ENGLEWOOD, Colo. – At a time when injuries have carved a deep swath out of the depth chart at safety, the Denver Broncos might have some help on the way for Monday night’s game against the Cincinnati Bengals.
T.J. Ward, who has missed the last three games with a left ankle injury he suffered in the Broncos’ Nov. 29 victory over the New England Patriots, practiced Thursday – the second consecutive day he has worked this week. And Broncos coach Gary Kubiak said Darian Stewart, who did not play in Sunday’s loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers because of a hamstring injury, is now expected to be a full participant in the Broncos’ practice Saturday.
Ward was a limited participant in both Wednesday’s and Thursday’s practices. Stewart has not yet practiced this week.
“I would expect Darian to be back in full practice on Saturday,’’ Kubiak said following Thursday's practice. “He’s feeling pretty good, we’re just being smart here. We’ve got an extra days and we’re trying to use it and I’m hoping he’s back full speed on Saturday.’’
It means on a week when the Broncos had to put safety David Bruton Jr. on injured reserve with a fractured right fibula, the possibility of getting Stewart or Ward, or both, back in the lineup would be a welcome one. The Broncos have played the last two games with two safeties – Josh Bush and Shiloh Keo – who were signed earlier this month.
Bush, who was with the Broncos earlier this season, did have an interception against the Steelers. However, Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger finished with 380 yards passing to go with two touchdowns and was the first quarterback to top 300 yards against the Broncos' defense this season.
On the potential of Ward playing Monday night against the Bengals, Kubiak said: “I think he’s made progress … we’ll see where we’re at on Saturday.’’
“I'm not going to hurt us by going out there and not being able to play to my ability,’’ Ward said. “As long as I'm up to par or even a little bit beneath that, I'm going to play. But if I'm going to hurt the team by going out there, I'm not going to do it.’’
Ward, with 57 tackles, and Stewart, with 52, are third and tied for fourth on the team in tackles.
