If Josh McDaniels' comment that quarterback Kyle Orton "absolutely" has a chance to start Sunday despite missing practice all week with a left ankle injury is accepted at face value, it's worth looking into what will convince the Broncos to give Orton the start over Chris Simms.

First, unlike Simms last week, Orton shouldn't be rusty if called upon on late notice. He didn't practice with the first-team offense all week, but Simms' problem was that he hadn't practiced with the starting offense all season.

"I don't think it's ideal situation for any player who hasn't practiced, but I think the fact that he's taken all the reps for so many weeks in a row - or most of them - is a benefit," McDaniels said.

McDaniels will have until 90 minutes before the game to turn in his inactive list. Orton will get as much treatment on his ankle as possible before then. One reason he didn't practice Friday was because the team figured more rehabilitation on the ankle was more of a benefit than practicing (and risking injuring it again).

McDaniels said Orton will work out before the deadline for inactives, and would have to show that he can perform all the things that need to be done in the offense before the Broncos decide he is their starter.

"If we feel there's too many things we'll have to make allowances for, and yet Chris had all the reps in practice and did a lot of good things during the course of the week in practice, ultimately it comes down to what we think is going to give ourselves the best opportunity to play the game the way we have to play it to win," McDaniels said. "If Kyle's capable of doing that, then the decision has to be made at that point. If he's not capable of playing at that level, or doing some of the things we need him to be able to do, you go with the guy who has practiced."

McDaniels also alluded to another not-so-publicized but important decision that will need to be made Sunday, and that's if Orton should be inactive or the No. 2 quarterback if he can't start. Rookie Tom Brandstater would be the backup if Orton is inactive.

If Chris Simms gets the start at quarterback for the Broncos on Sunday - and after Kyle Orton missed his third straight practice Friday, it appears that will be the case - he is ready and able.

The latter isn't taken for granted by Simms, who suffered one of the more frightening injuries in recent NFL history in his last start, which came in 2006 with Tampa Bay. A start on Sunday would be a highlight to a pretty incredible comeback story.

"It's very exciting to me, it really is," Simms said today before practice. "I've been through a lot, I've always loved the game of foootball a great deal, and to have it almost taken away from me and to be back in the mix of things is a special time for me. I think it is for my whole family."

Simms will be on the spot if he gets the start. The Broncos need the win against San Diego, the co-leader in the AFC West. Simms is coming off a poor outing, with 13 yards against Washington in the second half last week, but this week he'll take all the first-team repetitions at quarterback.

"It always helps to practice and get those reps under your belt," Simms said. "Get to see the defense a little bit, get some timing and rhythm with the receivers. It'll help someone like me a great deal."

Broncos coach Josh McDaniels said Simms practiced well early in the week, and needed to finish it off well today as the team practiced red zone and two-minute offense.

"He has had two good days of practice," McDaniels said.

Quarterback Kyle Orton will not practice again for the third straight day, but Denver Broncos coach Josh McDaniels didn’t rule out Orton playing on Sunday against San Diego.

Orton has missed practice all week with an injured left ankle. Backup quarterback Chris Simms will get all of the repetitions during practice this week. However, McDaniels was still optimistic Orton could still play this week.

“Absolutely,” McDaniels said.

McDaniels praised Simms, saying he had a good week of practice and the team has confidence in him.

McDaniels said Orton will continue to rehabilitate his ankle, then will be worked out on Sunday morning to determine his chances of playing. Teams have to turn in their inactive list 90 minutes before kickoff.

Most players are inactive if they miss all week of practice, but McDaniels said he thought Orton’s experience practicing with the first-team offense would make it easier for him to play without practicing during the week.

McDaniels said he thought Orton’s rehabilitation was more important than exposing him to a setback during practice.

“We’ll continue working with him and hopefully we’ll be ready to go on Sunday,” McDaniels said.

McDaniels said running back Correll Buckhalter, who missed Thursday’s practice with a knee injury, will return to practice today. Buckhalter and running back LaMont Jordan were both out on Thursday.

Most Denver Broncos fans don't like San Diego quarterback Philip Rivers, and Broncos players have had issues with him as well. Broncos cornerback Champ Bailey, never one to hold back words, wondered a couple years ago how Rivers could talk so much trash without having truly proven himself.

Bailey said he had never seen a quarterback talk so much on the field. That was then.

"I'm used to it now," Bailey said. "It was shocking to see him do it at first. But I know what type of person he is, I've gotten to talk to him a little bit, and he's a competitor."

Wait, have cats and dogs called a truce? Have Bailey and Rivers - who have been Pro Bowl teammates once - struck up a friendship? Bailey's face scrunched into a look that was a mix of bemusement and dismissal when asked.

"I'm not friends with some of the guys in here," Bailey said with a chuckle. "I wouldn't say we're friends. But we don't hate each other."

Bailey said the previous words between the two were "just competitive nature." Also, he didn't think Rivers was any more outspoken than the rest of the Chargers.

"To be honest with you, he's not the only one that talks trash on that team," Bailey said.

Denver Broncos quarterback Kyle Orton was a no-show at practice for the second straight day.

Orton was not present for the portion of practice that is open to the media. Orton has a sprained left ankle, and has one more chance to practice this week. The Broncos have a practice on Friday, which is their final practice before Sunday’s game. Usually Friday’s practice is the lightest of the week. Most players don’t play if they haven’t practiced during the week, but McDaniels said he has no set rule on whether someone can play after not practicing.

The Broncos are not giving up hope that Orton can play Sunday. The winner of the Broncos-Chargers game will be in sole possession of first place in the AFC West.

“We’d love for him to be out there as soon as he can possibly be out there, and very hopeful he’s going to play,” McDaniels said.

