Broncos' T.J. Ward, Darian Stewart return to practice
The Denver Broncos had their entire defensive secondary on the practice field Wednesday for the first time since before the AFC Championship Game.
Starting safeties T.J. Ward and Darian Stewart, both of whom were held out of practices last week in Englewood, Colo., returned to the field for Wednesday’s practice at Stanford University. While both players were limited participants, Ward with a sprained ankle and Stewart with a knee, each is on track to play in Super Bowl 50 on Sunday against the Carolina Panthers.
“They’re listed as limited today,’’ coach Gary Kubiak said after practice, according to a pool report. “But I think they’re right where they need to be, working toward game day. They need to get their confidence as the week goes on. But they took the step they needed to take today.”
The only other injury issue for the Broncos is with right guard Louis Vasquez, who was limited in practice because of a sore knee. Like Ward and Stewart, he was held out of practices in Colorado last week but is expected to start against the Panthers.
The Broncos’ three practice sessions in Palo Alto are expected to be shorter than normal and a chance for the team to sharpen the game plan that was installed during three practices at their home training facility last week. Kubiak worked the players hard last week because he didn’t want to overwhelm them with new information after arriving in California and while they were dealing with so many other things during Super Bowl week.
According to the pool report, provided by Peter King of TheMMQB.com, Wednesday’s session lasted 95 minutes, and was highlighted by three interceptions by cornerback Aqib Talib.
The Broncos will return to practice Thursday afternoon at Stanford, in the same stadium where general manager John Elway was once the Cardinal’s starting quarterback.
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SAN JOSE, Calif. - Aiming to keep the regimen as normal as it would be for a typical week, the Carolina Panthers underwent a 1-hour, 15-minute, non-contact practice Wednesday on the grass fields adjacent to Spartan Stadium at San Jose State University as they continued preparations for Super Bowl 50.
As expected, linebacker Thomas Davis, healing a fractured right forearm, was a full participant. Defensive end Jared Allen, who missed the NFC title game due to a bone in his right foot, was a limited participant. No other players were limited or held out.
"Jared's was really about rest," said Panthers coach Ron Rivera. "He's been going full-blast since we started, and the doctors wanted to just make sure. So he earned the rest."
Davis is due for another exam on Friday, but his practice load clearly indicated that the 11th-year veteran is on track to play against the Denver Broncos on Sunday -- less than two weeks since undergoing surgery to insert screws and a metal plate in his forearm.
"When the doctors say he's 100%, I'll go with it," Rivera said.
- Jarrett Bell
PHOTOS: Broncos, Panthers practice for Super Bowl