After Wednesday’s announcement that Ryan Harris was placed on injured reserve, the majority of future reps at right tackle will belong to Tyler Polumbus.
A starter from Nov. 9 against Pittsburgh through Nov. 26 against the Giants, the Colorado alum has gradually made greater strides on one of the stronger lines in the league.
“He knows what we’re doing and he knows our system,” Head Coach Josh McDaniels said. “He communicates well with the other players and he’s playing beside good players. We think that we have a guy who’s getting better each week.”
Harris improved his health status enough over the month of November to start against the Chiefs last Sunday. But McDaniels said his toe became too injured for him to play without having a medical procedure.
In turn, the Broncos made the roster move Wednesday, bringing in third-year tackle Herb Taylor to take Harris’ spot.
“We’re going to take care of that,” said McDaniels of Harris’ toe. “After that happens, (with) the length of time that he would need to recover from that, it wouldn’t make any sense for us to not make this move at this time on our roster.”
McDaniels added had no doubt that Harris was well healed enough to make his usual impact in Kansas City. He noted that the toe injury sustained by Harris against the Chiefs was different than the one sidelining him from Week 8 through Week 11.
“It’s the same toe, but it’s not the same injury to the toe,” McDaniels said. “It’s kind of a fluke deal. He was playing well until the time that it happened.”
Despite two daunting speed rushers to prepare for in the Colts’ Dwight Freeney and Robert Mathis, Kyle Orton stressed that Polumbus’ presence gives him the same sense of protection that Harris’ does. No matter who’s in front of him, the job description for he and his linemen remains the same.
“I don’t let it affect me,” Orton said. “The guys have a job to do, and they’re expected to do it. Tyler is expected to do it just like Ryan does, and he’s done a good job.”
The combination of zero-degree temperatures and an impending trip to indoor Lucas Oil Stadium on Sunday prompted the Broncos to move practice indoors. Here are some shots of the players exiting the team bus and entering the bubble on Wednesday.
For the release of the Week 14 Injury Report and more Wednesday news from Dove Valley, check back at DenverBroncos.com later this evening.
– Chris Gentilviso, DenverBroncos.com
Tags: Head Coach Josh McDaniels, Herb Taylor, Indianapolis Colts, Kyle Orton, Ryan Harris, Tyler Polumbus, Week 14
The ONLY way Denver beats Indy is if they get to Manning constantly (as in he can feel Dumervil breathing down his neck and hear it too, every play) and we have a steady offense keeping Indy off the field. They’ll need 2+ turnovers, too. Play solid, mistake-free football. And a couple of big plays on special teams would do wonders as well. To those who think that the Broncos will blow out Indy, it would be AWESOME, but it won’t happen. The Colts just don’t have bad days; they are too good. They come out with a winning mindset every game and will make every game a battle. I predict (if the Broncos manage to play perfectly) 24-21 Broncos. Otherwise (and I hate to say it, but more likely), Indy wins. I’m not trying to be down on the Broncos, but to expect them to beat Indy would be kind of unrealistic. The stupid Colts are just too good and too consistent.
And it really is a bummer about Ryan Harris. Good wishes to him!
I hope Tyler Polumbus can hold together he is a good tackle but he has alot of Competition ahead of him trying to get the sack
footballMANIAC I agree we need to play a perfect game on all phases for a chance to win this. 60 MINUTES BABY!!
GO BRONCOS!!!
I can’t wait for the game! I really think that the Broncos will beat the Colts. This is my official score: 21-17 BRONCOS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
This sucks about harris, but Tyler has filled in nicely when he has played. just as long as the line keeps it up and opens those holes for our running game we will be fine.
I believe that we can win this game. yes we will have to play perfectly for 60 minutes and our defense needs to be all over Manning, get him moving around (he’s slow) Doom needs to bring the pressure as much as he can, he can have a big game with multiple sacks if he’s allowed to do that.
Offense just needs to play and play smart, if we can run the ball like we did last game we should be alright, keep manning and his offense off the field and they can’t score points. I’d like to see another dose of Hillis out there with those fresh legs in the second half running down that indy defense.
play for 60 minutes and play solid Bronco’s football and we can beat the colts. it’s going to be a nail biter but let’s shock the football world this sunday.
GO BRONCOS!!!!
TP will have his hands full with Mathis, maybe Graham might be left in there to double Mathis or Freeney.
Dooms may find the same thing with Addai staying in the pocket a bit to give manning added protection.
Will be a good game I hope.
