The Broncos will host the Patriots on Sunday, but they’ll be down a starting linebacker.
Denver has ruled out inside linebacker Brandon Marshall for the second straight game because of a hamstring injury. Marshall has not participated in practice at all since getting hurt against the Jaguars in Week 12.
Marshall’s absence is a blow to a Broncos run defense that ranks 29th in the league in yards allowed after the Titans went for 180 yards against them last weekend. They may be without another inside linebacker as well as Todd Davis has been listed as questionable with a rib injury he suffered last Sunday.
Davis returned to practice on Friday after missing the first two days of the week and Broncos coach Gary Kubiak said he was “encouraged by what I saw” from the linebacker on the field.
The Broncos also announced that long snapper Casey Kreiter has been placed on injured reserve with a calf injury. Thomas Gafford, who joined the team in Week 12, will handle the duties the rest of the way.
