The Broncos have tried to keep things lively this week, with coach John Fox leaning on the competitiveness of his starters.

Denver’s No. 1 offense and No. 1 defense have worked against each other, including red-zone drills Thursday.

Linebacker Wesley Woodyard said Peyton Manning has kept up the intensity across the board.

“He’s excited about a practice (in shorts),” Woodyard said. “I’ve never seen a quarterback like that. If we come out here and finally face him in practice, he will embarrass us and that’s something we don’t want to do.

“We don’t want to get embarrassed anytime we play, so it’s definitely a game-time situation anytime we play him out here.”

Woodyard said Manning scored on a quarterback sneak Wednesday and was trash talking to cornerback Chris Harris.

Kudos for Ray Lewis. Broncos defensive coordinator Jack Del Rio called Lewis, Baltimore’s star linebacker who is retiring after this season, “a phenomenal player.” Del Rio was the Baltimore linebackers coach from 1999-2001.

“He prepares defensively a lot like what I watch Peyton do offensively,” Del Rio said of Lewis. “When I came into linebackers meetings on a Wednesday, Ray would already have five games watched and all the cut-ups watched and be talking about tendencies, ideas and thoughts. The passion he’s played with for such a long time is incredible.

“I would go out in pregame (warm-ups). I would go out to watch the opponents look for him. It was like an animal in the jungle looking for the lion … they felt like they had to find the lion.”

If the Texans and Ravens win this weekend, the Ravens play the Broncos in Denver on Jan. 12.

Injury report. Offensive tackle Ryan Clady didn’t participate in practice Thursday. The Broncos don’t have to make a formal injury report until Tuesday, but Clady isn’t expected to miss their playoff opener. He had a hamstring injury this season, but didn’t miss a game. He hasn’t missed a game during his NFL career.

Wide receiver and kick returner Trindon Holliday (ankle) participated in drills for the first time this week. Cornerback Tracy Porter (concussion) was held out.

Footnotes. Del Rio said he hasn’t been contacted about any of the seven available head coaching jobs in the league. “(Denver’s) a great spot, a great group of guys I’m working with and I’m happy with my job here. I’m having fun doing what I’m doing now,” he said. … Linebacker Von Miller said he is looking forward to watching Redskins rookie quarterback Robert Griffin III play against the Seahawks this weekend. “Great quarterback, great all season, great offense vs. a great defense,” Miller said.