The Denver Broncos will start the regular season without Champ Bailey.
The veteran cornerback has been ruled out for the Thursday night season opener against the Baltimore Ravens, the Broncos confirmed Wednesday.
It's an expected development for Bailey, who's been unable to participate in a full practice since suffering a sprained left foot during an Aug. 17 preseason game.
The Broncos know they have to take extra precaution with Bailey, who remains a starter in John Fox's defense despite his status as a 14-year veteran. It's certainly possible that Bailey will sit out longer than one week, though that could be determined by how Chris Harris and Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie perform in his absence.
"I do believe we acquired a really good football player in Dominique," Broncos defensive coordinator Jack Del Rio said, according to The Denver Post. "But we also have one that's going to be sitting out in Champ. We'll tee it up and play. I'm not really big on making predictions. I'm big on getting our guys ready to the best of their ability, going out there and competing."
The Broncos have the potential for a very strong secondary if Bailey can get healthy and Rodgers-Cromartie can recapture whatever he lost in Philadelphia. Both players are question marks for the time being.
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