Broncos Show No Interest in Jeff Saturday, Who Will Likely Stay Retired

Almost immediately after news broke that center Dan Koppen had suffered a torn ACL, fans and pundits jumped to the same conclusion:  Jeff Saturday is available.

Saturday, 37, spent the first thirteen years of his career snapping to Manning, winning a Super Bowl (XLI) along the way.  Last year, Saturday started in fourteen games (allowing 3.5 sacks) in Green Bay before being benched, clearing the way for a younger Evan Dietrich-Smith to start the final two games of the season.

Despite his benching last season, Saturday still made the Pro Bowl based on name recognition and even swapped sides (from the NFC to the AFC) for a play to execute one final snap to Manning.

Make no mistake, that was Saturday's final snap to Manning.

Suspensions and Injuries Will Not Derail Denver Broncos 2013 Season

(Photo courtesy of Paul Cloud)

This offseason, it has seemed at times that the Denver Broncos have been falling apart.

Two team executives—Matt Russell and Tom Heckert—were suspended by the team earlier this month for DUI arrests, outside linebacker Von Miller is facing a potential four-game suspension for allegedly breaking the league's substance-abuse policy, and center Dan Koppen tore his ACL on Sunday, ending his season.

Koppen was signed by the team when starter J.D. Walton (who is currently on the PUP list) underwent surgery in June.  Expected to again be the team's starter as he was last year during Walton's absence, Koppen will now miss the entire season.

This, coupled with Miller's suspension and Denver's other offseason woes, has some proclaiming that the sky is falling in Denver.  Count NFL.com's Adam Schein among those questioning the team's ability to bounce back:

Dan Koppen big injury for Denver. I'm not buying Broncos to Super Bowl. Division improved. Broncos have questions.
— Adam Schein (@AdamSchein) July 29, 2013

When Schein says the Broncos "have questions," he's not talking about which of their three star receivers will be the first to reach ten touchdown receptions or about the possibility of the team going undefeated this fall.  Schein believes the Koppen loss is a big hit.

Broncos Will Place O-Lineman Chris Kuper and J.D. Walton on PUP List

When the Denver Broncos begin training camp practices on Thursday, they will place both guard Chris Kuper and center J.D. Walton on the physically unable to perform (PUP) list, according to the Denver Post.

Both players are recovering from ankle surgeries and will not be back until at least six weeks into the season.  In Walton's absence, veteran Dan Koppen is expected to start at center and free-agent signee Louis Vasquez is expected to start at guard, where Kuper had been a starter since 2007.

Meanwhile, left tackle Ryan Clady, who just signed a five-year deal with the team earlier this month, is recovering from shoulder surgery and may miss up to three weeks of training camp, also per the 'Post.

In the meantime, Denver's starting five may look something like this:

                         LT             LG              C                   RG                RT

Chris Clark, Zane Beadles, Dan Koppen, Louis Vasquez, Orlando Franklin

Broncos players reported to Dove Valley on Wednesday and will hit the practice field on Thursday.  Their first preseason game will be played on Thursday, Aug. 8 in San Francisco against the 49ers.

Prior to their game against the 49ers, the Broncos will hold a team scrimmage at Sports Authority Field at Mile High on Saturday, Aug. 3—admission is free.  To buy tickets to Denver's preseason and regular season matches, check out Denver Broncos tickets from GoTickets.