The Sports Xchange

The Denver Broncos are down to their third-string left tackle for Sunday’s game against the Minnesota Vikings.

Rookie tackle Ty Sambrailo played through a shoulder injury at Detroit on Sunday night but missed another practice Friday and was officially ruled out by coach Gary Kubiak.

Offensive line issues have been a constant worry for quarterback Peyton Manning, who began the season operating behind a line with three new starters, and this week worked with multiple backups because of injuries to Sambrailo, right guard Louis Vasquez and left guard Evan Mathis. Mathis was back at practice Friday and will start.

The Vikings are strong up front, and defensive-minded Minnesota coach Mike Zimmer is known for applying pressure in the pocket, including a string of positive showings against Manning.

Multiple times in the first three games Manning was tossed to the ground because of instant pressure from inside gaps, where Matt Paradis has been overwhelmed at center. The inside gap blitzes are a Zimmer trademark.

Manning was sacked a total of 17 times last season. He’s on pace to be sacked 42 times in 2015.

Without Sambrailo, Michael Schofield, a third-round pick from Michigan in 2014 who was inactive last week, could start. Denver might prefer Ryan Harris, the current starter at right tackle, on Manning’s blind side. The Broncos also signed Tyler Polumbus.