DNP – Did Not Participate; LP – Limited Participation; FP – Full Participation; NL – Not Listed

Changes from Thursday’s report in bold. Chargers report after the jump.

While it’s hard to take Josh McDaniels‘ claims that, if he feels up to it, QB Kyle Orton will start on Sunday against San Diego despite missing a week of practice seriously, the coach continues to insist this is the case.

The New York Times’ Fifth Down Blog wonders aloud what type of message this sends Chris Simms.

The Josh McDaniels dossier is still being written, so it’s hard to tell how the Broncos will react after scoring only 34 points in the past three weeks and losing their edge on defense. McDaniels must show he can lead his team through its first rash of injuries. Kyle Orton has not been ruled out for Sunday despite his bad ankle, showing that the coach has little faith in the shell-shocked backup Chris Simms.

It’s an interesting point. We think Simms will certainly play better this week than he did under fire last week, but does McDaniels feel the same? Is McDaniels showing a lack of faith in his backup by dragging Orton’s name along, or is he reaffirming Orton as the starter, who was coming under fire before his first half heroics at Washington? Or, is McDaniels simple playing injury report Patriots games? What do you think?

Quarterback Kyle Orton has been held out of practice for a third straight day with a severely sprained left ankle, but that hasn’t kept him and head coach Josh McDaniels from hoping Orton can play Sunday.

“Absolutely,” McDaniels told reporters before practice Friday. “We’ll continue working with him and hopefully we’ll be ready to go on Sunday.”

McDaniels said Orton will be listed as questionable, and the plan is to test out Orton’s ankle before the game on Sunday. If he can’t go, Chris Simms will get the start.

In the Mike Shanahan days, missing a week of practice meant there was zero chance of playing Sunday. While we find it unlikely McDaniels would give the keys to his offense’s Camaro Camry without a test drive all week (hey — scoring 34 points in three weeks downgrades your offense’s vehicular metaphor), we’ll just have to wait and see.

Orton will miss practice again [Colorado Springs Gazette]

If you didn’t watch the Dolphins beat down the Panthers last night you may have missed the halftime interview.  Here is Rich Eisen and Deion Sanders interviewing Brandon Marshall on the status of Kyle Orton, his terms with Josh McDaniels,  the status of the team, and his relationship with Jay Cutler.  He’s a pretty good sport throughout the process.

ESPN: 9th
Unraveling at the wrong time, facing a rematch with San Diego and with backup QB Chris Simms at the helm.

CBS: 8th
It’s amazing how quickly their season has turned around. Now they play the Chargers with a gimpy Kyle Orton and first place on the line.

FOX: 8th
Before all your catcalls to drop the Broncos big-time after their third straight loss, here’s the deal: Denver had basically dominated a first half against the Redskins that would have finished 17-7 or 17-10 if not for giving up a fluky field goal for touchdown. But really, backup QB Chris Simms (3-for-11 with an INT) was so uncomfortably bad that it’s fair to say he cost the Broncos a win. Denver put up 17 points and 269 yards vs. the Redskins in the first half with Kyle Orton, but 0 points and 36 yards with Simms.

NFL.com: 9th-18th
Eight panelists post their individual power rankings.

USA Today: 10th
Three-game slide could worsen if Kyle Orton must sit.

Around the NFL

• Jared Allen harnesses the power of his bad ass mullet.  [FanDome]
• The Bears have denied franchise access to NBC for coverage of Sunday Night’s game.  [FanHouse]

DNP – Did Not Participate; LP – Limited Participation; FP – Full Participation; NL – Not Listed

Changes from Wednesday’s report in bold. Chargers report after the jump.

It’s looking less and less likely that Kyle Orton will suit up against the San Diego Chargers Sunday. While Josh McDaniels said he is “very hopeful” Orton will play, the signal-caller continues to be held out of practice with a severely sprained left ankle.

Orton missed Thursday’s practice, reports the Denver Post’s Mike Klis, the second consecutive session that saw backup Chris Simms receive the starting quarterback reps.

Running backs Correll Buckhalter and Lamont Jordan continue to miss time as well. Back at practice were Brandon Marshall and S Josh Barrett, who both served integral roles in the Broncos’ Week 6 win against San Diego.

It looks like Chris Simms might be getting his first career start since 2006, and the stakes couldn’t be higher.

Orton out again; Marshall returns [Denver Post]

You can’t blame a certain Denver columnist for sticking to his guns.

In his latest mailbag, the Post’s venerable wordsmith maintains that Chris Simms should have started instead of Kyle Orton, citing “thoughtful research” (read: Simms was better in one week of the preseason) and “observation” (read: Woody attended training camp twice) in concluding Simms “might provide” a lift. That’s fine, Woody, have your opinion, and stick with it.

But then, presumably after Paige read our piece pointing out the holes in his logic, he throws a pointed barb our way. Take a look [sic, emphasis added]:

I give my opinion, which is based on sound information, thoughtful research and observation, unlike some kid in Arizona who is a Broncos fan and writes a blog, without proper grammar or punctuation or understanding, from his mom’s laundry room and think he knows what he’s talking about, and people actually pay attention.

How did Woody know I write from my mom’s laundry room? Creepy…

(Also note that it certainly isn’t my “family’s laundry room,” or my “dad’s.” It’s my mom’s, because that’s where a woman belongs.)

Of course I don’t run BT from any laundry room. I am a kid, though (age 25); I own and live in a home in Arizona, and have every intent of moving back to Colorado some day, which is where I was born.

Despite the geographical disadvantage, I did attend training camp (every session for the first 10 or so days). I came into the process with a completely open mind about which quarterback should start. I let my eyes do the scouting, and concluded absolutely — purely after watching practice — that Kyle Orton is right where he belongs.

Paige was nowhere to be found while I was scouting Denver’s quarterbacks. I saw Paige at practice once for certain, possibly twice. In fact, I’ve heard Woody is hardly seen at Dove Valley at all these days.

I’m 788 miles away. What’s his excuse?

Finally, regarding my lack of “proper grammar or punctuation,” I would invite Mr. Paige to look in the mirror. If he’s going to accuse someone of such, he should try running his own columns through the spellcheck first.

I do know what I am talking about, Broncos fans, even if Woody Paige think I don’t.

Woody’s Mailbag: Broncos broken down [Denver Post]
The Simmsational Woody Paige [BroncoTalk]