San Diego Chargers wide receiver Eddie Royal (11) celebrates a touchdown during the first half of the game against the Jacksonville Jaguars at EverBank Field. Mandatory Credit: Melina Vastola-USA TODAY Sports
The Denver Broncos are the most talented team in the AFC West, but the San Diego Chargers aren’t a bad team at all. In fact, they are clearly playoff contenders and could potentially give the AFC West three playoff teams this season. Behind the arm of Philip Rivers, the Chargers have been an incredible comeback story, and it’s clear that Mike McCoy and Tom Telesco have instilled a much better culture in San Diego. Not only that, but Telesco is a whole lot smarter than A.J. Smith, who simply wasn’t proactive enough in his approach to make the Chargers a better team. It’s going to be a great game tomorrow afternoon between these two division rivals, and hopefully Rivers and Peyton Manning are at their bests (they have been the two best QBs in the league this year).
Below are the injury reports for both teams.
San Diego Chargers
Out
OT Mike Remmers (ankle)
Questionable
WR Eddie Royal (toe)- This marks the third straight game in which Eddie Royal has been listed questionable with a toe injury, and it’s going to be a third straight game in which he plays through said injury. Although Royal hasn’t practiced in nearly a month, he has had a touchdown in each of the past two games with this injury; he’s a near-lock to play against his former team.
DE Lawrence Guy (toe)- Matt Prater, you are not safe with this “Guy” around.
LB Jarret Johnson (hamstring)- Johnson sustained the hamstring injury in Thursday’s practice and did not practice yesterday, so it looks like Johnson will be a game-time decision. He’s been very good this season and has always excelled as a run-stuffer. The Chargers will be hoping he plays, but at least Donald Butler will finally be back in the fold at LB for the Chargers.
Probable
LB Donald Butler (groin)- He’s a lock to play this week now that he’s listed probable on the Chargers injury report, and the Chargers have to be elated to finally have one of their most important players back.
P Mike Scifres (right knee)
G Chad Rinehart (toe)
LB Tourek Williams (thumb)
Denver Broncos
Out
CB Champ Bailey (foot)- The foot continues to plague Bailey, and he was never expected to play in tomorrow evening’s game.
Questionable
SS Duke Ihenacho (ankle)
Probable
QB Peyton Manning (ankle)
WR Wes Welker (ankle)
G Chris Kuper (ankle)
RB Knowshon Moreno (ankle)
C J.D. Walton (ankle)- He’s back and active after a quick recovery, but he might have been Wally Pipped by Ramirez, who is playing at an All-Pro level. Both centers are talented, so it will be interesting to see how the Broncos manage this situation.
C Manuel Ramirez (knee)
RT Orlando Franklin (ankle)
TE Joel Dreessen (knee)
WR Eric Decker (toe)
LB Danny Trevathan (ribs)
TE Julius Thomas (ankle)- Lots of ankle injuries for the Broncos, and this one is the most notable of all the Broncos players listed probable. Thomas’s ankle injury is even less serious than it looked at first, which is to say that it didn’t look overly serious in the first place. So yeah, he’s a lock to play tomorrow.
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