Jones | OT | Knee
- Greg Newsome | CB | Calf
- David Njoku | TE| NIR/Rest/Knee
- Ogbo Okoronkwo | DE | Groin
- Za’Darius Smith | DE | NIR/Rest/Personal
- Sione Takitaki | LB | Knee
- Wyatt Teller | OG | Ankle
Analysis: The Browns will be without their No. 1 corner in Ward. The two-time Pro Bowler is battling a shoulder that will keep him out of Sunday’s action.
Goodwin will also be absent from Cleveland’s offense. But as you can see, Cleveland’s injury list is long. It’s the wages of a team involved in one physical rock fight after another each week.
Sustaining that level of physicality comes at a cost, and the Browns have a lot of banged-up players and lost No. 1 quarterback Deshaun Watson for the year.