Quick Hits: Denver Broncos Defeat San Francisco 49ers 10-6 in Week 1

(Screengrab courtesy of Matt Miller on Twitter)

The Denver Broncos defeated the San Francisco 49ers 10-6 in Candlestick Park on Thursday night, moving to 1-0 in preseason play.  Quarterback Peyton Manning played for one series, going 2-of-4 for 13 yards (one pass competed to Julius Thomas and another to Demaryius Thomas).

A few quick hits from tonight's game:

• No injuries.  After the game, head coach John Fox had no injuries to report.

• Pistol formation.  Back in May, we caught wind of the Broncos running pistol formations at Dove Valley.  On Tuesday, ESPN's Cecil Lammey asked Manning about the pistol and about the possibility of ever running it in Denver.  Manning sidestepped the question, but Denver came out in a pistol look on Thursday.

• New collars.  It's official now.  The Broncos are returning to solid collars.

Broncos Training Camp Day 13 Report: Offensive Line Shuffles Around

Denver's offensive line was shuffled around at practice on Thursday.

The Denver Broncos were back on the practice field on Tuesday for their final full-padded practice before traveling to San Francisco for their Week 1 preseason match up against the 49ers on Thursday.

The offensive line was shuffled around and the offense as a whole rebounded after a poor team showing on Monday.  Notes and quotes below. 

Attendance and injury report

Tight end Jacob Tamme (quad) was back on the practice field in shorts on Tuesday but did not participate.  Middle linebacker Nate Irving was also back after being excused from practice yesterday. Safety Quinton Carter (knee) was also back, but did not participate.

Offensive tackles Orlando Franklin (hip) and Ryan Clady (shoulder) were both present, while Clady was limited and Franklin participated only in walk-through sessions with the offensive line.

"He’s a pretty tough player and thankfully he ended up OK," coach John Fox said of Franklin.

Broncos Training Camp Day 12 Report: Injuries, Offensive Struggles

Guard Louis Vasquez spent time at right tackle on Monday when Orlando Franklin went down with an injury.

After getting Sunday off, the Denver Broncos returned to Dove Valley on Monday for their twelfth day of training camp.  The team was hit again by the injury bug and the offense at times looked sloppy, as the defense came to play and a surprise receiver turned heads.

Attendance and injury report

Middle linebacker Nate Irving was not present (excused for personal reasons), tight end Joel Dreessen (knee) did not participate as cornerback Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie (ankle), wide receiver Greg Orton (ankle), and running back Jeremiah Johnson (toe) also sat out.

Tackle Ryan Clady was limited.

Left tackle Ryan Clady (shoulder) and safety Quinton Carter (knee) practiced on a limited basis, while right tackle Orlando Franklin (hip) and receiver Quincy McDuffie (hamstring) left the field during practice with injuries.  An MRI after practice for Franklin came back negative.

"(Franklin was) bumped and is being evaluated, so we'll keep you updated," an unworried coach John Fox said of Franklin's injury after practice.

O'Reilly: Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie Out 4-5 Weeks With Ankle Injury

On Wednesday, Denver Broncos cornerback Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie was carted off the field at Dove Valley with what an MRI later revealed to be a high ankle sprain.

"He has done it before, so I am not overly (concerned)," Broncos coach John Fox told USA Today after practice.  "We will just get him healthy and get him back out there."

According to Steven O'Reilly, a Florida-based golf professional who plays flag football with Rodgers-Cromartie in the offseason, DRC will be out approximately four-to-five weeks.

Tweeted O'Reilly on Wednesday afternoon:

Texted with DRC, he's in good spirits, said high ankle sprain, about a month to 5 weeks. Nothing too major
— Steven O'Reilly (@SteveOReilly) July 31, 2013

High ankle sprains are hard to predict, but if DRC does end up being out for five weeks, that would put him on track to return on September 4, a day before the team's season opener against the Baltimore Ravens.

Right now, a realistic date to expect DRC's return by could be the team's Week 2 match on the road against the New York Giants.  In DRC's absence, Chris Harris Jr. is expected to play across from Champ Bailey.

Denver Broncos Rookie DT Sylvester Williams Limps Off Practice Field

On Monday, Denver Broncos rookie defensive tackle Sylvester Williams appeared to have suffered an injury.  According to multiple reports, Williams was seen limping off the field to the training room.

The injury bug continues to bite. Top pick Sylvester Williams hobbled inside the #Broncos facility favoring his left leg
— Brandon Krisztal (@BKDenverSports) July 29, 2013

Coach John Fox will comment on William's injury after practice, which is hopefully just something minor.  On Sunday, the team lost center Dan Koppen for the entire season due to an ACL tear.

Update:  Fox said after practice that Williams has a knee injury that he does not think is serious.

Update II:  Williams' MRI came back negative and he will be "day-to-day" going forward.  His injury is nothing serious.

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.

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.