The Broncos are close to getting left guard Ben Powers back on the field.
The veteran, however, will likely not jump right back into a full-time starting role.
Powers was a full participant in practice Friday after limited participation earlier in the week, putting him in line to be activated from injured reserve as soon as Saturday. He is officially listed as questionable.
Powers has missed the past two-plus months of action after tearing his left bicep in early October at Philadelphia.
He had surgery Oct. 6, has been around the team doing conditioning and rehab work on the side field for weeks and began practicing in an official capacity last week.
Whenever Powers returns, though, head coach Sean Payton indicated it may be in a part-time role.
“Understand, there’s always that transition period,” Payton said Friday. “So we’re never going to throw someone in there for 65 (snaps). There’s a transition period for anybody who’s coming off an injury like that.”
That means Alex Palczewski will continue to see at least some time at left guard. After years and years of playing exclusively on the right, “Palcho” is finally starting to settle into life on the left after eight starts of immersion.
Palczewski told The Denver Post this week that the footwork is “starting to feel really comfortable” and that he appreciates left tackle Garett Bolles and center Luke Wattenberg for helping him get comfortable quickly.
“He beared with me,” Palczewski said of Bolles. “I know it was probably extremely frustrating for him, but he’s had my back the entire time, every single day. He’s always there to help me out. We’ve got a lot closer and now we know — it’s a lot more comfortable now. He’s helped out a lot.”
The former undrafted tackle out of Illinois said Wattenberg has been “unbelievable” in communicating with him.
“I think he’s always kind of been a right-sided offensive lineman, so just getting used to the footwork on the left side (is a challenge),” offensive coordinator Joe Lombardi said Thursday. “He’s just got more comfortable and working together with the guys that he’s playing next to. That comes along every week.
“I think he’s played well from the jump and just keeps getting better.”
For now, Palczewski says the left side “feels like home.” He just may have a housemate sooner rather than later.
More moves coming
The Broncos have an open roster spot and typically do their injured reserve placements and activations on that day. The reason they placed safety Brandon Jones on injured reserve Monday is that they needed a roster spot to claim running back Cody Schrader off of waivers from Houston.
Powers or inside linebacker Karene Reid (hamstring, full practice participant all week) will likely be activated Saturday. If Denver wants to activate both, it will have to clear another 53-man roster spot.
Strnad out
Inside linebacker Justin Strnad is the only player on the active roster ruled out of the game due to injury. He hurt his foot against Green Bay while covering a punt.
Want more Broncos news? Sign up for the Broncos Insider to get all our NFL analysis.