Despite filing lawsuit, Bill Bowlen’s lawyer hopes for out- of-court resolution with trustees By Ryan O’Halloran The Denver Post October 27, 2018

A lawyer representing Bill Bowlen, who filed a lawsuit Thursday asking that the three-member trust appointed by Broncos owner Pat Bowlen to run the team be removed from power, said the goal is to have an out-of-court resolution.

Giovanni Ruscitti of the firm Berg Hill Greenleaf Ruscitti LLP in Boulder also represents Beth Bowlen- Wallace, who has the support of her uncle Bill to become the Broncos’ next controlling owner.

“From our perspective, what’s next is that we hope we’re in discussions with the trustees and their attorneys,” Ruscitti told The Denver Post in a phone interview on Friday. “I would hope we could sit down and have a professional discussion that would lead to an amicable resolution. It’s something we were pushing for from the get go.

“We were hoping we didn’t have to file it. It was our sincere hope that these issues could be worked out.”

Bill Bowlen filed the petition in Arapahoe County District Court in Centennial and alleged that trustees Joe Ellis, Rich Slivka and Mary Kelly have not upheld Pat Bowlen’s wishes and “have conflicts of interest that impair their ability to act impartially in Pat Bowlen’s interest.”

Through a public relations firm, Bill Bowlen declined to an interview request on Friday. As of Friday afternoon, Ruscitti said the trustees have not been served the lawsuit’s paperwork.

“We expect them to obviously fight this,” Ruscitti said.

Once the trustees are served, they have 21 days to file a response to the court.

Before the lawsuit was filed, Ruscitti said there were a “number of efforts from different sources to get these issues resolved.”

Ruscitti said he tried to schedule a meeting next week in New York (home of the NFL office) with the trustees but he cancelled when he was informed that only the trustees’ attorneys would be attending.

In response to Ruscitti’s comments, the Trust told the Denver Post in a statement on Friday night: “There have been many meetings and written communication between the trustees, Beth Bowlen-Wallace and lawyers for Beth Bowlen-Wallace over the last four years. To suggest that the trustees have not been willing to discuss and consider these issues is directly contradicted by the facts.”

Ruscitti confirmed there has been several examples of communication between the sides over the years but it hasn’t led to resolving issues regarding the future of ownership.

In late May, when Bowlen-Wallace announced her desire to succeed her father, the trustees responded forcefully, saying she was not “not capable or qualified at this time,” to lead the Broncos.

Asked if the trustees’ statement emboldened Bill Bowlen to go down a legal avenue, Ruscitti said Bill was among those family members who were, “greatly disappointed with that response from the leadership of the organization.”

Ruscitti added: “Bill was concerned that his brother’s wishes are not being carried out appropriately and in a timely fashion. We have somebody (in Bowlen-Wallace) who is ready, capable and qualified to take over ownership now and we presented a succession plan that keeps the team in the family and has an orderly transition from Beth to the next child and does exactly what you would hope a well-thought out succession plan does. But there was no hurry to adopt that, which caused Bill to think there were some conflicts of interest (by the trustees).”

The trustees did not learn of the lawsuit until Thursday night when the Denver Post contacted them for comment.

“The trustees were never advised that Bill Bowlen ever had any intention of filing a lawsuit or that the same lawyer representing Beth Bowlen-Wallace was also representing him,” the trustees said in a statement. “The first we learned of these facts was Thursday after the lawsuit was filed.”

Ruscitti said he represents several members of the Bowlen family.

An email Friday to the NFL requesting comment on the situation was not returned.

“If you’re asking me if this will end up going through the court process — I would hope not,” Ruscitti said. “I would hope reasonable minds prevail. … (An out-of-court solution) is in the best interest of the Bowlen family, the and everyone involved.”

Broncos Journal: “progressively” getting better … but pretty good right now By Ryan O’Halloran The Denver Post October 27, 2018

Months removed from neck surgery that likely saved his career, Broncos defensive end Derek Wolfe needed to overcome one final hurdle: Concerning himself with who he wanted to hit, not the other way around.

“You have to get used to playing the way you want again,” Wolfe said. “When I was pass-rushing (earlier this year) and your neck was messed up (last year), sometimes I was worried to bend around the corner because I was thinking about getting hit in the head.

“And I had to get used to throwing myself into the piles. I’m kind of getting away from being worried. Now I’m paying attention to who I’m going to hit.”

Wolfe has consistently flashed during the Broncos’ 3-4 start. Through seven games, he has played 69.2 percent of the Broncos’ defensive snaps (328 of 474) to lead the team’s linemen.

Per the Denver Post’s game charting, Wolfe has 12 1/2 run “stuffs” (gain of three or fewer yards), five pressures, three quarterback hits and a half-sack. Most impressive are his five passes defended, including his first career (Week 5 at the Jets) and a tipped pass at Arizona that led to linebacker Todd Davis’ interception return for a .

It will take that kind of performance to slow down the 6-1 Chiefs on Sunday.

“I wouldn’t say it’s the best (football) I’ve played,” Wolfe said. “I’m probably at 75 percent.”

Say what?

Before speculating that Wolfe is playing with an injury, let’s put the 75 percent comment into context. Coming off a major surgery, it takes time — on-field-against-another-team-time — to regain the rhythm that made him successful pre-injury.

“It will all come together; it’s progressively getting better every week,” he said. “But I’m missing things I shouldn’t be missing.”

Like what?

“Just reading what kind of protection I’m going to get,” Wolfe said. “Some of that stuff is being disguised against me because they know I know what to do.”

If there was a hockey system (two players get the credit), Wolfe’s numbers would be even more impressive. Even against the Jets and Rams, when the Broncos were gashed for 593 yards rushing, they found success bouncing runs outside (Jets) and on cutbacks (Rams).

In some respect, Wolfe did his job, clogging up the middle to force the running back to change directions and momentarily run laterally.

“I’m cool with that, forcing plays to my teammates,” he said. “The same with the pass rush, setting up games with Von (Miller). They’re set up for both of us to win, but if Von wipes the guard out, he’ll get the sack-. If the tackle stays on Von, I’ll get the sack.”

Wolfe did not get one of the Broncos’ six sacks against the woeful Cardinals — “That (ticked) me off but I still did a lot of good stuff,” he said. He had two run “stuffs”, one quarterback hit and the tipped pass that Davis intercepted.

“That was a good start for who we want to be as a defense,” Wolfe said.

In the first Chiefs-Broncos game, Wolfe was all over the field: Four run “stuffs,” three pressures and two hits on quarterback Pat Mahomes. If he gets the statistics in a win, great. If not but the result is a win, great.

“At this of my career, I just want to win,” Wolfe said. “If somebody else gets the sack, that’s good.”

Broncos Briefs: Vance Joseph’s top task for defense is to contain Kareem Hunt By Ryan O’Halloran and Kyle Fredrickson The Denver Post October 27, 2018

The Broncos look to win consecutive games for the second time this year when they visit Kansas City Sunday at 11 a.m. Here is a Week 8 whip-around:

Pressing question. Can the Broncos slow down Chiefs running back Kareem Hunt?

“He makes it all go,” Broncos coach Vance Joseph said. “If you don’t stop Hunt, you have no chance stopping the passing game because you can’t control the game. He’s the guy as far as getting this offense stopped.”

High praise for Hunt considering Chiefs quarterback (22 /four ) is an MVP candidate and tight end Travis Kelce and receivers Tyreek Hill and are dynamic options.

Hunt, the 2017 rushing champion as a rookie (1,327 yards), started slower this season. He gained only 49, 75 and 44 yards in the first three games. But he gained 121 against the Broncos and has followed with games of 87, 80 and 86 yards. The Broncos’ run defense rose from 32nd to 22nd in the league after the Arizona game.

Spotlight player. Tramaine Brock, the Broncos’ No. 3 , was among those players who caught the ire of coach Vance Joseph during Denver’s four-game slide. Joseph specifically mentioned Brock’s performance against the Rams: “He didn’t tackle well at all.”

However, Brock and Broncos’ secondary elevated their play in a 45-10 rout of the Cardinals last week. Brock recorded his third pass deflection of the season.

“It felt good,” he said. “It’s how it’s supposed to be. Everybody just linked.”

Brock suffered a thigh injury against Baltimore that held him out of several practices and Denver’s Week 4 home matchup against Kansas City.

In the last two games, opponents are 2-of-7 passing against Brock in man coverage.

Watch for … The Broncos to show early urgency on offense.

In the teams’ Week 4 game, the Broncos did just about everything right in the first half, but led only 13- 10 in an eventual 27-23 loss. They drove to the Chiefs’ 24- and 16-yard lines only to settle for field goals.

Against the league’s highest-scoring offense (Kansas City is averaging 37.1 points per game), the Broncos understand they must be more successful inside the 30-yard line.

“We know that we’ve got to keep pace,” offensive coordinator Bill Musgrave said. “Does that mean we have to press? No. Do you have to do something super human? No. But you better be ready to convert on third down or, if you don’t, you better be ready to go for it on fourth down because field goals won’t beat a team like this. … We’ve got to score touchdowns to (keep) up with these guys because that’s what they do.”

Said quarterback : “For us offensively, we’re trying to score every time we get the ball. If we do that, I think we’re going to come away happy.”

Injury report. The Broncos ruled out right tackle Jared Veldheer (knee), running back Royce Freeman (ankle), receiver DaeSean Hamilton (knee) and safety (neck).

Linebacker (ankle) is doubtful. Questionable are guard/center Nico Falah (concussion) and linebackers (ankle) and Brandon Marshall (knee). Joseph said Miller will play.

