Denver Broncos: Emmanuel Sanders, Matt Paradis ahead of schedule

Denver Broncos center Matt Paradis and wide receiver Emmanuel Sanders are ahead of schedule in recovery from their respective injuries.

Denver Broncos center Matt Paradis and wide receiver Emmanuel Sanders are recovering well from their respective injuries sustained in 2018.

Paradis played in nine games this past season before suffering a fractured fibula that landed him on injured reserve.

It looks like things are progressing well for Paradis, who is now walking without a cast.

Paradis is set for unrestricted free agency in March, so the positive update on his health comes at a great time as teams and agents will undoubtedly be talking later this month at the NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis.

There has been absolutely zero talk of the Broncos negotiating with Paradis’ reps, and the thinking all along has been that Paradis would test the market. So, this is perhaps an update for another team’s fan base down the line.

In addition to a broken fibula, Paradis had double hip surgery prior to the 2017 season and played with the hip injuries the entire year prior.

He was drafted by the Broncos in the sixth round of the 2014 NFL Draft before cracking the lineup as the team’s starting center in 2015 when the Broncos won Super Bowl 50. He hadn’t missed a single snap up until his fractured fibula.

Speaking of shedding boots, Broncos wide receiver Emmanuel Sanders is well ahead of schedule in his recovery from a ruptured Achilles in practice this past year.

Sanders suffered his injury in early December, so to see him without a boot here in the beginning of February is a great sign. He will spend the offseason rehabbing and getting himself ready to hopefully be 100 percent by September, though the way he’s progressing, he might be ready in time for training camp.

Like with Paradis, the Broncos have a decision to make in the coming weeks about Sanders’ involvement on the 2019 roster. He’s due a $10.25 million option from the Broncos before March 13, so any positive development with his health will help his case in getting that option picked up.

Should the Broncos decline Sanders’ option, it would free up the 10.25 million on this year’s salary cap and leave them with a dead money hit of just about $2.7 million.

Even though Sanders’ cap hit ($12.937 million) is quite high, the Broncos’ offense was horrid when he wasn’t part of it the past two seasons and he would be easily the most desirable wide receiver on the open market if they released him.

If nothing else, the Broncos will force some team to trade for Sanders and take on that $10.25 million base salary. He would easily be worth a third-round pick, if not more, even coming off injury. The Detroit Lions just got a third-round pick for Golden Tate, who was having the worst season of his career and on an expiring contract to boot.

It’s possible neither of these guys are with the Broncos in 2019, but for now it’s great to see them progressing well in their return to full strength.