ENGLEWOOD, Colo. — The Broncos could feature their third starting right tackle of the season when they face the Raiders on Sunday.
Elijah Wilkinson started the first three games of the season before suffering a leg injury that landed him on IR after the team's game against the Buccaneers. Demar Dotson has filled in in the team's five games since Wilkinson's injury, but he did not practice again Thursday as he deals with injuries to his groin and hand.
Jake Rodgers replaced Dotson on Sunday against the Falcons after Dotson exited at halftime, but Rodgers did not practice Thursday with a shoulder injury after being limited on Wednesday.
Head Coach Vic Fangio said Calvin Anderson, who has not played an offensive snap in his NFL career, could start if neither Dotson nor Rodgers were available.
Wilkinson practiced both Wednesday and Thursday as the team designated him for return from injured reserve, but Fangio said he doesn't expect Wilkinson to be ready to play this week.
"We don't know about 'Dot' yet," Fangio said. "We probably won't know until the end of the week. Elijah — I don't believe he'll be ready to play this week because he's been out six weeks I believe, and this is his first time on the practice field, so he's not really ready to play yet. If 'Dot' doesn't play, we've got Jake, who's potentially there. Jake is going to miss today's practice with a shoulder — it could be Calvin Anderson."
The Broncos' true starter at right tackle — Ja'Wuan James — opted out of the season and is not eligible to return until 2021.
Denver did see a pair of players return to practice Thursday as Jerry Jeudy practiced on a limited basis and Justin Simmons was a full participant.
"Jeudy did get it in the game — a shoulder contusion," Fangio said before practice. "He'll be limited today; we'll see how he'll be today with that. Hopefully he has a good day today and comes back tomorrow with no residual effects, and we're hoping he'll be able to go."
A.J. Bouye (concussion), Noah Fant (ankle) and Austin Schlottmann (ribs) improved from limited to full participants. Bryce Callahan (ankle) remained a limited participant.
"We've just got to get A.J. back in the swing," Fangio said. "His play has obviously been interrupted here. He had the shoulder that kept him out for a good bit of time then he came back and had the concussion. So, I think he's got to do a good job of really focusing on getting back into it because of all the practice and playing time that he's missed. I think Bryce did fine yesterday."
