The next man up for the Broncos’ defense is the second man up. Jared Crick, a sixth-year defensive end the Broncos poached from the Houston Texans to add depth, stepped into a more urgent role Tuesday.

Crick is now Denver’s presumptive starting defensive end after Vance Walker on Monday fell to a season-ending knee injury. Walker himself was a replacement, for Malik Jackson, who left in the offseason for Jacksonville.

“We’ve got guys who are capable of filling in roles,” said Crick, a 6-foot-4, 285-pound end. “Everybody has to take the mind-set that any time of day, they can go in and play well.”

Crick signed a two-year, $4 million free-agent deal with the Broncos in April. It reunited him with defensive coordinator Wade Phillips, who coached Crick in Houston. Crick, who played in college at Nebraska, is a run stopper. He had only two sacks last season, but his 48 tackles were 10th on the team.

“He understands our defense,” Denver coach Gary Kubiak said. “So he’s fit in very quickly. Obviously he’ll move up the ladder now. That’s why we brought him in.”

The Broncos also will consider rookies Adam Gotsis and Kyle Peko and third-year end Darius Kilgo as Walker’s replacements. Or they could settle into a rotation. The Broncos have three weeks of preseason to figure it out — or three weeks of trying to dodge more injuries.

“You’re always massaging positions, situations to get yourself to opening day,” Kubiak said.

Linebacker making a move. Zaire Anderson announced himself early at Broncos training camp when he smashed running back Ronnie Hillman coming through the line. The second-year linebacker used it as a jumping-off point. He now has the attention of his coach.

Kubiak and defensive coordinator Wade Phillips spoke at length about Anderson on the field Tuesday during a morning practice. Anderson is listed No. 2 on the Broncos’ depth chart at inside linebacker, behind Todd Davis.

“He’s one of the players who has come along the furthest,” Kubiak said. “The only thing that held Zaire back is his total understanding of the defense, because he has to make calls. But his effort, how he plays, his reactions are really good, and now he understands the defense and you see a better player.”

49ers en route. The Broncos will practice with and against the San Francisco 49ers over two days this week, starting Wednesday at Dove Valley, before the teams play a preseason game Saturday in Denver. But Kubiak was not ready to name a starting quarterback Tuesday.

“They will both get time and one of them will start,” he said, sarcastically, of Mark Sanchez and Trevor Siemian.

Injury updates. A sizable list of Broncos sat out Tuesday’s morning practice: DL Sylvester Williams (personal matter), DL Darius Kilgo (shoulder), WR Bennie Fowler (elbow) and OL Ty Sambrailo (elbow), along with CB Taurean Nixon, LB Eddie Yarbrough, S Ryan Murphy, OL Robert Myers and OL James Ferentz.