Stewart has sustained a “stinger” in three consecutive games. Against Arizona, he said the pain shot down his left arm, but he began to feel back to normal on Wednesday.

“As of right now, no (pain),” Stewart said. “I’ll be good to go (next week) if they allow it. I’m building up to that.”

The Chiefs ruled out center Mitch Morse (concussion) and listed linebacker Justin Houston (hamstring) as doubtful.

Why Broncos safety isn’t fooled by Andy Reid’s shell game By Sean Keeler The Denver Post October 27, 2018

Will Parks would call it an offense after his own heart, if it weren’t so hell-bent on trying to reach in and rip his out in the process. Sammy Watkins in the slot one play. Tyreek Hill the next. Chris Conley after that. Travis Kelce, lurking. Always.

“They get you out of whack,” said the Broncos’ new starting safety, who’s expected to replace Darian Stewart in the lineup, about the Chiefs. “… jet motions, a lot of shifting. A lot of shifting.

“The first game we played them this year, they shifted four times in personnel that you would never think they’d (use). They shifted everywhere with four or five tight ends on the field with two running backs — they didn’t have one on the field. It was all tight ends and running backs and they shifted here and shifted here, and they all knew where they were going. I’m sitting there like, ‘Man, if I were on this offense, I would be losing my mind.’”

A shell game is a shell game, whether it’s Jon Gruden or Andy Reid spinning the cups. Ignore the distractions, forget the sleight of hand. Keep your eye on the dang ball. “At the same time … (as) a defense, you just sit back and wait for them to get set,” said Parks, who recorded eight stops and one pass break-up in a 45-10 rout of Arizona last Thursday.

“Once they get set, you’re (going), ‘OK, this is what’s coming if he goes here.’ It’s a whole bunch of different things that come into this. I mean, that’s smart. But they also have the personnel to do it. Most teams don’t.”

The man would know: He’s kept meticulous notes on all of them, from every spot in the secondary. Like the Chiefs’ receivers, Parks has made it rain by being able to strike from anywhere on the field, at any time.

“I feel like the best ability is availability,” said Parks, a sixth-round draft pick out of Arizona two years ago. “… I want to say I play like eight positions. So being able to play all eight positions at a high level, that’s a key to success, right there.”

And a key to the trust of defensive coordinator Joe Woods and coach Vance Joseph, who haven’t hesitated to plug No. 34 in where the situation dictates. Parks has played on 189 of the Broncos’ 474 defensive snaps this season, including 60 of a possible 69 at Arizona, a contest that saw Stewart depart with a neck injury.

“Will’s played a lot of football here; he’s got some experience,” Joseph said Friday. “His skill et for this game is really going to help us because he can really run and play the ball and he can cover tight ends. Obviously, he’s been our dime, so now on base downs, he’ll be one of the high safeties. I think his skill set fits this game plan.”

Ignore the distractions, forget the sleight of hand. Keep your eye on the dang ball.

“When you can put a nickel and dime (defender), a strong safety, a free safety, sometimes even a linebacker, all in one player, it gives the defensive coordinator versatility to call plays and not have to worry about who’s in the game,” fellow Broncos safety Justin Simmons noted, “That’s something that I’ve respected and learned from him in terms of different positions.”

The best ability? Availability.

“I just know I’m ready for whatever,” Parks said. “I’ve got to study like a starter. I’ve got to prepare as a starter. I mean, I am a starter. I’m in nine packages. You’ve got the challenge to where you were in the slot one time, you were in the corner one time, you were inside the corner one time, you were deep one time … I look forward to that kind of thing, because that just shows your versatility. And then doing it at a high level, that’s just showing you’re a dawg doing it.”

Darian Stewart may sit through bye week with neck stinger By Mike Klis 9 News October 27, 2018

Of all the injuries a football player can receive, a neck stinger has to be among the scariest.

There may be more serious physical ailments. But the stinger hits that alarm nerve.

“Yeah, but you know the chances of it happening when you play defense and hit people,’’ Broncos safety Darian Stewart said as he stopped briefly at his locker before heading to the trainer’s room. “It’s part of football. It’s something that just needs rest.’’

Stewart suffered his third stinger in three consecutive games last Thursday while tackling Arizona running back David Johnson. This time the neck pain knocked him out of the game midway through the first quarter.

“It was just a football play,’’ Stewart said. “It’s part of the game. A lot of players have stingers. Sometimes you just catch a bad break with them.’’

Three stingers in three games is enough. It makes sense for Stewart to sit out the game Sunday at Kansas City. And with the bye week coming after the following game November 4 against Houston, there’s a chance the Broncos allow Stewart’s neck to heal a while longer.

“It might be their plan,’’ Stewart said. “It might be the best plan. It’s the plan right now.’’

Will Parks will start in Stewart's place and safety Su'a Cravens will provide reinforcement when he comes off the injured reserve next week for the Houston game.

Stewart, 30, is in his fourth season as the Broncos' starting safety. He was a Pro Bowler in 2016 and joins cornerback Chris Harris Jr. as the only members remaining from the Broncos' once famous No Fly Zone. Stewart is tied for fourth on the team this year with 29 tackles and he also has a sack and an interception.

Freeman, Hamilton also ruled out

The Broncos' inactive list Sunday against the Chiefs is pretty much already known: Six injured guys and probably rookie linebacker Alexander Johnson, a developmental project who has been a healthy scratch all season.

Besides Stewart, running back Royce Freeman (high ankle sprain), receiver DaeSean Hamilton (knee), and right tackle Jared Veldheer (knee) have been ruled out. Outside linebacker Shane Ray returned to practice with his high ankle sprain Friday but he was listed doubtful. Center Nico Falah is listed as questionable with a concussion but as he was just signed this week off the ' there's little chance he's playing.

Only seven players from the 53-man roster are inactive each week. Johnson, who was out of football for nearly four years because of legal issues before he signed with the Broncos in August, has been inactive through the Broncos' first seven games.

Von Miller on probable side of questionable

There is "questionable" designations on the injury report when it really means no way. And there is "questionable" when there is no way in Walter Camp's green field a guy won't play. Von Miller is listed as questionable with an ankle sprain.

"It's not serious, he'll go,'' said Broncos coach Vance Joseph.

Broncos D-line coach Kollar to work from coaches' box Sunday after back procedure By Mike Klis 9 News October 27, 2018

Bill Kollar, the Broncos’ fiery defensive line coach who is also heavily involved in coordinating the team’s pass rush, will be working from the Arrowhead Stadium coaches’ box Sunday as he’s recovering from a medical procedure to his lower back.

In his 29th season as an NFL defensive line coach and fourth in Denver, Kollar had the procedure last weekend as the Broncos played a Thursday game at Arizona.

Kollar was back coaching his defensive linemen this week in practice. As he moves upstairs from his usual sideline position for the game Sunday at Kansas City, Kollar will be replaced on the sidelines by assistant defensive line coach Chris Beake, who usually relays information from the coaches’ box.

The Broncos will also have pass-rush coach DeMarcus Ware on the sideline for their AFC West matchup against the Chiefs.

Broncos D-line coach Kollar to work from coaches' box Sunday after back procedure By Jeff Legwold ESPN October 27, 2018

You could say Denver Broncos running back Phillip Lindsay was stuck in the in-between.

In-between height, in-between weight, in-between draft status. But as training camp wore on, his talents were becoming clear.

"We'll find something for him to do," offensive coordinator Bill Musgrave said during training camp. "That's what you do, you see what players can do and you find something for them to do. And we've seen quite a lot from Phillip."

Three months and seven games later and the Broncos have found plenty for Lindsay to do. He currently leads the Broncos in rushing (436 yards) and carries (75), is fourth on the team in receptions (15) and has been the team's top kickoff returner for most of the year while also returning three punts.

"I'll do whatever they want me to do," Lindsay said. "... One way, two ways, however many ways, just help us win."

Though Lindsay doesn't have the breathtaking speed Chiefs wide receiver/kick returner/sometimes runner Tyreek Hill does, he has shown plenty of his own brand of explosiveness and could have a similar a-little-of-this, a-lot-of-that role in the Broncos' offense as well as special teams that Hill has carved out with the Chiefs.

The Broncos will arrive in Kansas City this weekend for what cornerback Chris Harris Jr. has called an opportunity for a "season-changing game." At 3-4, the Broncos are currently looking up at both the Chiefs (6-1) and the Chargers (5-2) in the AFC West.

And in a season when many of the Broncos have spent plenty of time presenting the theory the team is better than its current record, Sunday's trip to Arrowhead Stadium will provide the chance to actually make that case. And in a season when the team's offense has often had an identity crisis, Lindsay has been one of the brightest most consistent spots.

"I've always been confident in what I can do as a player, but you can't worry about how many times you get the ball or whatever," Lindsay said. "I just feel like you work and get ready for whatever you're asked to do."

The Broncos coaches were smitten early on in the offseason with Lindsay, whom the team signed as an undrafted rookie just after April's draft. Lindsay had finished his career at the University of Colorado as the school's all-time leader in all-purpose yards and yards from scrimmage.

Lindsay is also a (Denver) South High School graduate and is the first player from the Broncos Futures Football program (a middle school program) to go on to play for the team. The Broncos also liked that Lindsay, who had offers from several teams after the draft, wasn't swayed by the fact the Broncos used two draft picks on running backs (Royce Freeman, David Williams) and signed with them anyway.

"Phillip's shown he's just a good, good football player," Broncos coach Vance Joseph said. "I know people looked at the story at first, but he's earned every part of it. He's an important part of what we do and can do a lot of things."

Musgrave has said he has seen enough from Lindsay, as well as Freeman, to take the "training wheels off" how he uses the two rookies. And while Lindsay was initially considered as a change-of-pace option in the offense to Freeman's power, Lindsay has quickly moved into almost every personnel grouping the team has on offense.

