The Broncos report for training camp in mid-July. Will veteran receiver Emmanuel Sanders be on the field for the first practice?
“We’ll see,” Sanders said Tuesday night at a Broncos event in conjunction with Special Olympics Colorado.
The Broncos’ best receiver last year, Sanders tore his Achilles during a Dec. 5 practice, making this week the six-month mark of his rehabilitation. Last week on Instagram, he posted a video of him running at a good rate.
“When I do run full speed, I feel good,” Sanders said. “I wouldn’t say we’re ahead of schedule, I wouldn’t say we’re behind schedule. I just feel like we’re somewhere in between. We’ll see how it goes once I start running routes and how I feel to see if I’m ready to go.”
Sanders, 32, is entering the final year of his contract so the urgency to get healthy and stay healthy before free agency arrives is obvious.
“You know how trainers are,” Sanders said. “We’re not going to put a date on anything. We’re going to take it one day at a time and hopefully I’m back out there. But if I’m not, I’m not going to rush it. I’m going to make sure I’m 100 percent by the time I get back on the field.”
The Broncos were 6-6 when Sanders was injured. They did not win again. Sanders still led the Broncos in catches (71) and receiving yards (868).
Sanders said he has not started running the entire route tree, but recently added lateral movements to his work.
“It’s been feeling good,” he said. “Still sore every now and then.”
Working in his fourth offense in as many years, Sanders said offensive coordinator Rich Scangarello’s playbook reminds him of Bruce Arians’ when Sanders was with the Pittsburgh Steelers.
“I think it fits me well,” he said. “We’re not going to be spread out wide all the time. It’s going to be very condensed, but we’ll still be able to use the whole field and make (defensive backs) defend the whole field. I’ll be able to showcase my speed.”
Sanders and several other Broncos players, including fellow receivers Courtland Sutton, DaeSean Hamilton, quarterback Joe Flacco, left tackle Garett Bolles, safety Justin Simmons, center Connor McGovern led kids through several drills.
Before the event, Sanders, through his foundation, donated 300 athletic jerseys to the Special Olympics.
“I always told myself once I got to a certain level and reached a certain platform, I would always give back so that’s what I’m doing now,” Sanders said.
Sanders said the next potential step for his foundation is providing funds to pay for tutoring and the fees for a student’s ACT and SAT tests.
