Broncos likely finished after Emmanuel Sanders injury

Emmanuel Sanders apparently tore his left Achilles tendon on Wednesday at practice. With that news, the Broncos season is effectively over.

After being helped off the field on Wednesday during practice, Denver Broncos wide receiver Emmanuel Sanders is reportedly done for the year with a torn Achilles tendon.

Sanders, 31, has enjoyed another fine season in Denver. The veteran has 71 catches for 868 yards and four touchdowns. Sanders has easily been the Broncos most explosive receiver, especially after the midseason trade of Demaryius Thomas to the Houston Texans. While rookie Courtland Sutton looks like he’s going to make waves in coming years, the loss of Sanders leaves Denver without much of a passing game.

At 6-6, the Broncos are still hoping to make the playoffs. They trail the Baltimore Ravens by one game for the final wild card spot in the AFC, but the schedule is favorable. Denver has road games with the San Francisco 49ers and Oakland Raiders, along with a Week 15 home date against the Cleveland Browns. In Week 17, the Broncos are home to the Los Angeles Chargers, who might very well be locked into the fifth seed by that point.

Still, winning out without Sanders on the field is a tall order for a team  star running back Phillip Lindsay and little else on the side of the ball.

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As for Sanders, the injury couldn’t come at a worse time. The Broncos are transitioning to a younger core, and with only one year left on his current contract and no guaranteed money, it wouldn’t be shocking if Denver releases him in the offseason. Considering the timing of the injury, Sanders might be hard-pressed to play Week 1 of the 2019 season.