ENGLEWOOD, Colo. — Starting nose tackle Mike Purcell exited practice early on Friday, and Head Coach Vic Fangio said after the session that Purcell injured his ankle.
"The early prognosis is a sprain, but we'll see," Fangio said.
Purcell got tangled up during an early team-period play and was evaluated by trainers after leaving the field. He then was escorted to the locker room and did not reappear at practice for the rest of the session.
Purcell is in the midst of returning from a foot injury that cost him his season in Week 7 last year. He worked with trainers during offseason-program practices but joined 11-on-11 work when training camp began.
Outside linebacker Bradley Chubb continued to be held out of team drills as he conditions following ankle surgery. Outside linebacker Von Miller, safety Kareem Jackson and wide receiver Tim Patrick did not practice during Friday's session. Miller and Jackson were given veteran rest days, while Fangio held Patrick out after the wide receiver felt soreness in his leg.
"He's fine," Fangio said. "He could've practiced. I trumped the medical people. I get joy out of that sometimes."
All of the other players on the Broncos' roster participated in Friday's practice, save for the team's three players — linebacker Baron Browning and cornerbacks Essang Bassey and Duke Dawson Jr. — who remain on the Physically Unable to Perform list.