The Broncos have tried to spread the workload between Lindsay and Freeman for the most part, with Devontae Booker getting snaps in some of the third-down packages, but Freeman has dealt with an ankle injury suffered in last week's win over the . With that, Lindsay and Booker could get more action against the Chiefs if Freeman isn't fully ready.

Lindsay has had between 12 and 15 carries in five of the Broncos' games with only four against Baltimore -- he was ejected when officials flagged him for throwing a punch in a pile -- and only four carries in a loss to the Rams. He also has had at least two receptions in five games, returned kickoffs in five games and returned three punts against the Cardinals.

"I've always taken pride in being able to go do a lot of things," Lindsay said. "Anything to get on the field. I mean if they ask, I'll try to do it." ‘I’m more than good enough to be playing’: Former Broncos S T.J. Ward reflects on past year, desire to play again By Nicki Jhabvala The Athletic October 27, 2018

T.J. Ward once said the Broncos’ “No Fly Zone” secondary was a collection of misfits. Chris Harris Jr. — somehow went undrafted. Wasn’t supposed to make it, really. Darian Stewart — same deal. — off-field issues raised questions about his character and leadership, despite his unmatched play on the field. Ward — maybe something similar there too. — he was the fifth cornerback taken in the 2014 draft because of a predraft incident that dropped his stock

Misfits.

For three years, the Broncos’ unique mix of characters and playmakers on defense guided the franchise to its third Lombardi Trophy, recorded a season for the books and defied the doubters, week after week.

With the nickname “Boss,” Ward embodied the tenacity and physicality of Denver’s historic defense. The day he arrived, in March 2014, he spoke of his admiration for the franchise’s past hard-hitting safeties, like John Lynch and Steve Atwater. “Hopefully I can be in that light by the time I’m done playing here,” Ward said that day.

In his three years as a Bronco, Ward was a staple of Denver’s defense and its starring secondary, starting 45 regular-season and playoff games, totaling 241 tackles (190 solo), five sacks, four interceptions, five forced and three fumble recoveries. Each season he finished among the team’s top three in tackles and twice he was named to the (2014-15).

But Ward’s time in Denver ended with an abrupt exit, as the Broncos released him during the final wave of roster cuts in 2017, beginning a bizarre year for him that has yet to find resolution.

The 31-year-old once-coveted safety is now on the outside looking in after a brief and acrimonious stint in Tampa.

But, in opening up to The Athletic, Ward made it clear he’s not done. His drive to get back on the field, to get back on a team, to get back to proving naysayers wrong has only intensified.

“It’s been a little frustrating at times, a lot frustrating at others,” Ward said. “But everything is a learning experience and trying to figure out is this still the direction God wants me to go. Because I know I’m more than good enough to be playing. Shoot, I’m 100 percent healthy. I feel that if I was playing right now, I’d be playing the best ball of my career. But for whatever reason I’m not and I just have to deal with it for now and see what’s next.”

Carefully arranged in Ward’s south Denver home is a wet bar featuring some of his favorite momentos. A framed photo of his diamond-studded 50 ring sits next to an encased game ball from a Broncos’ conference championship win over the Patriots, which sits next to a photo of him on the field alongside his Broncos teammates.

“Just the relationship we had, the things we did on and off the field,” Ward said, thinking back to the Broncos’ 2015 team. “It was one of, if not the best teams I’ve been a part of football-wise and relationship- wise. I’ll remember that most about the team.”

Ward arrived in Denver as the first piece of John Elway’s remade defense. He signed a four-year contract, joined Talib and DeMarcus Ware as the newest free-agent signings, and quickly helped turn the offense- first team into a defensive powerhouse.

Ward, a hard-hitting safety from the cloth of Lynch and Atwater, was also used at linebacker and became a tone-setter on the field and off.

But he was released a year shy of his contract expiration and after his finest season as a Bronco. In the 2017 offseason, Ward said he hoped to stay in Denver and that if he put in the effort, everything would work out.

But a hamstring injury limited his playing time in training camp and, coupled with the selection of Justin Simmons in the draft, the Broncos decided to take a different path that September.

Two days after his release, when Ward stood behind a podium in Tampa Bay as a Buccaneer, he said he believed the Broncos were “completely unprofessional” in how they handled his situation. When Ward looks back now, however, he remembers his tenure in a different light.

“We did some great things out there. We won the Super Bowl,” he said. “How many people can say they won the Super Bowl in their hometown? I have a lot of great relationships still to this day in Denver. I still have my home out there, I’m still out there most of the time. So it’s definitely more of a positive than a negative.

“It didn’t end the way I had hoped, but that’s life. You have to move on and work toward something else and getting better every day. It was definitely a learning experience at the end, but definitely was more of a joyous experience than a bad one for sure.”

Ward’s one year in Tampa didn’t begin or end the way he had hoped either as he started four games and recorded 43 tackles. He signed with the Bucs with the belief he would start and have an impact similar to what he had in Denver. But he found himself in a rotation at safety and his frustration — and a shared frustration by Bucs defensive lineman Chris Baker — was made public. Ward later said he wasn’t allowed to be the player he wanted to be with the Bucs. Looking back, Ward still wonders what could have been in Tampa if his role had been different.

Being allowed to be the player he wanted, after all, was in part what made Denver’s defense special.

“Coach Wade (Phillips) and coach Joe Woods, they knew how to use us individually and collectively,” Ward said. “They let Chris and Aqib do what they do best, and they let me and Stew do what we did best. That’s as important as the defense and the plays you call, is knowing how to use your players and letting them do the things they do best.”

The start to his offseason didn’t begin as Ward had hoped either, and the start to the NFL season hasn’t been much better. He’s watched the NFL from his couch every Sunday, awaiting the call — any call – from a team looking to sign an experienced safety.

“I’d like to be somewhere where they have a chance to play in the postseason because it’s already halfway through the season,” he said. “But, really, I could go anywhere at this point. I just want to get on the field because I know I can play — and play at the same level if not even a higher than I have in the past. I’m in great shape, have the same skill set I’ve always had, and have an even higher football IQ and feel for the game based on my experience. I feel like others have kind of written me off and think that I’m over the hill for whatever reason or that I don’t have much left in the tank. I just want to show them that they couldn’t be anymore wrong.

“Watching football now, there are not too many guys at my position playing a high level, to be 100 percent honest. I could help a lot of teams and I feel like I could be of value not only physically but mentally, leadership-wise, helping the guys come along.”

The young players in Denver have vouched for Ward’s leadership often, even since he’s left. His final season in Denver was the first for Simmons, the third-round pick who would eventually take Ward’s role.

It was also the first for Will Parks, as a sixth-round safety out of Arizona.

“That’s like my big brother,” Parks said. “That’s the first guy that called me when I got drafted, first guy who invited me out when I got drafted, first guy that told me the ins and outs of the playbook. That was like my blueprint as far as gaining some type of success my first year.”

Ward said multiple NFL teams have reached out and told him he’s on their radar, but none have “been willing to put the pen to paper yet.” Eight weeks into the season, he hasn’t lost hope that the right one will come along, so he’s maintained his training regimen to stay ready.

About five times a week, Ward trains at Landow Performance, the facility owned by Broncos strength coach Loren Landow in Centennial, or at his gym in the Bay Area. In July, he joined Earl Thomas and Joe Haden among others for work at UCLA, and throughout his time away from the NFL, Ward has regularly posted clips of his workouts.

Perhaps to show he’s ready.

Perhaps to show he’s always been ready.

Sandwiched between his workout regimen, Ward has kept busy with endeavors that could become his future. He’s dabbled in television, he’s on the brink of opening a juice bar in Atlanta and he has continued to work with the WardBoy Project, a charity he founded with his brother, free-agent running back Terron Ward, to empower youth.

It’s a tricky balance, though, staying busy while keeping football a priority.

Ward says he has watched more NFL games than he has before in his life, and each week he’s left wondering what the hell happened to the safety market this offseason. Although the need for a skilled and lockdown safety seems higher than ever, the pay isn’t reflective. Many of top free agents at the position signed late and/or for very little, from with the Titans to Tre Boston of the Cardinals to of the Panthers.

“I just know that I’ve never seen anything like it,” Ward said. “Even with guys going down — there’s been a bunch of starters going down this offseason and they’d almost rather put a corner at safety and try to work it out that way or play with backups. You can kind of tell. Teams have been putting up 45 points a game. Maybe they want it like that.”

More so, Ward has wondered why he is still available.

Maybe it’s his age; being on the other side of 30 is rarely, if ever, a positive on the résumé of an NFL player.

Maybe it’s the NFL’s rule changes; the league’s emphasis on reducing big hits has led many teams to seek safeties known more for their coverage skills. The Broncos did.

If Ward were playing now, he says, he’d have a better idea of a number and cutoff point for his time on the field. But he’s also not going to wait around forever for a team to call.

“If it’s not in the cards, then that’s not what God wants me to do and I’ll move on,” he said. “But I’m definitely not going to sit out for too long and try to make a comeback that way. The bottom line is that I know with 100 percent certainty that I can help several teams out there not only this year but for years to come as well.”

So for now, Ward will continue to train and work with the belief another opportunity will come.

This misfit isn’t done.

“Not only do I miss playing, I miss the camaraderie with teammates,” he conceded. “It’d be different if I wasn’t healthy or if I was over the hill or past my prime. Knowing I can play at a high level but having to watch it is kind of like waving a carrot in front of a horse’s face. It’s right there but you really can’t get to it.” Dirty laundry aired in Bill Bowlen’s 21-page motion to remove trust; may only be start of messy battle for control of Broncos By Nicki Jhabvala The Athletic October 27, 2018

It’s been more than four years since Pat Bowlen roamed the sidelines and the halls of the Broncos’ training facility as controlling owner. But over the past several months, his absence and the uncertain future of the team’s ownership has taken the spotlight.

