Denver Broncos wide receiver Emmanuel Sanders will not play against the Chicago Bears on Sunday, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter. Sanders was listed as questionable on the official injury report with ankle and finger injuries and the team gave little indication about whether or not he'd be able to play prior to Sunday.
Emmanuel Sanders will not play vs. Bears in Week 11
Sanders was listed as questionable with ankle and finger injuries, but won’t play after the team ruled him out just a couple hours before kickoff.
James Lang-USA TODAY Sports
Sanders was referred to as a game-time decision by head coach Gary Kubiak on Friday, but early on Sunday morning, Schefter reported that the receiver was expected to play. That reportedly changed after the team watched him in warmups.
Sanders is the second receiver on a struggling Broncos offense. He has caught 46 passes for 639 yards and four touchdowns on the season. He starts alongside Demaryius Thomas, who has 816 yards and a touchdown on the year. Sanders' play isn't quite where it was a season ago, as he finished the year with 1,404 yards and nine touchdowns in 16 games played.
That has a lot to do with the fact that Peyton Manning is struggling big time this season. Manning, 39, has looked every bit his age and in a four-interception game against the Kansas City Chiefs in Week 10, Manning was eventually benched for backup Brock Osweiler. Manning is dealing with a foot injury and Osweiler will start Sunday's tilt against the Bears.
Osweiler won't have Sanders available, which could make things tough for the fourth-year quarterback. After Thomas and Sanders, Bennie Fowler is the next most productive receiver, with just 167 yards. Tight end Owen Daniels has 245 yards and three touchdowns.
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