ENGLEWOOD, Colo. --Wednesday's injury report was filled with a lot of DNPs.
In all, eight players -- Champ Bailey, Eric Decker, Joel Dreessen, Orlando Franklin, Chris Kuper, Peyton Manning, Shaun Philips and Wes Welker -- did not participate in practice.
"Some of it is wear and tear of being almost halfway through an NFL football season," Head Coach John Fox explained. "Some of it is guys that are a little further along in their careers resting to make sure they're ready to play on Sunday."
In regards to where Manning -- listed with an ankle injury -- falls in that scale, Fox said it was "a little rest time that we thought was well-needed."
"He'll practice tomorrow," Fox said. "It's nothing serious, just sore. We wanted to make sure it was healed up."
Manning said it was tough not to practice with his teammates for the first time since he joined the Broncos. And if he had it his way, he would've participated as opposed to just watching on the field.
"It was (Head Athletic Trainer Steve Antonopulos) Greek's call. I can assure you I didn't go down without a fight," Manning laughed. "But hopefully use the day to get a little better, feel a little better tomorrow and look forward to hopefully being out there tomorrow."
When asked about his status for Sunday, the quarterback reiterated his plan for Thursday's practice.
"I plan on being out there tomorrow, so I'm going to start there," he said.
Welker agreed with Fox's assessment of the lengthy injury report.
"It's that time of the season where you just make sure you're 100 percent and take care of things," the wide receiver said. "Everybody has something at this point in the season so you just try to manage it and move on."
Meanwhile, there was some good news from practice as well -- team captain Wesley Woodyard was back on the field in full pads after missing last week's game. He was a limited participant with a neck injury.
The linebacker had hoped to suit up against the Colts, but knew he had to think long-term.
"It was extremely hard," Woodyard said. "But I had to make a decision – what was going to put myself and my teammates in a better position down the road – and that was to sit out. It was tough sitting on the sidelines and not being able to help my teammates out there on the field."
As for how he feels heading into Week 8?
"I'm good," he said.
