Demaryius Thomas hobbled his way through a Broncos practice Wednesday at Dove Valley with limited field time. And the Broncos are trying desperately to get him square to face the Indianapolis Colts on Sunday in Denver.

The Broncos’ No. 1 wide receiver continually rapped a fist at his injured left hip during practice and, at one point, he stopped to take a knee after running a hard route. Thomas was involved for only about 33 percent of the Broncos’ practice, coach Gary Kubiak said.

“I know he’s sore. He’s been sore,” Kubiak said. “But we’ve had a few days extra (after a season-opening Thursday game). Now it’s a matter of working through it.”

Thomas injured his hip in the first quarter against the Carolina Panthers last Thursday night. He did not practice with the team Monday. The Broncos’ medical personnel gave him a clean diagnosis after he received an magnetic resonance imaging test Friday. Thomas sought a second opinion Monday, according to ESPN.

Thomas returned to the field for the first time in six days Wednesday, but looked in pain for parts of practice. Thomas declined to talk, but said he will update his progress Thursday.

“He looked OK with what we asked him to do,” Kubiak said. “We’re going to take it a step at a time this week. We knew we had him set for certain plays at practice and tomorrow we’ll pick it up.”

Thomas returned to Thursday’s game and played through pain for 44 snaps, about 76 percent of the Broncos’ offensive plays. He caught four passes for 48 yards. He was the Broncos’ leading receiver last season, with 105 receptions for 1,304 yards.

Kubiak said he is planning on Thomas playing Sunday.

“I’m expecting him to be there,” the coach said. “DT has been through some of this before.”

Fowler in full. Wide receiver Bennie Fowler returned from an elbow injury for a brief spell to begin practice, but he sat out the bulk of plays, so the Broncos officially listed him as “did not participate.”

“I know DT is struggling with his hip right now,” said Fowler, who was in uniform with a brace still on his right elbow. “But I can’t rush it at all.”

Fowler said he will continue to wear the brace for “a week or two.”

Footnotes. Tight end Jeff Heuerman (ankle) also had limited field time. Offensive lineman Ty Sambrailo (elbow) practiced in full… Veteran defensive end Vance Walker underwent surgery Tuesday to repair a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee. He will miss the season on injured reserve… Denver was No. 1 among all major television markets with a 46.9 rating for Week 1 in the NFL.