ENGLEWOOD, Colo. -- In the last eight days, the Denver Broncos have put three players on injured reserve -- guard Ron Leary (back), safety Justin Simmons (ankle) and quarterback Trevor Siemian (shoulder) -- because their injuries were going to take longer to heal than the Broncos had games remaining.

With just two games left in a disappointing season, that may now be a consideration for wide receiver Emmanuel Sanders as well, given that he has not practiced this week.

“I’m not sure,’’ Broncos coach Vance Joseph said of Sanders' status after Thursday's practice. “He’s really sore still. He’s fought all year for us as far as the ankle. ... It should have been a four-week injury and he came in two weeks for us. He’s been gutting it out for us the last month and a half. But he’s really sore.’’

Sanders left last Thursday night’s win over the Indianapolis Colts because of the injury and it has bothered him for several weeks. He played 39 of the offense’s 79 plays against the Colts as he finished with seven catches for 79 yards.

The previous week, against the New York Jets, Sanders played 47 of 70 snaps. Sanders originally suffered the injury in the Broncos’ Oct. 15 loss to the New York Giants and he missed the next two games before returning to play 29 snaps Nov. 5 against the Philadelphia Eagles.

In the weeks since his injury, Sanders has come up limping after some plays and he had his ankle re-taped against the Colts and tried to go for some additional plays before he was pulled from the game.

Sanders has 47 receptions for 555 yards this season with two touchdowns.