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On Sunday, when the Broncos host the Oakland Raiders, it will be the last time that the Peyton Manning-led offense will be without tight end Virgil Green, as he'll be free to rejoin the team beginning on Monday.
Green was handed a four-game suspension in March for being in violation of the league's performance enhancing policy and subsequently had to sit out each of the team's first three games and will again sit out on Sunday. After that, the team will again have the second-year tight end and another valuable part of their offense back in action.
With just three receptions for 24 yards in 2011 and four receptions for 72 yards during the 2012 preseason, he hasn't proven to be a dynamic receiving threat so far in his career. Where his impact will likely be most seen, though, is in the running game where Mike Klis of the Denver Post called him the team's best blocking tight end.
The 1-2 Broncos have relied mostly on Joel Dreessen at the tight end position in Green's absence, and Dreessen has five receptions for 58 yards and a touchdown through three games so far.