The spotlight burned bright Thursday evening, when Pat’s younger brother, Bill Bowlen, filed a motion in a Colorado District Court to remove the trust from power, alleging a failure by the trustees — Joe Ellis, Rich Slivka and Mary Kelly — to act in Pat’s best interest and to preserve and execute his estate and business succession plan, and for a “dizzying array” of conflicts of interests.

The trust’s lawyer responded with a statement claiming it had not seen the lawsuit before it was published by media and that “the trustees will continue to execute Pat Bowlen’s long-standing succession plan for the Denver Broncos in compliance with all NFL ownership policies.”

The 21-page lawsuit, however, makes some interesting and notable claims about Pat Bowlen, his wishes for the team and current ownership.

Some background Per point No. 19 in the petition filed by Bill Bowlen, Pat Bowlen created his first revocable trust in 1996 and it was amended several times over the years. In 2002, Pat created two irrevocable trusts to hold life insurance (ILITs) during his lifetime or the joint lives of him and his wife, Annabel. The 2002 ILITs create a trust structure for holding all or a portion of Bowlen’s interests in the team and any other pro sports team for the benefit of his children after death. It is believed, per the petition, that Ellis, Slivka and Kelly serve as trustees of those two irrevocable trusts.

Bill Bowlen claims Pat began to show signs of Alzheimer’s in 2006 and is believed to have been diagnosed with the disease that year by doctors at the Mayo Clinic in Arizona. Pat is believed to have begun treatment at the clinic around this time and required constant care.

There years later, Pat Bowlen admitted to sports columnist Woody Paige that he had been experiencing “severe memory loss.” This was two months after significant changes were made to his estate plan, in March 2009, the petition claims.

The petition claims Bowlen’s health deteriorated so quickly that he needed “a signature prompt” on a large whiteboard on his desk to refer to before signing any document.

In March 2002, Bowlen revoked the trust and a new one was established, called the Patrick D. Bowlen Trust (PDB Trust). Sometime between 2009 and 2014, the petition alleges, Ellis, Slivka and Kelly were “somehow appointed trustees” of the PDB Trust and of the 2002 ILITs.

“These appointments are in question given Patrick D. Bowlen’s incapacity,” the complaint reads.

“By holding the power to amend and/or revoke the PDB Trust, the Agents indirectly control their own fiduciary conduct as trustees of the PDB Trust. Additionally, the Agents stand in place of Patrick D. Bowlen, and thus, in their capacity as trustees of the PDB Trust report to themselves – in other words, the Agents/trustees have no accountability.”

The importance of 40 Per point 20 in the petition, the trustees’ attorneys advised Pat Bowlen’s children that a credit shelter trust created at Pat’s death will provide certain distribution rights for his children when they reach age 40. Bowlen told some of his children, according to the suit, that he believed they would be financially responsible when they hit 40. That age is also when Pat Bowlen first acquired ownership of the Broncos.

Only two of Bowlen’s seven children have reached the age of financial maturity: Beth Bowlen Wallace, 48, and Amie Klemmer, 49 — Pat’s two daughters with first wife Sally Parker. Pat’s oldest child with current wife Annabel, Patrick III, is 34. During the summer, Ellis indicated the favored candidate to one day become the controlling owner is 28-year-old Brittany Bowlen, Pat’s oldest daughter with Annabel. Brittany received her MBA from Duke earlier this year and previously spent nearly a year with the team in its business department. She recently began a full-time position with McKinsey & Company consulting in Denver.

Should the team stay in the family and be passed down to Pat’s children, it’s believed that each child would receive an equal stake in the team. But only one would make the day-to-day decisions as controlling owner.

Annabel’s role Point 23: Pat Bowlen “repeatedly expressed” to Bill Bowlen and his closest advisors that Annabel “should have absolutely no role in the management or operations of the team” and he expressed “concerns about her management and leadership abilities.”

It was Pat Bowlen’s wish, according to the petition, that he had no interest in selling and that he wanted one of his seven children to become the controlling owner when he no longer was able to do so. Bill alleges that Pat told him and others that he wanted the Bowlens to be “an old family of the NFL.”

Conflicts with Beth Bowlen Wallace and Amie Klemmer Bill Bowlen states that his primary reason for filing the petition is to ensure Pat’s wishes are carried out and that the team remains in the family and that Annabel receives no role in the management or operation for the Broncos.

But Bill also claims it is Pat’s wish to have Beth Bowlen serve in a management-level role with the team.

According to the complaint, in 2011 Ellis met with Beth several times to discuss job opportunities and “future succession plans” for the team. They also, per the complaint, discussed Pat’s desire for Beth to be employed full-time by the Broncos.

The Broncos hired Beth as a director of special projects in February 2012 and one of her first tasks was attending the NFL owners meetings in Florida a month later. Per the petition, Annabel became enraged upon hearing of Beth’s attendance at the meetings and threatened to have Ellis fired.

“It was Annabel Bowlen’s desire to have one of her children become the next controlling owner,” the complaint reads. “It was at this time that the relationship between Defendants Ellis and Slivka and Beth became strained. And, it was at this time that Defendants Ellis and Slivka became beholden to Annabel Bowlen’s wishes and contrary succession plans.”

Beth and Bill expressed concern to Pat and the league in 2015 that they believed Ellis and Slivka would not honor Pat’s wish that Beth receive a management role with the team. Pat, in response, requested a meeting with Beth, Slivka and Ellis. The complaint alleges that Slivka and Ellis “prevented” Pat from attending the meeting and that they told Beth “they would not be extending her any additional roles with the team.”

“Indeed, in Fall 2012, and because Annabel Bowlen did not want Beth involved with the Team, Defendant Slivka asked Beth, ‘Do you really want to be working here? Wouldn’t you rather be home taking care of your kids?’” the complaint states.

The petition reiterates what Beth described in her statement in May when she declared her interest in becoming a controlling owner. She is said to have submitted a transition plan to the trustees that would put her as controlling owner (after a mentorship period), then transfer controlling ownership to another Bowlen child once he/she reaches the age of financial maturity.

The petition states the trustees rejected the proposal outright.

The criteria As detailed in an earlier report, the trustees sent a memo to Pat’s children and Annabel in February 2015 listing the qualifications by which the trustees would select the next controlling owner.

The petition claims Beth has met all but one of the items — the remaining one being five years experience in a senior management position with the team, league or Stadium Management Company, which runs the Broncos’ stadium in Denver.

Beth worked for the team from February 2012 to May 2016. In spring of 2015, Beth was admitted to the University of Denver Sturm College of Law. The complaint, concurring with an earlier report by The Athletic, states Beth was terminated hours after revealing to the trustees she was going to get her law degree.

“At that time, Defendant Ellis stated to Beth that her position had “no value” to the organization,” the petition reads.

The conflict of interests Perhaps the most notable point in the petition is the description of the “dizzying number of roles” held by the trustees.

The Broncos’ ownership has a rather complex structure, as outlined in the petition. The team is owned PDB Sports, Ltd., a Colorado limited partnership, and controlling ownership of PDB, Ltd. is held in Bowlen Sports, Inc., an Arizona corporation that is owned by Pat and John Bowlen. Pat’s interest in Bowlen Sports is held through his trust.

Ellis is the team’s CEO and president. He is also a co-trustee of the PDB trust and the two ILITs. Per the complaint, he is also a director and officer of Bowlen Sports. He is the co-Attorney-in-Fact for Pat Bowlen, the director of Bowlen Sports, Inc. and the president and CEO of Bowlen Sports, Inc.

The petition also alleges that Ellis was not chosen by Pat Bowlen to have these roles.

Slivka is also co-Trustee of the PDB Trust and ILITs; a co-Attorney-in-Fact for Pat Bowlen; and a director and employee of Bowlen Sports, Inc.

Kelly, like the other two, is a co-trustee and co-Attorney-in-Fact. She also acted as Pat Bowlen’s personal attorney, the complaint alleges, and “even though she has no role in the Team, she is apparently paid $25,000 per month by the Team.” Kelly is married to Dan Reilly, the trust’s legal counsel.

Because two of the trustees — Slivka and Kelly — are attorneys, Rule 1.7 of the Colorado Rules for Professional Conduct may be applicable in regards to their alleged conflict of interest. The rule states:

Except as provided in paragraph (b), a lawyer shall not represent a client if the representation involves a concurrent conflict of interest. A concurrent conflict of interest exists if:

1. the representation of one client will be directly adverse to another client; or

2. there is a significant risk that the representation of one or more clients will be materially limited by the lawyer’s responsibilities to another client, a former client or a third person or by a personal interest of the lawyer.

Although the trustees likely argue they are executing the wishes of Pat Bowlen and not furthering personal interests, their varying roles could present something different, as they are making decisions that keep themselves in power. Ellis and Slivka both are directors of the corporation, and Kelly is alleged to be receiving payments from the team.

To remove top executives from an NFL team, consent is needed from the controlling owner. But because the Broncos’ controlling owner, Pat Bowlen, is incapacitated, consent in this case would have to be granted by the trustees. In order to change this structure, the power of the trustees would have to be changed. But that too would require consent from Pat Bowlen, as the settlor of the trust.

The next level is the power of attorney, but the trustees hold that too, according to the petition.

The level after that could be the holding company that owns the team, or Bowlen Sports. But again, Slivka and Ellis are said to be directors of that corporation.

