Broncos receivers ready without Marshall

ENGLEWOOD • Darrell Jackson's injured ankle still doesn't feel too good. The veteran receiver admits that if even if the Denver Broncos didn't sit all their key veterans in the preseason finale last week, he probably couldn't have played anyway.

This week, Jackson doesn't have much choice. Brandon Marshall is suspended, which puts more pressure on the remaining receivers. There aren't many left. The Broncos kept only four receivers on the roster - Marshall doesn't count against the 53-man roster during his suspension - when they cut down Saturday. Denver plays its season opener at Oakland on Monday night.

"It's still healing up, getting better, and hopefully by game time it'll feel all the way right," Jackson said about his ankle. "If it's not, you just have to suck it up."

Denver's plan early in preseason was to use Jackson as a starter during Marshall's suspension. Jackson is still listed as the starter on the depth chart. The other option would be Keary Colbert, who started training camp slow but finished with a 105-yard game in Denver's preseason finale. Rookie Eddie Royal will start at the other receiver spot and Brandon Stokley will see plenty of playing time as the inside receiver.

The receivers know that without Marshall, who caught 102 passes last season and led the Broncos with two receiving touchdowns in the preseason, they all have to contribute. After the last preseason game, Marshall said he wasn't worried.

"At the wide receiver position we're so deep it's not going to be a dropoff," Marshall said. "We all bring something to the table that's a little different. I'm excited to see those guys go out there and play and make big plays against Oakland."

The Raiders have a tough cornerback duo in Nnamdi Asomugha and DeAngelo Hall, and Marshall won't be in the lineup to command extra attention from the safeties. Quarterback Jay Cutler will probably have to spread the ball around to his remaining targets.

"We've got playmakers all over the board," Royal said. "If one guy is down the other one is going to step up. We look forward to challenges like these."

Royal will be one of the players on the spot. He had an excellent training camp and made some nice catches in the preseason, but Monday will be his regularseason debut. The Broncos will need him to make plays, but Royal figures he won't be alone.

"I want to be a playmaker for this offense and I want to make plays for my team," Royal said. "Hopefully I get a chance to do that. We have a lot of weapons on offense so I'm sure we're going to be spreading the ball around."

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Contact the writer: 476-4891 or frank.schwab@gazette.com

MONDAY
Denver at Oakland, 8:15 p.m., ESPN, 850 AM