Bridgewater for Carolina performed lights out in opposition to KC final 12 months — however Mahomes was a bit higher.
ENGLEWOOD, Colo. — It seems the Broncos have some concern whether or not working again Melvin Gordon III will be capable to play Sunday night time in opposition to the Chiefs.
The primary signal got here Tuesday when the Broncos positioned follow squad working again Damarea Crockett on their protected listing for the week. Crockett has already used up his most two game-day practice-squad elevations so he must be promoted to the 53-man roster if he’s for use as a again as much as Javonte Williams and Mike Boone within the AFC West divisional sport at Arrowhead Stadium.
The Crockett safety was adopted up by the Broncos signing one other working again, Kerrith Whyte, to their follow squad on Tuesday.
On Wednesday, Gordon, the Broncos main rusher with 605 yards, was unable to follow due to the hip damage he suffered early within the sport this previous Sunday in opposition to the Los Angeles Chargers. Broncos head coach Vic Fangio mentioned Gordon additionally has a shoulder ailment, however the main concern is the hip.
Gordon went to the medical tent within the first quarter of the Chargers’ sport due to the damage, however got here again in and completed the sport with a workmanlike 83 yards on 17 carries.
So Gordon has the kind of robust make-up the place he gained’t sit if he seems like he can go – and the magnitude of the sport Sunday night time in opposition to the rival Chiefs earlier than a primetime viewers will little doubt push him to do all he can over the subsequent three days within the coach’s room. Fangio added he thought Gordon ought to be capable to follow Thursday.
However clearly the Broncos have been involved sufficient about Gordon’s well being on Monday so as to add reinforcements on Tuesday.
Teddy’s sport
To beat a crew quarterbacked by Patrick Mahomes II, your individual offensive chief can’t be pedestrian. Teddy Bridgewater almost definitely must play one among his higher video games if the Broncos are to lastly snap their 11-game head-to-head dropping streak in opposition to the heavily-favored Chiefs.
“It was a sport the place you need to rating factors,’’ Bridgewater mentioned in his weekly press convention Wednesday. “Final 12 months after I was in Carolina, we confronted these guys. They didn’t punt till the fourth quarter. They’d one punt that sport. While you play a crew like this, you need to get 7s. It’s important to rating seven. Three isn’t sufficient. That’s one of many issues that stood out from final 12 months.”
Bridgewater was terrific in a 33-31 loss to the Chiefs final 12 months. He accomplished 36 of 49 for 310 yards with two landing passes, a working landing and no interceptions. Carolina compiled 30 first downs in that sport. However Mahomes bested him as a result of he’s higher than everybody. He threw for 372 yards and 4 touchdowns with out an interception to drag out the win.
Nonetheless, Bridgewater gave him a sport.
“Teddy’s a heckuva soccer participant,’’ Chiefs coach Andy Reid mentioned in a convention name with the Denver media Wednesday. “And he does a variety of issues very nicely. Plus he’s cellular on prime of all that. He can nonetheless throw and he’s a tricky child, so now we have a ton of respect for Teddy.”
Up to now, the veteran Bridgewater is having his finest season in his first 12 months with the Broncos, throwing 15 landing passes to match a career-best, in opposition to solely 5 interceptions with a 98.9 passer ranking that ranks twelfth within the league.
Bronco Bits
Left deal with Garett Bolles is predicted to clear COVID-19 protocols and follow Thursday for the primary time in additional than a month. Bolles missed two video games with a excessive ankle sprain suffered throughout a Halloween sport win in opposition to Washington, then got here again the day after the bye week and examined constructive for the virus, which brought about him to overlook a 3rd sport in opposition to the Chargers. …
Bolles’ return is nice timing as his substitute the earlier three video games, Calvin Anderson, is predicted to overlook the subsequent two to 4 weeks with a left knee damage. Fangio mentioned Anderson could also be positioned on injured reserve later this week. …
Veteran security Kareem Jackson (shoulder/neck) returned to follow Wednesday however left guard Dalton Risner (again), defensive lineman Shelby Harris (ankle) and tight finish Eric Saubert (ankle) sat out. Fangio thought all ought to follow Thursday. Veteran cornerback Ronald Darby additionally missed follow Wednesday due to sickness.
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