CJ Anderson was beginning to get hot. The running back was finally finding his rhythm after struggling for most of the season and his 113-yard performance against the New England Patriots certainly proved he was getting back to the star he was last season. However, that came to a halt in Week 13 as Anderson went down with an ankle injury that could keep him off the field depending on the severity.
According to the Denver Post, Anderson went down with an ankle injury in the win over the San Diego Chargers. The running back had 54 total yards of offense before leaving and will now be doubtful for next week. That is certainly not good for Denver who had been capitalizing on the running back's rise. In his place, Ronnie Hillman would get the starting nod once again while Juwan Thompson worked in as the main backup.
Vernon Davis also went down with a concussion while in the midst of a productive day with two catches for 25 yards. The tight end has struggled at some points since being acquired in a trade, but he was starting to come along and now the concussion could keep him out for Week 14. That would mean Owen Daniels continued as the top tight end while Virgil Green sees more playing time in the offense.
The injuries are certainly not wanted as Denver remains in the playoff hunt with Brock Osweiler under center. One good thing to come from Sunday was the rise of Demaryius Thomas who led the team with six catches for 61 yards and a touchdown. Thomas had been struggling to connect with the backup quarterback leaving the Broncos concerned he might be hitting a wall at this point in the season. Getting the receiver back on track was a top priority.
"I think that it's part of the game," said head coach Gary Kubiak, via ESPN.com. "Nobody felt worse than him the other night. He wants to make every play. That's the type of competitor that he is ... That's part of it. You struggle sometimes and your teammates have to pick up the slack for you and his did. That's what being a team is all about."
Osweiler continues to win games with Peyton Manning on the sidelines. This is giving the Broncos a glimpse at what life could be like with the quarterback. Denver did not see Osweiler as their future, but ESPN.com is reporting the team is warming up to the idea. Osweiler has support of the coaches and players while filling in for Manning. The wins prove he can handle the job, but the return of Manning could make things difficult.
"I think he continues to grow," Kubiak said, via ESPN.com. "I think he did some young things today. But the thing I really like about him is he learns from mistakes. He had some very good conversations with me. He wants the ball in situations. When you talk to him about this or this, he's always wanting to take the aggressive approach. For him to win on the road in two out of three weeks and find a way to get it down with this team, I think he's making some good progress."
