ENGLEWOOD, Colo. – The Denver Broncos held wide receiver Emmanuel Sanders (thigh) out of Saturday morning’s practice and backup running back C.J. Anderson is being treated under the guidelines of the NFL’s concussion protocol, so he also was kept out of practice.
Sanders did not practice on Tuesday because of his injury, but was on the field for 20 plays Thursday night in the Broncos’ preseason opener against the Seattle Seahawks.
Anderson, who has been working as the No. 3 running back, was sent home from the Broncos’ complex because of concussion symptoms, “little headaches’’ as head coach John Fox put it. Anderson suffered his injury in the 21-16 victory over the Seahawks.
Under the protocol Anderson cannot even return to light running until he is symptom free.
Running back Montee Ball, who had an appendectomy Monday, attended Saturday's practice but is not yet ready for a return to the field. Ball is not expected to play in the remainder of the preseason -- the Broncos starters do not usually play in the fourth preseason game -- but said after practice he could begin doing some running “in about a week.’’
“Medical people wanted … to make sure surgery heals, but I know he was excited to get back and be with the guys,’’ Fox said. “The procedure went fine, everything looked good, his reaction has been good. Right now he’s on schedule to get involved as soon as the actual surgery heals.’’
Asked if Ball would play in the preseason, Fox said: “We’ll just play it by ear. I think we saw plenty of him a year ago, we saw plenty of him in the offseason.’’
Defensive end Malik Jackson was excused from practice for personal reasons.
Defensive end Chase Vaughn (right knee), defensive end Greg Latta (right hip) and cornerback Louis Young (groin) were held out of practice.
