ENGLEWOOD, Colo. – All along Gary Kubiak said one of the Denver Broncos’ biggest goals of the preseason was to exit “as healthy and ready to go as we can.’’
Check that off the to-do list as the Broncos’ first official injury report of the season on Wednesday featured just two players who were limited in any way for the workout. Defensive end Kenny Anunike was the only player on the team’s roster who did not participate at least some of Wednesday’s practice, and linebacker Lerentee McCray (groin) was limited.
Anunike had arthroscopic knee surgery as the preseason drew to a close and Kubiak has said Anunike “is making progress.’’
“It’s important we get the work in, but everybody’s fresh,’’ Kubiak said following Wednesday’s practice.
It all means the Broncos will have all of their starters on the current roster available for Sunday’s regular-season opener against the Baltimore Ravens, including wide receiver Emmanuel Sanders, who missed much of the preseason with a hamstring injury.
The Broncos initially had Sanders work out, on the field, before their preseason opener in Seattle, but after he experienced some soreness, Kubiak essentially shut him down, holding him out of the team’s practices.
Kubiak had hoped to structure an offseason program he hoped would keep the players healthy when the regular season arrived. It got off to a rocky start in May, however, when rookie tight end Jeff Heuerman and tackle Ryan Clady each suffered season-ending knee injuries.
Reserve wide receiver Kyle Williams (Achilles) and nose tackle Marvin Austin Jr. (groin) were moved to injured reserve during training camp. Austin may not have made the 53-player roster because of how rookie Darius Kilgo played in the preseason.
The Broncos do have two defensive starters – safety T.J. Ward and defensive end Derek Wolfe – who will open the season with suspensions. Ward’s is one game for violating the league’s personal conduct policy. Wolfe’s is four for violating the league’s policy on performance-enhancing drugs.
Injuries are always a fingers-crossed topic in the league. Ravens coach John Harbaugh joked Wednesday morning when asked about the status of rookie wide receiver Breshad Perriman, who suffered a knee injury early in training camp.
“I’m just going to go with the injury report from here on out because I never do anything but get in trouble when I try to speculate on timelines and all that,’’ Harbaugh said. “I’m just going to stay out of that business this year.’’