Orton did not practice on Wednesday either. Chris Simms replaced Orton in the second half of Sunday’s game against Washington and is in line to replace Orton if needed. Both quarterbacks were unavailable to the media today.

McDaniels sounded as if the Broncos are hoping for an improvement in Orton’s ankle the next few days. Orton couldn’t practice, but McDaniels didn’t want to make his decision based on how Orton felt today.

“He’s feeling better,” McDaniels said. “We’re going to see if he can do much today, then continue on his rehab schedule. Certainly not making any determinations based on where he’s at now.”

McDaniels said Simms practiced well on Wednesday, and seemed to gain confidence as the session went on. Simms completed only three passes for 13 yards in the second half of Sunday’s loss to Washington.

Orton said Wednesday that he wants to get back on the field as soon as he is physically able.

"I came back last year as soon as I could and I’ll do the same this year," Orton said.

While all of the attention this week has been on quarterback Kyle Orton's ankle (he was not present at the open period of practice today after missing practice Wednesday), the Broncos have some questions at running back too.

Correll Buckhalter, who was limited with a knee injury on Wednesday, was not present during the open portion of practice today. Neither was LaMont Jordan, who missed yesterday's practice with a back injury.

Those injuries left Knowshon Moreno and Peyton Hillis as the only healthy tailbacks from the 53-man roster practicing today. The Broncos also have running back Lance Ball on the practice squad.

Moreno could see his workload increase again if Buckhalter and Jordan are out. Last week against Washington, Moreno got all of the tailback carries after Buckhalter lost a first-quarter fumble. The two had been splitting time before last week. Broncos coach Josh McDaniels reiterated today he was comfortable with Moreno and Buckhalter, but Moreno was playing well so he stayed in most of the game, with Buckhalter playing a situational role.

Moreno had 97 yards last week when he got a majority of the carries.

"I was able to get in a groove, but even with the rotation I can get in a groove," Moreno said. "I feel pretty good with that."

Broncos coach Josh McDaniels said he didn't know of a team that has flipped its left tackle to the right side based on starting a left-handed quarterback. And even if another team has done it, he won't.

Along with everything else in the game plan this week, not much will change for the Broncos if Chris Simms has to start instead of Kyle Orton, who missed practice Wednesday with a left ankle injury. McDaniels said the line won't be affected at all.

"If we feel like we need to do something different on the backside of a player, whether he be left handed or right handed, than that is up to us as a staff to do that, but I don’t think the preparation for the linemen, in general, is going to be much different," McDaniels said. "They’ve got to still block the same guys, and the protections that we use, we use protections where we slide left, where we slide right, where the left tackle is singled (and) where the right tackle is singled, and we do that when we have either quarterback in the game.

"That shouldn’t make a difference in terms of what we’re doing and how we’re preparing. They’ve got to do their assignment the same no matter what hand the guy throws with."

Quarterback Kyle Orton said he “wasn’t even close” to 100 percent when he came back after missing one game because of an ankle injury last year. He said it as matter-of-factly as possible. He knows that players oftentimes have to play through plenty of pain from injuries. Orton has shown he is a tough player, and as such he will return this week from a sprained ankle - if he can.

"I came back last year as soon as I could and I’ll do the same this year," Orton said.

His statistics diminished last year after he came back from the injury, but he didn’t think he came back from the injury too soon.

“This sport, you’ve got to play when you’re dinged up, and quarterback is no different,” Orton said. “Did my play go down or whatever? I don’t know, that’s opinion I guess.”

Record: 6-3

Last week: Beat Philadelphia 31-23

Series vs. Broncos: Denver leads 54-44-1

OFFENSE: The Chargers have run the ball a little better recently, but this is still Philip Rivers' team. Rivers is one of the top quarterbacks in the NFL and a master of the deep ball. His top target is Vincent Jackson, who has 732 yards and seven touchdowns. Tight end Antonio Gates isn't far behind - he has 668 yards. Rivers had a good first half against Denver in the first meeting but slowed down when the Broncos started pressuring him, and the Broncos need to hurry him in the pocket if they want to win. The Chargers still rank 32nd in the NFL in rushing offense. LaDainian Tomlinson has rarely shown his hall-of-fame form, although he had two touchdowns and almost 100 yards last week.

DEFENSE: The Chargers did a good job against Denver's run game in the first meeting, but allowed 101 yards to tight end Tony Scheffler. Broncos quarterback Kyle Orton had a solid game with 229 yards and a pair of touchdowns. San Diego is coming off a game in which it gave up 450 passing yards to Donovan McNabb. The Chargers are getting more out of outside linebacker Shawne Merriman than they were earlier this season, which helps the defense.

SPECIAL TEAMS: San Diego's special teams gave up two touchdowns to Eddie Royal in the first meeting. The Chargers also got a punt return for a touchdown from Darren Sproles. San Diego has the ability to control a game with its special teams, from dangerous returner Sproles to the fantastic kicker-punter duo of Nate Kaeding and Mike Scifres. They did a good job last week covering kicks against the Eagles' dangerous return game.

On Monday, Broncos coach Josh McDaniels again addressed one of the key plays in Denver's loss to Washington, a fake field goal that was converted into a touchdown pass.

The play was well designed, with fullback Mike Sellers coming across the formation and sneaking into the open field. Punter Hunter Smith made a nice throw across the field. What made the play a bit more troubling for the Redskins was they showed a fake, then had to call timeout because they had only 10 men on the field. Then after the timeout they ran the fake and scored.

"We were prepared for a gadget," McDaniels said. "We would love to check out of the front we were in and go to something different. We didn’t get that necessarily done. We had too many people in coverage, not enough people rushing. It was well-designed on their part, but it’s no excuse. We have to play it better, and we can play it better. We just didn’t on that play."