The Denver Broncos just announced today's inactives, which include kicker Matt Prater and safety Brian Dawkins:
Broncos Inactives; Prater, Dawkins, Maroney, Vaughn, Olsen, D.Thomas, Veikune, Orton is the 3rd QB. #fb
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Steve Hauschka filled in for Prater last week and will take over kicking duties again this afternoon. Brian Dawkins will miss his third game in the row. Rookie wide receiver Demaryius Thomas will miss his fourth straight game.
Kyle Orton was not declared inactive; rather he was designated as the team's third quarterback. Basically, this is a way to say that the only way Orton will play today is if both Tim Tebow and his backup, Brady Quinn, are injured.
Under NFL rules, if the third quarterback enters the game before the fourth quarter, the other two quarterbacks are ineligible to return to the game. However, there is no penalty if the third quarterback is used in the fourth quarter.
Orton does not count toward the 45-man active roster today under the NFL's third quarterback rule.