The Broncos have a quick turnaround from Sunday to Thursday night this week and it may not be enough time for wide receiver Wes Welker to get healthy enough to be in the lineup.
Lindsay Jones of USA Today reports that Welker did not participate in practice on Tuesday after suffering a concussion against the Titans on Sunday. The league’s concussion protocol dictates a series of tests that Welker must pass before he’ll be cleared to play, something that usually takes more time than the Broncos have at their disposal right now.
The final injury report for the game will come out on Wednesday and we’ll find out Welker’s status for Thursday at that point. As of now, though, questionable seems like a stretch. Luckily for the Broncos they also have Demaryius Thomas, Eric Decker, Knowshon Moreno and Julius Thomas available to catch passes from Peyton Manning.
Jones also reports that defensive end Derek Wolfe and cornerback Champ Bailey were held out of practice. Wolfe hasn’t played since suffering seizure-like symptoms on the Friday before the Week 13 game with New England and Bailey’s been in and out of the lineup with a foot injury all season.