The Sports Xchange

ENGLEWOOD, Colo. — The Denver Broncos’ offensive line — and the offense itself — remains a “work in progress.”

Those three words have been said time and again over the past several weeks as the entire group tries to find its footing and build cohesion after being cobbled together in the wake of injuries, free-agent departures and a scheme change.

But when practice began Wednesday, the Broncos were without rookie left tackle Ty Sambrailo and veteran right guard Louis Vasquez. Vasquez is expected to return Thursday; although he has a knee injury, the Wednesday rest was a veteran’s off day like what quarterback Peyton Manning has received the last two weeks.

However, there is plenty of concern about Sambrailo, who suffered a shoulder injury in the second half of the Broncos’ 24-12 win over the Detroit Lions on Sunday.

Sambrailo remained in the game, which didn’t surprise Broncos coach Gary Kubiak.

“Not the kid I’m around every day. He’s a tough kid and he knows how important he is to us,” Kubiak said.

But necessity also came into play.

The Broncos would have had to shuffle their offensive linemen if he had left, because backup tackle Michael Schofield was inactive. The only reserves on the 46-man game day roster were interior linemen: center James Ferentz and guard Max Garcia.

“I think (Sambrailo) looked at the sidelines and everybody said, ‘No,'” Kubiak said. “He didn’t have much of a choice.”

Kubiak hopes that Sambrailo can practice Thursday, but if he can’t, the Broncos will have to begin evaluating contingency plans. But of equal concern is the impact on the offensive line, which is still struggling to get any push in the run game and just started to find some cohesion in the win over Detroit, especially in pass blocking.

Sambrailo had his ups and downs, but his performance against Detroit was his steadiest to date. Anything to derail that process would be frustrating to both himself and the team.

“I think for a rookie in the National Football League starting at left tackle, I think he’s played really well,” Kubiak said. “He’d be the first one to tell you he’s got a long way to go as a player.

“When you play there, you’re going to play against the best every week, but I think the Broncos have a bright future because of him. We need to get him healthy and get him back out there.”

And this Sunday against the Minnesota Vikings, a team that is the most physical that the Broncos have faced to date, the Broncos can’t afford any more injuries to a unit that is still struggling to find its form as it is.

INJURY NOTES: DE Kenny Anunike did not play against Detroit, but he had his first full practice workload since Aug. 20 knee surgery on Wednesday. … S Omar Bolden had a full practice of work as he continues to work his way back following a Week 1 foot injury. The Broncos have used Andre Caldwell on kickoff returns in his place in recent weeks. … LG Evan Mathis was limited Wednesday with a hamstring problem, but is still expected to play against Minnesota.

SERIES HISTORY: 14th regular-season meeting. Vikings lead series, 7-6. Broncos have won two straight. The most historic meeting between these two teams was on Dec. 4, 2011, when Tim Tebow led the Broncos to a 35-32 comeback win at the Metrodome, giving the Broncos a fifth win in a six-game streak that powered them to an unlikely AFC West crown.

GAME PLAN: Quarterback Teddy Bridgewater has been steady, if unspectacular, in guiding the Vikings to a two-game winning streak since their Week 1 meltdown at San Francisco, and the Broncos will try to use pressure to rattle him and spawn mistakes that he has rarely made in recent starts. Denver has the league’s only defense that has double-digit figures in sacks (11) and takeaways (10), and often it’s pressure that sets up the turnovers.

Offensively, the primary concern is the Broncos’ offensive line, especially with rookie left tackle Ty Sambrailo battling a shoulder injury. The Vikings have five sacks in the past three weeks and coach Mike Zimmer likes to employ double A-gap pressure, which will target vulnerable center Matt Parise.

MATCHUPS TO WATCH:

–Broncos ILBs Brandon Marshall and Danny Trevathan vs. Minnesota RB Adrian Peterson.

Peterson leads the league with 291 rushing yards, including 160 in the past two games. Denver has the league’s top-ranked defense, and ranks sixth against the run when measured by yardage per attempt and per carry. The Broncos had trouble with Kansas City’s Jamaal Charles in Week 2, but compensated with two forced fumbles. “We’ve got to swarm tackle,” Marshall said.

–Broncos WRs Demaryius Thomas and Emmanuel Sanders vs. Vikings CBs Terence Newman and Xavier Rhodes. The savvy Newman is still capable at age 37, but Rhodes still has his rough spots in his third pro season, and has given up touchdown passes in the last two weeks. He’s also in the concussion protocol system, although expected to play. Thomas and Sanders have been bright spots on the struggling offense and had deep receptions last week, although Thomas had some drops against Detroit.