In each case the trustees are essentially asked to remove themselves because they allegedly have all the powers that Pat Bowlen would have if he were still running the team.

There is also the role of Reilly, the trust’s legal counsel and husband of Kelly. The role of an attorney calls for “loyalty and independent judgment to its client,” per the Colorado Bar Association’s Rules of Professional Conduct. Reilly is asked to remain loyal to Pat, but Reilly’s wife, as alleged in the suit, is said to be receiving payments from the Broncos.

The complaint filed by Bill Bowlen airs a lot of dirty laundry and lays out the complex structure of the Broncos’ ownership and its plan to move forward. This, however, may only be the beginning of a messy future for the Broncos.

Broncos insist they're focused on football, not noise By Arnie Stapleton Associated Press October 27, 2018

After relishing in their rout in Arizona last week, the Denver Broncos have found themselves dealing with trade rumors, Halloween party poopers, a backup quarterback's arrest and the owner's family's fight being played out in public thanks to a lawsuit.

All the while, the Broncos (3-4) are preparing for a crucial game at Kansas City , where another loss to the Chiefs (6-1) might send the team spiraling toward its first back-to-back losing seasons since 1971-72.

Coach Vance Joseph understands that Broncos fans pay attention to all things Broncos, but he insists the players and coaches aren't distracted by any of the outside noise.

"There's noise every day in this business," Joseph said Friday. "It's my job to keep this team focused ."

After the Broncos' 45-10 win over the Cardinals last week, the good vibes came to a quick halt with rumors over the weekend that ninth-year receiver , the team's longest-tenured member, was on the trading ahead of next week's deadline.

Emmanuel Sanders, Brandon Marshall, Bradley Roby and Chris Harris Jr. all heard their names bandied about, as well.

On Monday night, there was the Halloween party hosted by Von Miller that ended up the talk of the town, first when some players wore costumes depicting drug-addicted characters or celebrities and shared video on social media and then when backup QB Chad Kelly was arrested early Tuesday morning on suspicion of criminal trespassing after leaving the party.

On Wednesday, Kelly was summoned to team headquarters ahead of his court appearance and Elway informed him he was done in Denver.

On Thursday night, a rift in the team owner's family became public when Pat Bowlen's brother, Bill, filed a complaint in state district court seeking the removal of the trustees who have been running the franchise since 2014 when Pat Bowlen, 74, stepped down to battle Alzheimer's.

Pat Bowlen entrusted the club's operations to his trust until one of his seven children is deemed ready to take over the franchise, which is valued at about $2.5 billion.

The complaint, filed in Arapahoe District Court, questions whether Pat Bowlen was of sound mind to establish the trust in March 2009 and it asks that team President Joe Ellis, Broncos general counsel Rich Slivka and attorney Mary Kelly be removed for conflicts of interest, overlapping fiduciary roles and failure to act in good faith.

All of this was met by blank stares in the locker room Friday.

"I don't think it's any different than any other week. I really don't hear the outside noise," linebacker Todd Davis said. "Actually, I didn't even know about the Bowlen lawsuit and everything until you told me about that right now. I kind of disconnect myself. I log off all my social media when I go home with the family and then I just watch film. So, if it's not football or not family, I'm kind of oblivious to it."

He insisted he wasn't an outlier in that regard, either.

"This locker room hasn't talked about anything but the Chiefs," Davis said. "We haven't talked about any of the outside noise. So, I think we're 100 percent focused."

Bill Bowlen's complaint was filed five days after Brittany Bowlen , 28, announced she hopes to one day succeed her father as Broncos principal owner.

The complaint states that Pat Bowlen began showing signs of Alzheimer's in 2006, three years before he made significant changes to his estate planning documents and about eight years before he stepped away from day-to-day team operations.

Bill Bowlen's filing criticizes the trust for dismissing an effort by Beth Bowlen Wallace — Pat's daughter from his first marriage — to become principal owner and accused the trustees of causing and "continuing to cause dysfunction in the team and Bowlen family."

It said that Bill Bowlen "prays that filing this action will relive the Bowlen family (and the team) from the uncertainty and turmoil surrounding the ownership of the Denver Broncos."

When Beth Bowlen Wallace announced in May her desire to take over as principal owner of the team, the Pat Bowlen Trust issued a statement saying she was "not capable or qualified at this time."

Beth Bowlen Wallace was hired as the team's director of special projects in 2012, and the complaint states that Pat Bowlen's wife, Annabel Bowlen, who was to have no management role in the team, per her husband's wishes, "became very upset and threatened to have ... Ellis fired" after Beth attended the NFL spring owners meeting in March 2012. Beth was fired from her position in 2015 and has been denied further employment opportunities with the team, the complaint states.

Dan Reilly, legal counsel for the Pat Bowlen Trust, responding to the complaint by saying, "The trustees will continue to execute Pat Bowlen's long-standing succession plan for the Denver Broncos in compliance with all NFL ownership policies."

The NFL didn't return a message seeking comment on the lawsuit's accusations.

Joseph insisted the Broncos weren't unique in having to block out so much on the team's periphery.

"Everyone has issues," Joseph said. "We have no excuses. Every team has problems, every team has gossip and rumors. So, we simply don't care about that, honestly. That's truthful. We don't care."

Broncos Injury Report: Darian Stewart, Royce Freeman among players ruled out for #DENvsKC By STAFF DenverBroncos.com October 27, 2018

Tackle Jared Veldheer (knee), safety Darian Stewart (neck), wide receiver DaeSean Hamilton (knee) and running back Royce Freeman (ankle) have been ruled out for Sunday’s game in Kansas City, Head Coach Vance Joseph announced Friday.

Outside linebacker Von Miller (ankle), guard/center Nico Falah (concussion) and linebacker Brandon Marshall (knee) are listed as questionable.

"It’s not serious,” Joseph said of Miller’s injury. "He will go."

Outside linebacker Shane Ray (ankle/wrist) is doubtful to play Sunday.

Joseph said Stewart was unable to play after suffering three stingers in consecutive weeks.

"Our concern is always the player’s future safety and his health," Joseph said. "He can’t go this week."

Without Stewart, the Broncos will rely more heavily on safeties Will Parks, Dymonte Thomas and Shamarko Thomas.

Parks is expected to start, and Joseph said he thinks the third-year player is well-suited for this week’s matchup.

"Will’s played a lot of football here," Joseph said. "He’s got some experience. ... His skill set for this game is really going to help us, because he can really run and play the ball, and he can cover tight ends. Obviously he’s been our dime, so now on base downs, he’ll be one of the high safeties. I think his skill set fits this game plan."

Joseph also provided an update on Su’a Cravens, who is eligible to return from injured reserve in Week 9 against the Texans. Cravens has practiced consistently over the last two weeks.

"He’s had two good weeks," Joseph said. "He can obviously play against Houston, so we’ll see. And having 'Stew' down [this week] and not [being] sure about 'Stew,' having him back is going to be huge for us. Even with dime — with 'B-Marsh' going in and out of the lineup — he’s going to be huge for us [to have] him back."

Broncos' Drive for Life 21 expanding to three days of donating blood at eight Vitalant blood centers across Colorado's Front Range By STAFF DenverBroncos.com October 27, 2018

Drive for Life 21, hosted by Vitalant (pronounced Vye-TAL-ent) and the Denver Broncos, has expanded to a three-day community blood drive from Sunday-Tuesday at eight Vitalant donation centers across Colorado’s Front Range.

All attendees who give blood at any of the eight donation centers along Colorado’s Front Range during regular operating hours will be entered to win Broncos-themed prizes and a goody bag. The donation centers listed below will have an extra celebratory feel which could include the chance to meet Broncos players and alumni, cheerleaders or Miles the Mascot.

Days and locations Broncos-themed guests will visit Vitalant donation centers are listed below:

Oct. 28: Conversion Sunday Parker: 10259 S. Parker Rd., Suite 104 (open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.) Southwest Littleton: 5066 S. Wadsworth Blvd., Suite 111 (open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.) Highlands Ranch: Parkway Center, Bldg. No. 2, 541 W. Highlands Ranch Pkwy. (open from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m.)

Oct. 29: Orange Crush Monday Denver West: 13952 Denver West Pkwy., Suite 535 (open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.) Westminster: 960 W. 124th Ave. (open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.) Colorado Springs: 3670 Austin Bluffs Pkwy., Suite 110 (open from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.)

Oct. 30: Touchdown Tuesday Lowry: 717 Yosemite St. (from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.) Boulder: Tebo Plaza, 3113 28th St. (from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.)

During the last 20 years, more than 36,000 donors have helped save or enhance up to 108,000 lives in Colorado and beyond.

Every day, patients depend on the blood already on the shelf. The goal is to have 1,000 donors give blood over the three days of Drive for Life 21 to help ensure patient needs can be met into November and into the beginning of the busy holiday season, when donations tend to decline.

Appointments are strongly encouraged for Drive for Life and can be made online or by calling 303.363.2300. New this year, donors can save time on their donation visit by completing their Fast Track Health History the same day they donate before they arrive.

Blood donors are asked to eat a healthy, low-fat meal up to two hours before donating and should drink plenty of water up to 48 hours prior to their donation. Donors age 16 or 17 will need a signed minor donor permit that is available online.

Denver Broncos Community Development

The Denver Broncos are committed to improving lives in our community by focusing on Youth Development, Quality of Life, Health & Wellness, Youth Football and Civic Engagement. Alongside key community partners in each focus area, we are able to make a difference through strategic programming, unique events and dedicated advocacy. For more information on the Denver Broncos’ community partnerships and programs, please visit www.denverbroncos.com/community or follow @BroncosOffField on Twitter and Instagram.

