The Broncos are getting reinforcements as their postseason preparations begin in earnest.
Safety Brandon Jones, however, is not among them and, according to head coach Sean Payton, is not likely to be.
Payton, asked Tuesday if the starting defensive back who injured his pectoral muscle against Green Bay, could still be in line to return at some point this postseason, paused for a moment. Then he said, “I don’t think so. I don’t think so.”
Jones, multiple sources told The Post, had surgery to repair the pec injury after he sustained it in the middle of December. He was put on injured reserve right away but there was never a clear indication of whether he’d have a chance to get back on the field during the playoffs.
Now, Payton indicated he will not.
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In his absence, P.J. Locke stepped into the starting lineup and has played solid football. Locke injured his ankle against the Los Angeles Chargers in Week 18 and did not return to the game, though he took part in Denver’s late-week practices last week and was not listed at all on Denver’s Tuesday injury report.
“Yeah, no, B.J. was an amazing player,” fellow safety Talanoa Hufanga said of Jones. “It sucks that we lose a guy like that. But a guy like P.J. who studies his ass off is right there in line to be the next-best guy. So for me to play with him, it’s been amazing. We’ve never had, like, any lack of communication. It’s just learning what we’re comfortable with. We didn’t get training-camp reps together, it was a lot of me and B-Jones.
“So, for me, just getting these reps with him, we’ve definitely kinda settled into what we can disguise together, where we’re trying to be. And at the end of the day, meet at the ball, and try to take it away.”
Outside of Jones, though, the Broncos appear on track to get several other players back in the mix.
Inside linebacker Dre Greenlaw (hamstring) practiced Tuesday and Denver opened the 21-day practice window for tight end Lucas Krull (foot), who has been on injured reserve since Week 5. Inside linebacker Drew Sanders (foot) was a limited participant Tuesday after having his return-to-play window opened Saturday.
Starting defensive end John Franklin-Myers also returned to practice Tuesday, after missing last Friday with the birth of his third child.
Two other players who missed snaps due to ankle injuries against the Chargers, left tackle Garett Bolles and center Alex Forsyth, were not listed on Tuesday’s injury report and are thus considered fully healthy.
Center Luke Wattenberg (shoulder) isn’t eligible to return from injured reserve until next week, but he did conditioning work on the side field Tuesday during the open portion of practice. Payton said after Wattenberg was hurt that his injury would keep him out right about the minimum of four weeks, so it’s possible he’ll be in the mix for the AFC Championship Game should the Broncos advance past Buffalo on Saturday.
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Banged up Bills. While Denver had every player on its 53-man roster at practice in some capacity plus two candidates to return from injured reserve, the Bills had a lengthy injury report.
They listed 14 players overall, including quarterback Josh Allen with foot, knee and right finger issues. They also found out that receiver Tyrell Shavers tore his ACL.
Overall, Buffalo had five players on the 53-man roster who didn’t practice at all Tuesday. Everybody on the 53 in Denver practiced.
Buffalo could get a couple of players back from injured reserve in defensive tackle Ed Oliver (bicep) and wide receiver Curtis Samuel (elbow). Oliver was limited and Samuel full on Tuesday.
Bolles appreciates All-Pro nod. Left tackle Garett Bolles is having a banner year in his ninth NFL season. He is a Pro Bowl starter, he is the Broncos’ Walter Payton Man of the Year nominee and Saturday he was named an Associated Press first-team All-Pro.
“I’m proud to represent this organization and to be able to get that accolade,” Bolles said Tuesday. “We have a lot of people in that locker room that deserve it. … I’m grateful for all of them. We know where we’re going. And, obviously, when you’re winning and you’re doing those types of things, obviously you’re going to get those kind of accolades. I’m super grateful and honored and God is good.”
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