Its going to be a good game. I know we will run the ball up and down the filed all day, and manning wont have his usually good games. We have one of the best passing d in the nfl, and i really doubt they will run on us. All the momentum is on our side coming off of those two big wins.
The denver D wins the game. We will be all over manning. just like we were with his little bro.
Denver wins by two scores
ill tell you one person who is going to have a big game, brandon stokley… broncos win 30-24. GO BRONCOS!!!!!
AFC Championship Part One!! Lets Go Baby!!!
So, the colts are a great team. No one, in my opinion, is as good as them. Not event he saints. Yes the saints are awesome…but the colts do this every year. They are good every year. It intinidates other teams. I don’t think it will denver, however. Here is the keys:
We get pressure on manning.
We contain Adia(no prob.)
We keep Kyle protected
We run well.
We win the turnover battle.
Ya, same every game, but this is important…its the colts baby! haha GO BRONCOS
also they better win cuz there are gonna be two colts chicks im watching this game with and they will tear me up if denver loses…plz denver get it! i think we do tho….denver 14, indy 10
24 17
Tis my perdictions
23-20 or 23-21 if broncos win 24-17 if colts win
I don’t predict final scores but I feel confident about my Broncos this week in ending the Colts’ impressive winning streak. Let’s show the Colts what we’re all about. GO BRONCOS!!!
i generaly dont i just felt left out with every 1 doing it XD
The Indy defense is fast, but average–the worst 3rd down percentage in the league. They gave up 27 points to Houston last week. Their special teams is also average (the have the worst kick-return team in the league and nearly so for punt returns). This game could easily come down to field position, penalties, and time of possession being in our favor. They have given up a number of big rushing days to Gore, Johnson et al. We get ahead, and keep the running game in play, we can take this. This is not the Indy team of the Super Bowl year. They beat Jacksonville by 2, New England by 1 and Houston by 11 in two games combined. We play turnover free, I see a shocked TV audience watching for the highlights of the last AFC unbeaten going down.
my score is 34 to 31 broncos
The Broncos are a good team, the Colts are an elite team. When the schedule came out, I put this one in the loss column. I still felt that way until I saw Indy’s injury report.
Broncos 30-28.
bronco-blaze, if you want your pick to be entered for this week’s picks, you need to give me one pick and only one, you made three picks above…
Re-post with a single pick, or you won’t be in, thanks.
oldsouthstander, I also read an article where Isray hinted that time had come to rest the troops. I mean they only need one win to clich home field throughout and they play the Bills on the last game of the season who are themselves already out of contention, every playoff team needs to go into the playoffs on a winning note so they should have their win then, if nothing else. I believe they can start resting the ailing bodies starting now.
But the big question has to remain, will they start resting some ailing guys? I just dropped on in the Colts official website and listened to the wednesday team video of the players regarding playing the Broncos. They were all very praiseful and respectful of our team and seemed determined to hand us a loss, of course that’s the normal player to fan approach, but how far will they really go to get this win, that’s the million dollar question. If getting that 22 game regular season winning streak is really important to them, we could be in a world of hurt, I mean they are at home, on turf with a team built for speed on turf, and they are 12-0, I don’t think there would be a bigger challenge than that in the NFL right now, other than playing the Saints at N-O, but even that would be easier as our history there has been much more kind to us than our history at Indi. Most brutal game in the NFL we could find ourselves in right now, if, BIG IF, the Colts come out like they mean it. I guess we’ll only find that out at game time, or slightly before, if they decide to rest some big name players with small injuries who could of played if really necessary. But is it really necessary? Again, million dollar question, in my eye anyway.
My heart tells me to take Denver, my brain say Indy. I have to do my picks for my pool now.
Ima be at the game sunday. my friend is a colts fan and he got box seats and we get to go on the field a hour b4 the game. I just hope we win. I was at the week 1 game in cincy and we barely won that game, I would hate 2 see us lose in person or on tv. I think imma wear my B Marsh jersey 2 this 1. good luck BRONCOS play yall best and we got dis in the bag our secondary gota lock shtt down
If I answer it do I get a million dollars? LOL!
The Colts like to sit their starters, but they usually do it with one or two games left. So I doubt that they’ll sit any starters, unless they totally run away with the game..which I hope they don’t. Going 16-0 is cool but if you can’t make it to the big one it doesn’t matter…..just ask Brady and Co hahahaha. Again 22 consecutive wins doesn’t mean anything if you can’t make it to the big one.
