Emmanuel Sanders is targeting Week 1 to return from the Achilles injury that ended his 2018 season last December. He has missed four games in each of the last two seasons.

He declined to put any kind of guarantee on his return to the field, but called the idea of him being ready to go on September 9, “realistic”.

Emmanuel Sanders said being available for the Broncos’ opener “feels realistic” but he’s unwilling to a concrete timetable on his comeback from an Achilles injury. Said he’s confident he can have a Pro Bowl season once ready. — Nicki Jhabvala (@NickiJhabvala) July 1, 2019

However, he aims to have a huge year for the team at 32 years old in what could potentially be his last with the team.

Sanders will likely be out for all of training camp and preseason games, but if he is able to play in the season opener against the Oakland Raiders on Monday Night Football, the Denver Broncos would consider that a huge victory considering how late in the year his injury took place.

New Denver quarterback Joe Flacco would love to have Sanders on the field for that game. Though the two have yet to play together, their veteran experience would likely allow a quick connection to form.

If Sanders isn’t ready, second-year receivers Courtland Sutton and DaeSean Hamilton would be the primary targets in the passing game.

Sanders will be entering his sixth season with the Broncos. He caught 71 passes for 868 yards and four touchdowns last season in just 12 games.