DENVER -- Denver Broncos linebacker Brandon Marshall said Friday he believed he was ready to play in the AFC divisional round game against the Indianapolis Colts, and Sunday Broncos head coach John Fox agreed.
Marshall, the team’s leading tackler, will be in uniform and back in the lineup for the playoff matchup. Marshall has not played since the Broncos’ Dec. 14 win in San Diego because of a foot injury.
Marshall said following Friday’s practice he felt the best he has since before the injury and that “in my mind, I know I could go. ... I can go.’’
Fox said Friday he wanted to see how Marshall responded after Saturday’s practice. It’s no small thing to have Marshall back in the lineup given that before his injury, Marshall had seven games in which he played every defensive snap.
He missed the final two games of the season and still played 81.2 percent of the defensive snaps for the season.
Guard Orlando Franklin and safety David Bruton Jr., who suffered concussions in the regular-season finale, will both play in Sunday’s game.
The Broncos had no big surprises among their game-day inactives, but it is worth noting Jeremy Stewart will be the No. 3 running back in the game, behind C.J. Anderson and Ronnie Hillman. Juwan Thompson, who has dealt with hip and knee injuries of late, was one of the game-day inactives.
Also inactive for the Broncos: wide receiver Cody Latimer, cornerback Tony Carter, tackle Paul Cornick, tackle Michael Schofield, tight end Dominique Jones and defensive tackle Mitch Unrein.