The real million dollar question is are the Broncos going to be prepared and willing to do whatever it takes to stop them from even worrying about 16-0 or 22 consecutive wins? Are the Broncos going to stay focused, are they going to just doe their jobs, are they going to give it all? That’s the reall million dollar question(s).
Go Broncos!!!!
Win this one for the Barrelman!!!!
Does anybody have any update on if Mathis is going to be playing? I know he hasn’t practiced because of a quad injury. That would be hugh if he can’t go Sunday.
brian, in my opininion, if both teams play to their full potential, at the Colts, we lose. So to me whether we are willing to do whatever it takes, as you say, is not the million dollar question, it won’t matter if Indi does the same. That brings us back to the million dollar question… LOL. You love to argue a point, but as you outta know I love to argue it back.
Do not count on the colts resting any starters (unless they blow out the Broncos, I hope that does not happen). They have not secured home field advange plus there are still 4 weeks left in the season.
I think the Broncos have a chance to win. The colts have won some close games so it is not like they are unbeatable. I like the experience of our secondary. I just hope we can get a pass rush and that our offense can do some long time consuming drives and score touchdowns, not field goals.
Like everyone has said on this blog. Broncos need to play a mistake free game. The Colts are excellent at capitalizing on turnovers.
Think positive- at least the Broncos are not facing the Colts with a Shanny defense. We all know how that turned out the last few meetings.
our ssecondary need to real show up and pass rush and kyle and the off need to score td
broncos win 27 to 24
You know what would be totally awesome, if we had an “Imaculate Deflection II.” I think that would have to be one of the coolest things for Stokely to get. He hasn’t been gettting the looks like he used to but that’d be the coolest way for him to stick it to the Colts. Although I don’t know if my heart could take one of those types of games again. LOL!
I live in South Dakota so I won’t get to watch them because they’re broadcasting the stupid Vikings game. Yeah I know right…who cares about the Vikings…that’s what I thought. I think I’ll have to make my way down to the sports bar for that game.
Go Broncos!!!!
Our last win at Indy happen cuz Price was all over Manning and we ran all over them. So if DOOM does the same and we run all over them we have a chance. But i think we will lose Indy wants to beat NE record and they are at home . They will not rest any one this week w/ a record on the line. Indys D line vs our O line missing Harris plus the Ortons lack of mobility and holds the ball some times too long. I think we lose that battle. Indys D is great in the red zone and we are not great in the red zone. Coyers D wins that battle too.My pick 27-16. I hope I am wrong. GO BRONCOS!!!
Yeah brian I am in the same boat w/ you.
broncos504, for the sake of the pick contest, I got you down with your first pick earlier this week, 24-21.
tnalen66 and brian, Vikings game here also in Austin. No big deal, rather watch the games at the sports bar with other fans anyway, beats the hell out of watching it at home, IMO. Used to have the NFL ticket many moons ago, rather watch it with a bunch of NFL fans on 10 different screens, we’re always at least 4/5 Bronco fans at the sports bar every week here in Cedar Park, North of Austin, at Shooters, it’s the way to go, you build a camaraderie with true Bronco fans that, when you have the NFL ticket, you would never have a chance to experience. I highly recommend it, second best thing to going to the stadium.
And about the Vikings game, I sure hope they beat Cinci, I haven’t given up on the second seed yet.
If Denver wins this one it will be on the legs of our two RB’s Bucky and Moreno. We need to keep Manning off the field more than we need to pressure him. A perfect gameplan against Indy looks like this:
1.Run the ball down their throats and eat the clock.KEEP MANNING OFF THE FIELD FIRST AND FOREMOST!!!
2.When on the field get Doom freee for a pressure on Manning all day long. IF Manning is not on the field he will be cold meaning if we pressure him he makes mistakes.
3.When given the chance via the RUN game get the ball mid-deep to THE BEAST see if he can make a play and bust this game open.
4.DO NOT ALLOW BONEHEAD SPECIAL TEAMS PLAYS THESE ARE THE REAL KILLERS!!!! Solid play is preferable to slopy aggressive tackling that could allow returners to break one.
Oh and almost forgot 5. Get the TE’s involved when we get Danny Grahm involved as well as Tony Scheff we do better in the red zone.
The key to this game I think will be stopping Dallas Clark. The guy’s a beast in his own right. It’s gonna take a complete game from everyone to get a W on Sunday. If Manning is pressured enough, he will make some errant throws ripe for the pickings. But if we just let him sit in the pocket, he will shred our D.
I really like our chances in this one. A win here will pretty much solidify a spot in the post-season, and give us that December swagger that’s crucial this time of year…..but hopefully not cockiness as we know what happened after our 6 game win streak. I don’t see that type of breakdown happening again. I actually think it helped this team define itself and force themselves to be accountable and play better for each other.
