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Peyton Manning to make preseason debut Saturday night

That’s like a game and a half for former tight end Julius Thomas, who came on as an unknown basketball player, exploded into one of the most productive and well-loved TEs in the business, and then had a tremendous fall from grace as he asked for a ton of money and Denver elected to let him go in free agency. Manning left the game with just under 13 minutes remaining in the second quarter.

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“He operated fine”, Kubiak said of Manning.

Manning, forced to take some days off this summer, wants to work up a sweat in Houston – whether or not J.J. Watt is staring him down from scrimmage or the sideline. We had a couple of big drops on the three or four series when he played…

“I thought he’s had a really good week”. Obviously, they’re going to gain experience throughout the course of the season.

“He’s really turned it on this week”, Manning said. Outside linebacker Kourtnei Brown had a game-changing interception that he returned 69 yards for the Texans lone touchdown of the night. A 26-yard touchdown catch by Corbin Louks from rookie Trevor Siemian put Denver on top 14-10 late.

Saturday’s contest matters only for evaluation, viewing quarterback Peyton Manning in an important snapshot with his inexperienced offensive line. In fact, Anderson has spent his life pointed toward this moment – his first season as a starter, in an offense that evolved last season into more of a power run attack, after he gained 849 rushing yards and scored eight touchdowns in only seven starts last season. He will work with the first team, minus receiver Emmanuel Sanders who likely will sit out with a hamstring injury. Aside from my mother dwelling about 5 miles from the stadium, it’s going to be all enterprise. He failed to move the offense, and the Texans punted on his two possessions. Also, Hoyer falling on his face would help the cause. Coach Bill O’Brien said the competition remains “very even”. “To me, he looks like D.T. [I am] looking forward to getting out there with him on Saturday night”. “It confuses me, because I’ve been the most consistent corner in the NFL”.

“My mentality is I’m a guard”, Vasquez said during OTA’s last April, “I would love to stay inside the trenches”.

The window is closing quickly for Manning as “Father Time” is coming for him, as it is for all of us, but he still has the tools to be one of the best gunslingers in the NFL.

Outside linebacker Brandon Marshall and receiver Demaryius Thomas both played for the first time this preseason. He’s leaner than he’s been in years, and his passes in practice have had an extra zip to them. He prefers to have players take ownership when practice veers, but has no problem exerting his authority. A close second was Manning’s scramble for a 1-yard run. “It was good to go out and get my feet wet”.

“You can see from the way he played today and the way he played last week”.

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Cornerback Johnathan Joseph, 31, didn’t play against the 49ers last week. He was held out of the preseason opener in Seattle as the Broncos monitor his workload. Check out some of the highlights, via the team’s official web site. James also downed a punt by Shane Lechler on the Broncos 2-yard line early in the second quarter. Denver led 14-10 with 1:44 left in the game.

Travis Labhart's battlefightin Ron ChenoyUSA TODAY Sports