NFL1000: Every team’s most promising young player (Doug Farrar, Bleacher Report)
Barrett is an excellent edge-rusher, but what makes him a truly special component of the Broncos defense is his ability to detach from his pass-rush responsibilities and go after running backs when the play dictates it.

**Ray, Butt return to Broncos practice; LB Marshall added to injury list**(Nicki Jhabvala, Denver Post)
The Broncos' list of injuries was the longest it's been since the start of the regular season.

**Help on the way? Butt practices for Broncos**(Jeff Legwold, ESPN)
"[He] looked tall, looked fast, he caught the ball well," said Broncos coach Vance Joseph. "He's out of shape, but he's definitely getting better every day as far as football shape."

Sharp eager for chance to help Broncos team with injuries piling up at wide receiver (Nick Kosmider, Denver Post)
"I was happy to hear I was playing, but for it to be in L.A. — and I'm an L.A. native — it meant even more to me," said Sharp.

Here's the first real test of Joseph's mettle as head coach of the Broncos (Mark Kiszla, Denver Post)Now we find out how well Joseph handles adversity as a head coach. Stuff happens in the NFL. The difference between making the playoffs and missing out is often defined by how a coach manages all the football crises along the way.