The Denver Broncos avoided disaster with Elvis Dumervil's shoulder, but there's still a chance their starting defensive end will miss Sunday's matchup with San Diego.

Dumervil, who strained his left shoulder in the first quarter of Denver's win over Carolina, did not practice Wednesday as the Broncos prepare for a big AFC West game against the Chargers. If he can't make it onto the practice field Thursday and Friday, Denver will have to go on without him.

"We'll see what tomorrow brings," head coach John Fox told the Denver Post. "It's not a prolonged time supposedly, but we'll see."

If Dumervil—who has seven sacks this season—can't go Sunday, the Broncos will turn to former first-round pick Robert Ayers to fill his spot. Ayers had a sack and two tackles for a loss after coming on for Dumervil last week against the Panthers.

Though the strain may sideline Dumervil for Sunday's game, Denver is thankful that the injury isn't worse. An MRI taken Monday showed no tear in the shoulder, a welcome bit of news given Dumervil's upper-body injury history.

In other Broncos injury news, right guard Chris Kuper put in a limited practice. Kuper, who has a left ankle injury, is expected to miss one more week. Cornerback Tracy Porter, meanwhile, remains out indefinitely after suffering seizure-like symptoms on October 15.