The Broncos activated center Luke Wattenberg from injured reserve on Saturday.
Wattenberg ended up missing the minimum four weeks after a scary-looking ankle injury suffered against Las Vegas in Week 5.
The Denver center started each of the first five games before the injury. Since then, Alex Forsyth has filled in ably. That leaves an interesting decision on tap for head coach Sean Payton on Sunday against Kansas City: Put Wattenberg right back in the lineup or roll with Forsyth?
Payton didn’t tip his hand Friday, though he complimented the work Forsyth’s done during his time starting.
The Broncos did not need to make a corresponding roster move. They had a 53-man roster spot open after trading Baron Browning to Arizona on Monday.
Wattenberg is the fifth player to return from injured reserve this season for the Broncos. They can return three more over the rest of the season before hitting the per-team maximum.
Cunningham, Burton up. The Broncos elevated fullback Michael Burton and inside linebacker Zach Cunningham from the practice squad for Sunday’s game.
Burton is no surprise at all. He’s being elevated for the third and final time and will have to be returned to the 53-man roster next weekend if he’s going to play again.
Cunningham is a bit of a surprise but perhaps shouldn’t be. The past three weeks Denver has used Kwon Alexander off the practice squad. Cunningham was signed to the practice squad the same week as Alexander — Week 4 in the wake of Alex Singleton tearing his ACL at Tampa Bay — and both are veteran players.
Alexander has been elevated the maximum three times and will have to be added to the 53-man roster to play again.
Gotta be the shoes. Payton had the Broncos outside for part of Friday’s practice after working indoors Wednesday and Thursday.
Part of the reason: Sunday’s game is on natural grass at Arrowhead Stadium and the Broncos are planning to wear longer-than-normal cleats in anticipation of subpar field conditions.
Sunday’s game will be the third game played at Arrowhead in six days — the Chiefs played Monday night and Kansas played Iowa State on Saturday — amid a rainy forecast.
“Most of the grass we play on, it’s a certain shoe. This one is different,” Payton said Friday, before referring to Broncos limited shareholder and Formula 1 racing great Lewis Hamilton. “Our owner would tell you ‘You have to have the right tires to win.’ … You have to have the right shoes on. It’s so important and they‘re expecting more rain Saturday.”
Key fined. Broncos safety Devon Key was fined $4,417 for a second-quarter facemask penalty last weekend against Baltimore. He was the only Denver player fined in the Broncos’ 41-10 loss. No Ravens players incurred fines.
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