About Vitalant

Vitalant is the nation’s second largest community blood service provider, supplying comprehensive transfusion medicine services for nearly 1,000 hospitals and health care partners for patients in need across 40 states. Vitalant inspires local communities to serve the needs of others and transform lives through the selfless act of donating blood.

Every day, almost 5,000 blood donations are needed to meet the needs of people throughout the country, and Vitalant’s 780,000 donors supply 1.8 million donations a year. In addition to blood products, Vitalant offers customers transfusion services, medical consulting, quality guidance, ongoing education, research and more. For more information and to schedule a donation, visit vitalant.org or call 877-258-4825 (877- 25VITAL).

Join the conversation about impacting the lives of others on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

What does Bill Bowlen want? Legal filing offers insight into family dispute over Broncos ownership By Monica Vendituoli Denver Business Journal October 27, 2018

Denver Broncos owner Pat Bowlen told his younger brother Bill Bowlen and others that he wanted the Bowlens to be “an old family of the NFL,” just like the Rooney family with the , according to Bill Bowlen's court petition filed Thursday.

But legal issues have complicated the succession plan for the NFL team.

On Thursday, Bill Bowlen, currently a resident of Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, petitioned the Arapahoe County District Court in Centennial to remove the trustees Richard Slivka, Mary Kelly and Josiah Ellis, as agents of Pat Bowlen and of his power of attorney.

The petition accuses the three trustees of conflict of interest based on a “dizzying array” of roles related to the trust and related entities.

PDB Sports, Ltd., a Colorado limited partnership, owns the Broncos team. Controlling ownership of PDB Sports, Ltd. is held by Bowlen Sports, Inc., an Arizona corporation owned by Pat Bowlen and his brother John. Pat Bowlen's ownership interest in Bowlen Sports is held through his trust, according to the court petition.

Giovanni Ruscitti and Scott Robinson of Berg Hill Greenleaf Ruscitti LLP, the attorneys representing Bill Bowlen, declined to comment on the 21-page petition beyond its legal allegations.

Dan Reilly, legal counsel for the Pat Bowlen Trust released the following statement about the petition on the Broncos Facebook page Thursday night:

“Although we are currently reviewing this matter, we are aware that the counsel submitting this complaint on behalf of Bill Bowlen is the same one that has been representing Beth Bowlen-Wallace. The trustees will continue to execute Pat Bowlen’s long-standing succession plan for the Denver Broncos in compliance with all NFL ownership policies.” The petition accuses the three trustees of failing to act in Pat Bowlen’s best interest, act in good faith, act loyally for the principal’s benefit, prevent conflicts of interest and implement Pat Bowlen’s estate and business succession plan. Bowlen is unable to carry out a succession plan himself due to the fact that he has Alzheimer's disease.

The trustees' actions, Bill Bowlen alleges in the filing, are “causing dysfunction within the Denver Broncos Football Club and the Bowlen family.”

In May, Beth Bowlen Wallace announced her desire to take controlling ownership of the team, and the Pat Bowlen Trust swiftly countered that she's not qualified for the position.

And in September, Pat Bowlen's daughter Brittany Bowlen, who has also expressed interest in one day taking charge of the Broncos, began a new job with management consulting giant McKinsey & Company in downtown Denver, reportedly as preparation for a future team role.

In the petition, Bill Bowlen asks the court for an order:

1. Removing the trustees as the agents of Pat Bowlen; 2. Appointing an independent party to serve as the conservator of the estate of Pat Bowlen with the power to remove the trustees, review periodic accountings and implement a succession plan consistent with Pat Bowlen's intentions; 3. Requiring the trustees to render a complete accounting; 4. Reimbursing Pat Bowlen for attorneys' fees and costs paid by the trust on behalf the trustees; and 5. Awarding Bill Bowlen attorneys' fees and costs associated with the petition. When Pat Bowlen and his four siblings purchased the majority interests in the Broncos, they each owned approximately 25 percent of the team. The petition alleges that Pat Bowlen told his brother that because of the 20 children between the four Bowlen siblings, he wanted to limit the number of possible future owners.

Around 1994, according to the petition, the Bowlen siblings began implementing a plan that would result in Pat Bowlen buying out brother Bill Bowlen and sister Mary Elizabeth Jagger’s ownership interest in the team. According to the petition, Pat Bowlen told Bill Bowlen that he wanted one of his seven children to become the controlling owner of the team.

In particular, the petition alleges, Pat Bowlen expressed “a longstanding desire for Beth to serve in a management level role with the Team.”

With Bill Bowlen’s support, Pat Bowlen’s children Amie Bowlen Klemmer and Beth Bowlen Wallace have submitted a succession plan that the trustees allegedly refuse to implement, according to the petition.

“The Agents have refused to accept the plan and instead have implemented a plan that continues to keep them in control and fails to implement Pat Bowlen’s wishes,” the petition says.

Broncos' Mile High stadium beer prices among lowest in the NFL By Russell Gray Denver Business Journal October 27, 2018

Given that the current season is half finished by the calendar — but effectively over for some teams — fans can find another metric for picking a favorite team: beer prices.

Team Marketing Report has assembled the cost per ounce of beer for every NFL stadium, according to Food & Wine. The analysis includes league-wide good news: The average price of each stadium’s cheapest beer dropped. Sure, it fell only 3 cents, and the price remains a staggering $8.17, but it’s a start.

For Broncos fans, here’s the payoff: The team’s price per ounce — 42 cents — ties with six other teams in the 32-team league for the lowest in the NFL, the report says. Some particularly bad teams charge a lot — the at 63 cents an ounce — and some pretty good teams charge relatively little — the at 42 cents an ounce.

Get the full listing here. Week 8 NFL injuries: Royce Freeman out, Von Miller questionable for Broncos and every injury report By R.J. White CBS Sports October 27, 2018

The Broncos head to Kansas City to face a Chiefs team that has been tearing up the league, and they do so with injury concerns on both sides of the ball. Running back Royce Freeman has been ruled out with an ankle injury, and that could push Philip Lindsay into a bigger role than he's used to. Lindsay has been given no more than 15 touches in a game since getting 17 in Week 1, so if the team is more comfortable keeping him around that number rather than adding to his workload, Devontae Booker could see more work after getting no more than five touches in all but one game this year.

The bigger concern for the Broncos could be on defense, where top pass rusher Von Miller and inside linebacker Brandon Marshall are questionable after being limited in practice all week. If Miller does suit up, his ankle injury could make him a split second slower to the quarterback, and that matters against an elite Chiefs offense. Vegas has the line in this game at around Chiefs -10, and the injuries to the Broncos could end up leading to yet another Chiefs cover.

We'll hit the injury reports for every game on Sunday and Monday below to get you ready for your Fantasy and NFL picks decisions.

Eagles (-3) vs. Jaguars in London Eagles: RB Darren Sproles (hamstring), LB Nathan Gerry (ankle, knee), CB Sidney Jones (hamstring), S Corey Graham (hamstring) OUT; DT Haloti Ngata (calf) QUESTIONABLE Jaguars: RB (hamstring), TE James O'Shaughnessy (hip), CB A.J. Bouye (calf), CB Tyler Patmon (neck) OUT, CB D.J. Hayden (toe) DOUBTFUL The Eagles remain without Sproles in the backfield, and they'll be dealing with a few injuries in the secondary, though that becomes less of a concern with a team like the Jaguars that hasn't exactly featured a dangerous passing game this year. Tackles Jason Peters (biceps) and (ankle) were limited all week but avoided final injury tags. The Jags have similar injury concerns as their opponent, with Fournette missing from the rushing attack and multiple injuries in the secondary. The difference is they'll have to slow down a potentially excellent QB in Carson Wentz while shorthanded at cornerback. figures to feature as the team's running back for the first time after a trade prior to Week 7.

So which teams should you back in Week 8 of the NFL season? And which Super Bowl contender goes down hard? Visit SportsLine now to see which teams are winning more than 50 percent of simulations, all from the model that has outperformed 98 percent of experts tracked by NFLPickWatch.com the past two seasons.

Browns at Steelers (-8.5) Browns: WR Rashard Higgins (knee), LB (hamstring), CB E.J. Gaines (concussion) OUT; WR Da'Mari Scott (shoulder), C J.C. Tretter (ankle), S (groin, ankle) QUESTIONABLE Steelers: OT Marcus Gilbert (knee) OUT Randall and Tretter were upgraded to a limited practice on Friday, improving their chances of suiting up for the Browns in this matchup. The Steelers come into this matchup mostly healthy, though they'll be without their starting right tackle. Matt Feiler, who started in the win over the Buccaneers earlier in the season, takes Gilbert's place in the starting lineup. Safety Morgan Burnett (groin) is set to see his first action since Week 2 after practicing in full all week.

Broncos at Chiefs (-9.5) Broncos: RB Royce Freeman (ankle), WR DaeSean Hamilton (knee), OT Jared Veldheer (knee), S Darian Stewart (neck) OUT; OLB Shane Ray (ankle, wrist) DOUBTFUL; G Nico Falah (concussion), OLB Von Miller (ankle), ILB Brandon Marshall (knee) QUESTIONABLE Chiefs: C Mitch Morse (concussion) OUT; S (heel), OLB Justin Houston (hamstring) DOUBTFUL The Broncos are dealing with several injuries to key players. With Freeman out, the Broncos will either have to give more work to Philip Lindsay, who hovers around 15 touches a game, or integrate Devontae Booker back into the game plan. With Ron Leary on IR and Veldheer still out, the offensive line remains a concern. But the biggest issue for Denver could be on defense, with Miller and Marshall both limited all week before being given questionable tags. The Chiefs' injury report remains the same as it was last week, with key defenders Berry and Houston likely remaining sidelined after missing practice all week.

