Talk about a relief! Broncos wide receivers Jaylen Waddle and Marvin Mims Jr. were both full participants in Wednesday’s practice as Denver preps to face the San Francisco 49ers this weekend. Seriously, this is massive, especially after whispers that Waddle was rocking a boot after last week’s game. Getting him back to full speed is exactly what the Broncos need heading into Week 4.
Broncos Get Key Weapons Back on the Field
For weeks, we’ve known Mims was working his way back to full strength, so seeing him as a full participant is just awesome. But the big shocker, the one that had everyone holding their breath, was Waddle. A boot rumor can make any fan’s stomach drop, but thankfully, he’s fully cleared and looking good. This is a huge win for the Broncos’ offense, giving them two key playmakers ready to roll. Running back J.K. Dobbins also showed up as a full participant, shaking off a hip issue. Even defensive lineman Zach Allen, listed with a “NIR , Rest,” was out there, albeit limited, which is still better than being sidelined completely.
Niners Facing a Stacked Injury List Despite Optimism
It’s not all sunshine and rainbows in Denver, though. The Broncos did have one player miss out entirely: edge rusher Dondrea Tillman. He’s dealing with a hamstring issue, so his status for the game is definitely up in the air. That’s a blow to the defensive front. Over on the 49ers side, there was some initial good news with the expectation that offensive tackle Trent Williams and wide receiver Mike Evans would both be fine for the game. That’s a huge sigh of relief given the Niners’ history of injury woes and the sheer length of their current injury report. But don’t pop the champagne just yet, because their Wednesday practice report was still packed with DNPs and limited participants. Williams (NIR , Rest / Neck) and Evans (ribs) both sat out Wednesday’s practice. Ouch. Also on the DNP list were defensive end Nick Bosa (knee/calf), linebacker Dre Greenlaw (quadricep), wide receiver KhaDarel Hodge (knee), running back Christian McCaffrey (NIR , Rest), defensive tackle James Thompson (ankle), and defensive end Keion White (hamstring). That’s a serious list of talent sidelined, even for just one practice. Defensive ends Romello Height (hand) and Mykel Williams (knee) were both limited, which isn’t ideal either. It looks like the Niners are going to be battling it out with a lot of question marks this weekend.
What’s Next: A Crucial Week 4 Matchup
So, the Broncos are getting some key offensive firepower back, but their defense might be a little thin with Tillman’s hamstring issue. Meanwhile, the 49ers are hoping their expected “fineness” for Williams and Evans holds true, because their practice report looked like a war zone. This Week 4 clash against the 49ers is going to be a real test for Denver. Can they overcome Tillman’s absence and capitalize on the Niners’ extensive injury list? Or will San Francisco’s depth and grit shine through despite the DNP reports? It’s all on the line this weekend, and we’ll be glued to every snap to see how it plays out.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
Leave a Reply