Now, a win here and if Romo can actually win a game in December and the hunt for the West title is still up for the taking.
Baylin: Making my prediction again…..even though I wasn’t close last week, I still say this will be a tight game. Broncos take it 27-24.
hey guys, i feel like a lot of folk are kinda just chalkin this one up as a loss before we even play! we do have a good football team here. a playoff caliber team IMO. we have a GREAT running game, a solid passing attack, good special teams, and the #3 ranked defense in the league! i said it a few days ago but im going to say it again. we have as good a chance at beating these baby horses as anyone in the league! the colts are not invincible folks! every team can be beaten! we went through our 4 game slump, and now we are facing a colts team that is unbeaten…. SO WHAT!!! i know how you guys feel. you dont want to get your hopes up in case we get blown out or somethin but come on its our denver broncos here!!
we are the underdogs and thats the way i like it! no one expects us to win this week and thats all the more reason to go out and shock the colts, the NFL, and even a few broncos fans i guess!! here’s to keeping the faith!!!!
Broncos 34
Baby Horses 30
Go Broncos
“DEFENSE WINS CHAMPIONSHIPS”
An Unfortunate Reality: Colts 27-Broncos 17. I wish I felt more strongly about this offense’s ability to score against a good defense. Alas! I do not. This defensive backfield is pretty old, especially with the addition of Ty Law. There is now way they can stop Wayne, Garcon, and Collie…not to mention Addai coming out of the backfield. I hope I’m wrong. Word.
no way, not “now” way
27-16 Indy
this team calls for a “perfect-game”…thats how feared they are…
My keys to winning:
1) Protect our QB as much and as long as we can.
2)Going against the two, who may be the fastest defensive ends in the game, a sack or two has high probility. If that happens Kyle, take that sack, dont force it out for a pick.
3) They have very good (underrated) blitzing LBs. Moreno and Buck, heads up, hone in on the blocking skills.
4) Marlon Jackson did a good job against Marshall last time. But this is different, experiences count!
5) Defensesive perfection! (enough said) just beware of the dreaded Manning-audibles/no-huddle style.
6) Most importantly, DONT get Penalties! game killers!
Broncos are wild studs, COlts are tamed and only sound nice..lol..
My pick:
21-Colts
23-Broncos
deep down i wish for a blow-out….aha..
Go Broncos!
FEED THE BEAST!
Baylin: i predict a really close game this week, but with more points on the board.
27-24 Broncos
Let’s build more Dec momentum and hopefully Romo can break out of his December antics and blow out the Chargettes! I hate the Cowboys but I will be their biggest fan this weekend!
GO BRONCOS!!
These people that don’t think the Broncos have a chance to win are totally disrespecting the memory of “The Barrelman.” He’d never go against the Broncos never in a million years, no matter who we would be playin’.
Have we learned nothing from this season? KC vs PIT, OAK vs. PIT, OAK vs. CIN, WAS vs. DEN, Dukes “Maybe something like 2-3 start” Rod Smith “I see 5-0, they haven’t even put on the cleats”. Clayton “Worst move Denver switching to a 3-4.” We haven’t put on the cleats for this game yet. We have just as much chance to win this game as Indy does.
Go Broncos!!!!
Quite a few picks so far (17), many conservative, one FG Bronco win or so, and a couple not so conservative, all the way up to a 12 point win, also two picks for a Colt win. Keep them coming through Saturday pm latest. That way no one will have the advantage to know if any Colts starters will sit this one out at the last minute, one can always hope, I have no shame, LOL.
My main wishes for Sunday:
1) A Bronco win
2) A Cowboy win over SD
3) A Viking win over Cinci
That would mean one more loss by the Chargers and if we win out, we win the division straight up and by virtue of holding the tie breaker against Cinci, we would be the #2 seed. I’ll worry about the wildcard only when there is no more shot at the division title.
If the draft were held according to todays NFL standings, the Broncos, via Chicago, would get anywhere from pick 9 to 15 depending upon strength of schedule. Who would have imagined it at ther start of the year?
oldsouthstander, McD. That’s why he is where he is at, and why we’re where we’re at.
The colts are RIDDILED! with injuries right now, and were getting hot in dec. 28-31 DENVER !!!
and i think indy’s resting key players.
Prediction is futile. I am going to predict what I do, not as a fan or with what I want to happen, but once again I have to be real. 34 to 13 Colts dominate.