Jets at Bears (-8) Jets: WR Quincy Enunwa (ankle) OUT; WR Robby Anderson (ankle), CB Trumaine Johnson (quad) DOUBTFUL; OT Kelvin Beachum (back), C Spencer Long (knee, finger), ILB Kevin Pierre-Louis (foot), CB Morris Claiborne (shoulder, foot), S (thumb) QUESTIONABLE Bears: G Eric Kush (neck) OUT; WR Allen Robinson (groin), LB (ankle) QUESTIONABLE The Jets will be shorthanded again at receiver in this game, with Enunwa out and Anderson unlikely to play. That could leave Jermaine Kearse and the newly-signed Rishard Matthews as the top options at receiver. The defense will also have to deal with issues at corner, though Buster Skrine (concussion) practiced in full Friday and appears good to go. The Bears could be without major pieces on both sides of the ball here, but Robinson and Mack were upgraded to limited on Friday, improving their chances of playing. Mack hasn't looked the same since suffering his injury after an explosive start to the season that had him in the MVP discussion.

Redskins at Giants (PK) Redskins: WR (ankle) OUT; RB Chris Thompson (rib, knee), WR Paul Richardson (shoulder, knee), CB Quinton Dunbar (shin) QUESTIONABLE Giants: WR Jawill Davis (concussion), LB (hamstring) OUT The Redskins will be without at least one receiver again this week, but Richardson has a shot of playing after being limited all week. Thompson was upgraded to a full practice on Friday and figures to be available as well. Running back (ankle, shoulder) was also upgraded to full on Friday and avoided a final injury tag altogether. The Giants lose a key member of the defense with Ogletree sidelined, and with Damon Harrison traded to the Lions, that could help open the middle of the field for the Redskins running game.

Seahawks at Lions (-2.5) Seahawks: G (calf), CB Neiko Thorpe (groin) DOUBTFUL; DE Rasheem Green (ankle) QUESTIONABLE Lions: RB (knee) OUT; DE (shoulder), LB (calf) QUESTIONABLE The Seahawks come out of their bye much healthier than they had been, with linebacker K.J. Wright (knee) and tight end Ed Dickson (quad) set to make their season debuts in this matchup. Guard D.J. Fluker (knee) and running back (finger) are also good to go. Riddick remains sidelined for the Lions after missing practice all week, while Ansah and Davis were both limited Thursday and Friday before earning questionable designations. If Ansah plays, it would be his first action since Week 1.

Buccaneers at Bengals (-3.5) Buccaneers: DE (ankle), DT Gerald McCoy (calf) OUT Bengals: RB Giovani Bernard (knee), WR John Ross (groin), TE (foot), LB Vontaze Burfict (hip), LB Nick Vigil (knee), CB (sternoclavicular) OUT; C Billy Price (foot) DOUBTFUL The Buccaneers will be without two key defensive linemen for the second straight week, but they were able to beat the Browns without the pair last week and get to face a beat up Bengals team here. Cincy will be without two top linebackers in this matchup, which could help open the middle of the field, and not having Dennard against a talented receiving corps is a concern.

Ravens (-2.5) at Panthers Ravens: OT James Hurst (back), CB (thigh) OUT; G Alex Lewis (neck) DOUBTFUL; C (calf), LB (hamstring), CB (groin), CB (hamstring) QUESTIONABLE Panthers: WR Torrey Smith (knee), LB (hamstring) OUT; S Rashaan Gaulden (ankle) DOUBTFUL The Ravens are dealing with several injuries on the offensive line, and that could mean the Panthers feast and never let get comfortable in this game. Carolina also might have an easier time throwing the ball with the corner issues, but Smith practiced in full on Thursday and Friday and figures to play. The Panthers will be down one secondary part of their passing game with Smith sidelined, but I don't think that'll make too much of a difference with their ability to move the ball. The question is whether they can find consistent success against a top-tier Ravens defense. was limited all week with a shoulder issue but avoided a final injury tag for this matchup.

Colts (-3) at Raiders Colts: RB Robert Turbin (shoulder), WR Ryan Grant (ankle), TE Erik Swoope (knee), DT Jihad Ward (ankle), S (hip) OUT; RB Marlon Mack (ankle), WR Zach Pascal (head), DE Jabaal Sheard (abdomen), S Clayton Geathers (neck), K Adam Vinatieri (groin) QUESTIONABLE Raiders: G Kelechi Osemele (knee), CB Daryl Worley (ankle) QUESTIONABLE The Colts continue to deal with a lot of injuries, particularly on the offensive side. Mack missed practice Thursday but returned to a full practice on Friday before earning a questionable designation. Vinatieri and Sheard also practiced in full on Friday despite being listed as questionable. The Raiders came out of the bye with just Osemele as an injury concern, but he was upgraded to a limited practice on Friday. Worley popped up on the injury report for the first time Friday as limited, and he'll be a game-time call.

49ers (-1.5) at Cardinals 49ers: WR Pierre Garcon (shoulder, knee) DOUBTFUL; RB Matt Breida (ankle), C Weston Richburg (knee), CB Richard Sherman (calf) QUESTIONABLE Cardinals: S Tre Boston (shoulder, ribs), G Jeremy Vujnovich (hamstring) OUT; TE (heel), G Mike Iupati (back), (hand), DT Corey Peters (ankle), K Phil Dawson (hip) QUESTIONABLE The 49ers will be down one receiver with Garcon likely sidelined, but rookie Dante Pettis (knee) appears good to go after missing three weeks of action. That Breida has a shot of playing after another ugly injury on Sunday is pretty incredible, but we'll see how he looks in pregame. The Cards have severe injury issues at guard, where starters Iupati and Pugh were limited all week. Peters was downgraded to DNP and Gresham popped up on the injury report as limited on Friday, so those players are trending the wrong direction.

Packers at Rams (-9.5) Packers: WR Randall Cobb (hamstring), WR Equanimeous St. Brown (knee), T Jason Spriggs (ankle) QUESTIONABLE Rams: WR Cooper Kupp (knee), OLB Trevon Young (back) DOUBTFUL The Packers come out of their bye much healthier across the board, and they avoid having any of their defensive players even questionable for this matchup. Cobb was listed as questionable, but he managed to practice in full on Friday, which gives us an optimistic outlook on his availability here. Kupp is set to miss another game for the Rams, but defensive linemen Michael Brockers and are good to go after practicing in full on Friday.

Saints at Vikings (PK) Saints: DE Mitchell Loewen (neck) OUT Vikings: RB Dalvin Cook (hamstring), OT Tom Compton (knee), LB Anthony Barr (hamstring), S Andrew Sendejo (groin) OUT; OT (foot) DOUBTFUL; DT (ankle, knee), CB (foot) QUESTIONABLE The Saints come into this game healthy, with Loewen a potential game day inactive even if 100 percent and no one else on the injury report with health issues. The Vikings will keep rolling out Latavius Murray as their feature back with Cook sidelined, and while Reiff is a big loss for the offensive line, the more concerning issue is on defense, where Barr and Sendejo have been ruled out and Rhodes hasn't practiced all week. On the plus side, it looks like the defensive line is getting back Everson Griffen (NIR), who wasn't given a final tag after returning to the team this week.

Patriots (-14) at Bills Patriots: TBA Bills: TBA Analysis to come.

It took less than a day for Nike's new Colin Kaepernick shirts to sell out By Jack Baer Yahoo! Sports October 27, 2018

Nike has fully tied its business to Colin Kaepernick and it appears the business of Colin Kaepernick is booming.

The sports apparel behemoth put a new “Kaepernick icon tee” on the market Thursday, with the shirt bearing a simple design in which the famous Nike swoosh and Kaepernick’s name are the most visible features. Let’s just say sales were good.

Kaepernick announced the shirt’s sale through his Twitter account Thursday morning.

Seven hours later, Kaepernick took to Twitter again to proudly announce the shirts had run out of stock online, though some shirts are apparently still available at Nike’s physical stores.

It’s just one shirt, and it isn’t known how many shirts Nike stocked in the first place, but it’s hard to deny this as another good look for the company’s big bet on Kaepernick.

What Colin Kaepernick’s Nike shirts look like The shirt is a long-sleeved black tee featuring Kaepernick’s name on the back in distinctive reflective lettering. The name is basically where his name would be on an actual football jersey.

The Nike swoosh comes on the right shoulder sleeve. Nike and Kaepernick’s now-famous slogan of “Believe in something, even if it means sacrificing everything” also appears on the shirt, in small lettering down the sleeve.

The shirt retailed for $50, steep for a t-shirt but clearly not too steep for certain consumers.

Nike had LeBron James debut the Kaepernick shirt If this shirt looks familiar, it might be due to one the other faces of Nike debuting it earlier this month. That would be Lakers superstar LeBron James, a vocal supporter of Kaepernick.

James entered the Staples Center for a preseason game on Oct. 4 wearing the shirt, then posted a picture of it on Instagram.

Nike’s Colin Kaepernick industry rolls on It was extremely clear when Nike announced its decision to put Kaepernick at front of center of its 30th anniversary “Just Do It” campaign that publicly embracing the NFL’s highest-profile persona non grata would lead to some backlash. From small communities to the president of the United States, detractors were predictably vocal.

And yet, the move keeps appearing to be a calculated risk that is paying off for Nike. Consumer data has found a warm reception to featuring Kaepernick, polling has been good and there has been no shortage of prominent athletes praising the move.

It could be years before we understand the full effects of one of the most polarizing marketing campaign in recent memory, but there seems to be little reason for Nike to regret its big risk right now.

