The Denver Broncos were dealt a big blow on Thursday when news broke that C.J. Anderson would likely miss extended time with a right knee injury and the bad news may keep coming. According to Arnie Stapleton of the Associated Press, there’s a good chance linebacker Brandon Marshall will miss Sunday’s game against the Chargers with a hamstring injury.
Stapleton joined Renaud Notaro on Mile High Sports AM 1340 | FM 104.7 on Wednesday (ahead of the official news about Anderson requiring surgery), saying that Marshall will “officially be a game-time decision.”
Marshall did not practice on Wednesday, the team’s first day back following a Monday Night Football win over the Texans in which Marshall made four tackles (two solo). Initial reports are that he did not practice on Thursday, as well. The team’s official participation report will come out later in the day.
“I was talking to Brandon today,” Stapleton said on Wednesday, “and he said that this is the worst hamstring pull that he’s had since 2008.”
That year Marshall was a freshman at Nevada and played in 12 games, totaling 33 tackles and two sacks.
“I know that these guys get around-the-clock care,” Stapleton said,”but you’re not going to be able to keep up with those tight ends and those pick routes, those crossing routes with a pulled hamstring. So I would fully expect to see Corey [Nelson] in the game instead of Brandon Marshall.”
The entire linebacking corps struggled in coverage two weeks ago against San Diego, as tight end Hunter Henry went for 83 yards on six receptions (although his touchdown did come against cornerback Chris Harris).
As it looks more likely that Marshall will be out, defensive coordinator Wade Phillips will have to adjust his game plan with Nelson in as Marshall’s replacement.
“I think that they’ll be fine with Corey” Stapleton said. “They’ll have to play some more zone and maybe less man, but I would not expect Brandon Marshall to be playing in this game.”
Of course, the biggest loss with Marshall potentially out would be his on-field leadership. Marshall wears the radio helmet and quarterbacks the defense, which will no doubt be a challenge for either Todd Davis or Corey Nelson in his absence.
Hear the full conversation with Stapleton, including talk on Anderson’s injury and a look at why the tight ends aren’t performing well, in the podcast below.
https://soundcloud.com/milehighsports/10-26-16-arnie-stapleton-and-notaro-what-options-do-the-broncos-have-with-cj-anderson-being-injured
Catch The Final Verdict with Notaro and Jacobs every Monday – Thursday from 6p-8p on Mile High Sports AM 1340 | FM 104.7 or stream live any time for the best local coverage of Colorado sports from Denver’s biggest sports talk lineup.