Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert moved up to full practice participation on Friday and the team has no doubt about his availability for Sunday’s game against the Broncos.
Herbert has no injury designation. He hurt his ankle in Week Three and left the game, but played against the Chiefs in Week Four and used the bye week to get closer to full health.
It remains to be seen if left tackle Rashawn Slater will be available to protect him. Slater was limited by a pectoral injury all week and is listed as questionable.
Edge rusher Joey Bosa (hip) returned to practice on Friday and is also listed as questionable. Cornerback Kristian Fulton (knee), cornerback Deane Leonard (hamstring), and linebacker Nick Niemann (hamstring) round out the group of players in that group.
Running back Gus Edwards (ankle), cornerback Asante Samuel Jr. (shoulder), and cornerback Ja’Sir Taylor (fibula) have been ruled out.
Justin Herbert’s injured right ankle continued to limit him in practice Thursday. The Chargers quarterback still has not had a full practice since Sept. 13.
Herbert said Wednesday his ankle is “feeling better,” but he will continue to wear the ankle brace he has worn since his injury.
Herbert twice has missed practice and has had six limited practices, including Thursday, since his injury in Week 2 against the Panthers. He aggravated it in the third quarter against the Steelers in Week 3 and did not return to the game, but he played in Week 4 despite a questionable designation.
Outside linebacker Joey Bosa (hip) did not practice again. He was injured in Week 3, which kept him out of the Week 4 loss to the Chiefs.
Offensive tackle Joe Alt (knee), kicker Cameron Dicker (illness), linebacker Junior Colson (hamstring), cornerback Kristian Fulton (knee), linebacker Dalyan Henley (shoulder), safety Derwin James (personal), tight end Hayden Hurst (Achilles), outside linebacker Khalil Mack (rest), linebacker Denzel Perryman (shoulder) and cornerback Asante Samuel Jr. (shoulder) returned to full participation Thursday.
Running back Gus Edwards (ankle) and cornerback Ja’Sir Taylor (fibula) again were out of practice.
Defensive back Deane Leonard (hamstring) returned to a limited session, and offensive tackle Rayshawn Slater (pectoral) again was limited.
Justin Herbert has not had a full practice since Sept. 13. The Chargers returned to practice Wednesday after an off week, and Herbert’s right ankle continues to limit him.
The star quarterback, though, said his ankle is “feeling better.”
“We’re getting better,” Herbert said, via video from Ryan DePaul of FanDuel. “As long as we’re doing that, we’re in the right position. It does feel better. Made it through the game, and having that bye week off has definitely helped just continuing to get that inflammation down.”
Herbert said he will continue to wear the ankle brace he has worn since his injury.
“I would assume. I wore it in practice, and I think it’s just one of those things you’re going to wear it until you don’t need it anymore, and I don’t envision that being this week,” he said.
Herbert twice has missed practice and has had five limited practices, including Wednesday, since his injury in Week 2 against the Panthers. He aggravated it in the third quarter against the Steelers in Week 3 and did not return to the game, but he played in Week 4 despite a questionable designation.
Outside linebacker Joey Bosa (hip) did not practice. He was injured in Week 3, which kept him out of the Week 4 loss to the Chiefs.
Kicker Cameron Dicker (illness), running back Gus Edwards (ankle), cornerback Kristian Fulton (knee), safety Derwin James (personal), defensive back Deane Leonard (hamstring) and cornerback Ja’Sir Taylor (fibula) also sat out Wednesday’s session.
Offensive tackle Joe Alt (knee), linebacker Junior Colson (hamstring), linebacker Dalyan Henley (shoulder), tight end Hayden Hurst (Achilles), outside linebacker Khalil Mack (rest), linebacker Denzel Perryman (shoulder), cornerback Asante Samuel Jr. (shoulder) and offensive tackle Rayshawn Slater (pectoral) were limited.
Broncos cornerback Pat Surtain II had a big day against the Raiders in Week Five.
The Raiders went up 10-0 in the first quarter of the game, but Surtain swung the momentum back Denver’s way in the second quarter. He stepped in front of a pass at the Broncos’ goal-line and returned the interception 100 yards for the second touchdown of his NFL career.
Surtain’s play contributed to the Raiders replacing Gardner Minshew with Aidan O’Connell and Surtain picked off the other Raiders quarterback in the fourth quarter as well.
The NFL named Surtain the AFC defensive player of the week in recognition of the effort. It’s the second time Surtain has nabbed the honors in his three-plus years in the NFL.
The Broncos signed inside linebacker Levelle Bailey from the practice squad to the active roster, the team announced Tuesday.
Denver also signed wide receiver Kaden Davis, center Dieter Eiselen and tackle Cam Fleming to the practice squad. It released running back Salvon Ahmed and cornerback Quinton Newsome from the practice squad and placed guard Will Sherman on practice squad/injured.
Bailey, an undrafted free agent, made the Broncos’ initial 53-player roster before later joining the team’s practice squad. He was elevated for the Broncos’ past two games and has played 24 special teams snaps.
Davis previously spent time on the Broncos’ practice squad this season, but he has yet to appear in a regular-season game in his career.
Eiselen has appeared in 24 games during his career. He appeared in 10 games for the Texans in 2023, primarily as a special teams contributor.
Fleming, a 10-year veteran, appeared in six games for the Broncos in 2023 and started the team’s regular-season finale. He previously started 15 games at tackle for the Broncos in 2022. In his career, Fleming has started 62 games and appeared in 117 contests.
Ahmed signed with the Broncos’ practice squad last week but did not appear in Denver’s win over the Raiders.
Newsome joined the Broncos as an undrafted free agent following the 2024 draft and spent the first five weeks of the season on Denver’s practice squad.
Sherman, a 2021 sixth-round pick, has appeared in one career game but has not seen regular-season action since joining the Broncos in 2022.