NBC to Debut Tracer in Saints-Vikings Sunday Night Football Matchup By Andrew Cohen Sports Techie October 27, 2018

When the visit the this weekend, NBC Sports will debut a new “SNF Kicks Tracer.” The tracer graphic will map the flight of the football on all field goal attempts during the Sunday Night Football game, giving fans at home a clearer view than ever of the ball once it leaves a kicker’s foot.

The tracer is the latest installment in the network’s SNF Kicks technology, which NBC began rolling out a couple weeks ago when the Patriots played the Chiefs. SNF Kicks measures the trajectory and speed of the football when kicked, and includes a “good from” feature that indicates the furthest distance from which a made field goal attempt would have been successful.

“As we continue to use the most cutting-edge technology to enhance our Sunday Night Football broadcast, we are excited to add the tracer to our coverage,” said Fred Gaudelli, executive producer of SNF, in a press release. “With many games coming down to field goals, this new element will illustrate the flight of the football, while also providing many statistics pertinent to the kicking game.”

TrackMan‘s radar system is used to detect ball movement from when the football is kicked through to when it touches the net behind the uprights. To determine the greatest distance of where a kick would be good from, TrackMan measures not only the full trajectory, but also whether the ball is hooking or slicing during flight. The good from statistic is currently available only on made field goals kicked from at least 45 yards. However, NBC has plans to expand on its Sunday Night Football usage of TrackMan technology.

“By the end of the season, we hope to be showcasing the technology on kickoffs and punts, and eventually make our way to the passing game,” Gaudelli said in the press release.

SportTechie Takeaway TrackMan is also used to provide metrics for NBC’s Golf Channel coverage as well as MLB’s Statcast system. NBC’s latest announcement does not specify whether the TrackMan tracer will be used during live field goals or on replays, but fans will likely want live kicks to be augmented. As more kicks are recorded and sample size grows, NBC will be also able offer metrics on what makes an optimal kick— whether a certain speed is more successful in a certain wind direction or temperature, say.

Von Miller listed as questionable, Broncos say he’ll play By Josh Alper Pro Football Talk October 27, 2018

The Broncos are heavy underdogs for Sunday’s game against the Chiefs and their chances of pulling off the upset would grow even smaller if they were playing without linebacker Von Miller.

The release of Friday’s injury report cast some doubt about Miller’s status, but it doesn’t look like the Broncos will be headed to Kansas City without him.

While Miller was listed as questionable with the ankle injury that’s limited him in practice this week, head coach Vance Joseph said that Miller will be in the lineup on Sunday. Miller has not missed a game since the 2013 season.

A handful of Broncos will miss the game. Right tackle Jared Veldheer, running back Royce Freeman, wide receiver DaeSean Hamilton and safety Darian Stewart have been ruled out for the AFC West clash.

Week Eight injury report roundup By Josh Alper Pro Football Talk October 27, 2018

Week Eight of the 2018 NFL season kicked off on Thursday with a Texans win and it continues with 12 more games on Sunday, which means that the 24 teams in those games submitted their final injury reports of the week on Friday.

Questionable players are uncertain to play, doubtful players are unlikely to play and out should be self- explanatory. Players who are on active rosters and don’t appear below should be considered healthy enough to play barring any announcements on Saturday. The teams playing on Monday night won’t release their injury reports until Saturday and are not listed here.

With that housekeeping out of the way, here are all the injury reports for Sunday.

Jaguars vs. Eagles (in London)

The Jaguars ruled out A.J. Bouye (calf) and Tyler Patmon (neck) before leaving for London and then added RB Leonard Fournette (hamstring) and TE James O'Shaughnessy (hip) to the list on Friday. CB D.J. Hayden (toe) is listed as doubtful.

The Eagles also ruled out some players before traveling this week. RB Darren Sproles (hamstring), CB Sidney Jones (hamstring) and LB Nathan Gerry (ankle, knee) stayed behind while S Corey Graham (hamstring) was ruled out on Friday. DT Haloti Ngata (calf) could play after being listed as questionable.

Jets at Bears

The Jets ruled WR Quincy Enunwa (ankle) out earlier this week. WR Robby Anderson (ankle) and CB Trumaine Johnson (quad) are expected to miss the game after drawing doubtful tags. C Spencer Long (finger, knee) was initially listed as doubtful, but got upgraded to questionable before the final report was issued. T Kelvin Beachum (back), CB Morris Claiborne (shoulder, foot), S Marcus Maye (thumb) and LB Kevin Pierre-Louis (foot) are also listed as questionable.

LB Khalil Mack (ankle) and WR Allen Robinson (groin) are questionable to play for the Bears. G Eric Kush (neck) has been ruled out.

Broncos at Chiefs

The Broncos listed LB Von Miller (ankle) as questionable, but head coach Vance Joseph ended any suspense by saying that he’ll play. T Jared Veldheer (knee), S Darian Stewart (neck), WR DaeSean Hamilton (knee) and RB Royce Freeman (ankle) have all been ruled out. OL Nico Falah (concussion) and LB Brandon Marshall (knee) join Miller in the questionable category with LB Shane Ray (ankle, wrist) as the only doubtful player.

C Mitch Morse (concussion) is the only player ruled out for the Chiefs, but you can bet on S Eric Berry (heel) and LB Justin Houston (hamstring) missing the game as well. They are listed as doubtful and have missed multiple games after receiving the same tag.

Browns at Steelers

Browns WR Rashard Higgins (knee), LB Joe Schobert (hamstring) and DB E.J. Gaines (concussion) will all miss Sunday’s game. C JC Tretter (ankle) and DB Damarious Randall (groin, ankle) are questionable after returning to practice on Friday.

The Steelers did not issue any injury designations as they return from the bye week without injury issues.

Buccaneers at Bengals

Buccaneers DT Gerald McCoy (calf) and DE Vinny Curry (ankle) will both miss their second straight game. They are the only players on the final injury report of the week.

The Bengals ruled out six players on Friday. LB Vontaze Burfict (hip), RB Giovani Bernard (knee), TE Tyler Kroft (foot), CB Darqueze Dennard (sternoclavicular), WR John Ross (groin) and LB Nick Vigil (knee) make up that group. C Billy Price (foot) is getting closer to a return, but a doubtful listing means it is unlikely to happen this weekend.

Seahawks at Lions

CB Neiko Thorpe (groin) and G Jordan Simmons (calf) are out for the Seahawks. DE Rasheem Green (ankle) is listed as questionable.

The Lions listed DE Ziggy Ansah (shoulder) as questionable again this week. He’s missed the last five games. RB Theo Riddick (knee) is out for the second straight week and LB Jarrad Davis (calf) joins Ansah in the questionable group.

Ravens at Panthers

CB Marlon Humphrey (thigh) and T James Hurst (back) are both out again for the Ravens. G Alex Lewis (neck) is set to miss a second straight game as well after being listed as doubtful. G Bradley Bozeman (calf), DB Anthony Levine (hamstring), CB Jimmy Smith (groin) and CB Anthony Averett (hamstring) are listed as questionable.

The Panthers ruled out WR Torrey Smith (knee) and LB Andrew Smith (hamstring). S Rashaan Gaulden (ankle) is considered doubtful to play on Sunday.

Washington at Giants

The Giants traded two defensive starters this week and will be down a third after ruling out LB Alec Ogletree (hamstring). WR Jawill Davis (concussion) has been ruled out as well.

RB Chris Thompson (ribs/knee), WR Paul Richarson (shoulder/knee) and CB Quinton Dunbar are listed as questionable for Washington. WR Jamison Crowder (ankle) will miss another game.

Colts at Raiders

The Colts have ruled out WR Ryan Grant (ankle), S Malik Hooker (hip), TE Erik Swoope (knee) and RB Robert Turbin (shoulder). S Clayton Geathers (neck), RB Marlon Mack (ankle), WR Zach Pascal (head), DE Jabaal Sheard (abdomen) and K Adam Vinatieri (groin) are listed as questionable.

Raiders G Kelechi Osemele (knee) returned to practice Friday and is listed as questionable. CB Daryl Worley (ankle) popped up on the injury report Friday and drew the same tag.

49ers at Cardinals

WR Pierre Garçon (shoulder, knee) is listed as doubtful to play for the 49ers this weekend. RB Matt Breida (ankle), C Weston Richburg (knee) and CB Richard Sherman (calf) make up the questionable contingent.

The Cardinals will play without S Tre Boston (shoulder, ribs) and G Jeremy Vujnovich (hamstring) for the second straight week. K Phil Dawson (right hip), TE Jermaine Gresham (heel), G Mike Iupati (back), DT Corey Peters (ankle) and G Justin Pugh (hand) are listed as questionable.

Packers at Rams

WR Geronimo Allison (hamstring) is off the Packers injury report, but WR Randall Cobb (hamstring) is listed as questionable. Head coach Mike McCarthy said this week that Cobb is expected to play. WR Equanimeous St. Brown (knee) and T Jason Spriggs (ankle) are also listed as questionable.

WR Cooper Kupp (knee) was listed as doubtful and is expected to sit out for the Rams. LB Trevon Young (back) joins him in that category.

Saints at Vikings

DL Mitchell Loewen (neck) will miss the game for the Saints, but he’s the only player with an injury designation this weekend.

The Vikings have more injury concerns. RB Dalvin Cook (hamstring), S Andrew Sendejo (groin), G Tom Compton (knee), and LB Anthony Barr (hamstring) have been ruled out and T Riley Reiff (foot) is listed as doubtful. There’s a better chance for CB Xavier Rhodes (ankle) and DT Linval Joseph (ankle, knee) after they were listed as questionable.