Broncos injury update: Watch Courtland Sutton return to practice

ENGLEWOOD, Colo. — Broncos WR Courtland Sutton went through individual drills Wednesday as he practiced for the first time since suffering a hamstring injury at Baltimore on Dec. 4.

Courtland Sutton works at Broncos practice. First on-field work with the team since he injured his hamstring on Dec. 4. pic.twitter.com/wEabVJjPfJ

— Andrew Mason (@MaseDenver) December 21, 2022

“We’re happy to have anybody we can get on the field right now,” Broncos coach Nathaniel Hackett said. “It’ll be great to have Courtland back. I think it’s going to take some pressure off Jerry [Jeudy] and hopefully open Jerry up some more, and Jerry will open up Courtland.”

The question now will become which role is handled by which receiver. In Sutton’s absence, Jeudy took over the “X” receiver spot, which he noted last week offered him more one-on-one opportunities.

“We’re still going to move those guys all over the place,” Hackett said.

Courtland Sutton in another individual drill in his return to practice: pic.twitter.com/FkS2jpcgeW

— Andrew Mason (@MaseDenver) December 21, 2022

Jeudy capitalized on the change.. He caught 15 passes for 149 yards and three touchdowns in Sutton’s absence. Jeudy’s three scores against the Chiefs were three times as many as Sutton had in the first 12 games of the season.

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CHASE EDMONDS RETURNS TO PRACTICE

After missing the last four games with a high-ankle sprain, Edmonds practiced Wednesday as the Broncos designated him for return from injured reserve. Edmonds is expected to handle the third-down back role Mike Boone manned before he succumbed to his second high-ankle sprain of the season Dec. 11 against Kansas City.

Chase is on the case! Chase Edmonds back at practice. pic.twitter.com/mu0bd3brH9

— Andrew Mason (@MaseDenver) December 21, 2022

Edmonds becomes the the eighth Bronco activated from injured reserve this season. That puts the Broncos at the season-long limit of activations from IR. Earlier this season, they activated Boone, safety TE Greg Dulcich, CB Michael Ojemudia, safety Justin Simmons, long snapper Jacob Bobenmoyer and, last week, edge rusher Randy Gregory and offensive tackle Billy Turner.

Edmonds’ expected activation will thus officially end the seasons for all Broncos currently on injured reserve. That means players such as center Lloyd Cushenberry, safety Caden Sterns, WR KJ Hamler and LB Jonas Griffith will not return this year.

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O-LINE DODGES A BULLET

RG Quinn Meinerz was not listed on the injury report at all, and is expected to have a full week of practice leading up to playing Sunday against the Rams. Meinerz got poked in the eye during the Broncos’ first series Sunday.

“It looks wicked. He’s got a nice shiner and his eye’s puffy. But I think he’ll be all right,” Hackett said. “That was a scary moment, being on the field for that.”

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ALSO OF NOTE:

• QB Russell Wilson was “full go,” Hackett said. Wilson cleared the league-mandated post-concussion protocol last Friday.
• Seeing limited work Wednesday were CB K’Waun Williams (wrist/knee) and safety Kareem Jackson (veteran rest day).
• LG Dalton Risner had a full practice workload.
• Gregory did not practice Wednesday. The day was a scheduled off-day for “maintenance” following Gregory’s October knee scope. Gregory played last Sunday for the first time since injuring his knee at Las Vegas on Oct. 2.
• WR Kendall Hinton remained sidelined with a hamstring injury.

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