ENGLEWOOD, Colo. -- The Denver Broncos are preparing for 2016 without their starting defensive end while anticipating the return of one of their most important defenders.The loss of veteran Vance Walker to a torn ACL in his right knee has given some young players a chance to move into his starting role. Meanwhile, linebacker DeMarcus Ware, who participated in drills Tuesday, is expected to return to practice within a week.Hes real close, coach Gary Kubiak said. I think youll see him be a part of the team here in about four, five days. Hes made that much progress. So hopefully next week Im talking to you guys about him.Ware has not practiced yet while dealing with back issues. He was placed on the non-football injury/illness list at the start of training camp, but the sight of him on the hill beyond practice Tuesday was a sign that he is almost back.It was good news for the Broncos after a tough day Monday. Walker went down early in practice and was carted off the field. An MRI revealed the torn ACL that will most likely cost him the season.Its huge losing Vance. He was a great rotational guy for us last year, cornerback Chris Harris Jr. said. We have so much depth on the D-line, one of those young guys will have a great opportunity to step up.Jared Crick is getting the first crack at taking over Walkers spot. Crick played four years with Houston before Denver signed him as an unrestricted free agent in April.Im taking the same mindset, no matter where Im at on the field or what my role is, Crick said. When it comes to game time, wherever they put me thats fine. Ill know Ive prepared the right way. If everybody prepares like a starter, the second they get into the game theyre fine.He will get a chance to impress when the Broncos practice against San Francisco on Wednesday and Thursday ahead of the teams preseason game in Denver on Saturday night. The practices against the 49ers are expected to be physical, so the Broncos held a light, 90-minute practice Tuesday without pads or helmets.We had a good practice (Monday) in pads and pretty quick and light today, Kubiak said.The Broncos are looking forward to hitting another team after spending most of the last three weeks going at each other. The strain of training camp showed Monday when Harris and wide receiver Emmanuel Sanders got into a fight at the end of a play in which they were matched up against each other.The players shook hands before practice ended.Its football, man, Harris said. Were good.Saturdays game will have more star power for Denver. Linebacker Von Miller and guard Russell Okung are expected to play after sitting out against Chicago on Thursday, and Harris also could get in.Kubiak indicated he will use the same plan for his quarterbacks against the 49ers. Mark Sanchez played the first quarter against the Bears, Trevor Siemian played the second and rookie Paxton Lynch ran the team in the second half.Cornerback Aqib Talib has been going through full practices but will not play against San Francisco. Kubiak said the goal is to have him play in the third preseason game, against the Los Angeles Rams.Game notes NT Sylvester Williams was excused from practice for personal reasons. ... S Ryan Murphy and CB Taurean Nixon were again held out of practice. Cheap NMD Shoes For Sale . -- Matt Ryan needed one of the best games of his career to lead the Falcons and their depleted offence out of their three-game losing streak last week. Cheap NMD . As the crowd erupted, Davis knocked the ball off the glass and back into his hands. With 1:14 to go in overtime, Davis sixth block also became his 17th rebound. That, along with his 32 points -- which tied a career high -- proved too much for Denver to overcome, and the Pelicans held on for their third straight victory, 111-107 on Sunday night. http://www.cheapnmd.net/ . The All-Pro lineman got the leg bent under him while trying to make a tackle during the first half of a 22-20 overtime loss at Miami on Thursday night. The medical staff initially thought hed torn the ligament, and the test a day later in Cincinnati confirmed it. NMD Cheap Authentic . -- Timbers coach Caleb Porter didnt stray from his business-like approach to the season even after Portland downed the two-time defending league champion Los Angeles Galaxy to gain crucial playoff position. Cheap Real NMD Shoes . Nigeria beat surprise package Ethiopia 2-0 in the second leg of their playoff for a comfortable 4-1 aggregate victory. Victor Moses converted a 20th-minute penalty after an Ethiopian handball, and Victor Obinna made certain of Nigerias place in Brazil with his powerful free kick in the 82nd at UJ Esuene Stadium. ST. LOUIS -- Steven Brault has been compared by some to Mark Buehrle, and if he has anywhere near the major league career Buehrle enjoyed, the Pittsburgh Pirates will be better for it.With Tuesday nights probable starter, Jameson Taillon (right shoulder fatigue), hitting the 15-day disabled list after Pittsburghs 4-2 win Monday over the St. Louis Cardinals, Brault is expected to be called up from Triple-A Indianapolis to make his first big league start when the teams continue their four-game series.Described as a pitch to contact guy by one scouting report, Brault is 2/3 with a 3.00 earned run average over nine minor league starts this year, eight at Indianapolis. Although his fastball tops out at 91 mph, Brault has fanned 49 hitters in 39 innings.Brault fits the profile of the kind of pitcher that has given St. Louis fits at times the last three-plus years -- a crafty left-hander who changes speeds and spins, keeping the opposition off-balance.Jonathon Niese certainly did that Monday, limiting the Cardinals (43-39) to seven hits and a run in 5 2/3 innings as he earned the win. It was the third time on St. Louis nine-game homestand that a starting pitcher with an ERA over 5.00 had limited the club to a run or less while on the bump.I dont know what to make of that, Cardinals manager Mike Matheny said. Any guy in this league has the potential to put something together. I think we treat them all with the same respect.As Taillon, who was 2-1 with a 3.86 ERA in his first five MLB starts, goes on the shelf, the Pirates (42-41) might be on the verge of welcoming their top starting pitcher back to the fold.ddddddddddddRight-hander Gerrit Cole (5-4, 2.77), who went on the 15-day DL June 14 with a right triceps strain, is scheduled to make his first rehab start Tuesday night for Indianapolis. Cole is expected to throw three innings or 50 pitches, according to manager Clint Hurdle.Whats more, Pittsburgh right-hander Ryan Vogelsong (facial fractures), who is on the 60-day DL after being beaned May 23, will pitch a simulated game Tuesday. His battery mate will be none other than catcher Francisco Cervelli (broken left hamate bone), whos been on the 15-day DL since June 11.Even with all the injuries, the Pirates have won five straight and are over .500 for the first time since June 15. One major reason has been the bullpen, which worked an MLB-best 34 straight scoreless innings before giving up a run in the ninth inning Monday.The roll theyre on now is kind of crazy, Hurdle said. But these guys have had success before. Theyre in a good place right now. Theyre going to continue to work and feed off one another.Pittsburgh faces a historically tough matchup Tuesday night when St. Louis sends Mike Leake (5-6, 4.13) to the bump. Leake, whos coming off a 4-2 loss Thursday night against Kansas City, is 9-4 with a 3.13 ERA in 26 career starts against the Pirates, winning eight of his last nine decisions against them. ' ' '