Bronco notes: Burton takes one for the team

ENGLEWOOD, Colo. — The Broncos were in a roster bind and Michael Burton bailed them out.

The bind: Backup offensive guard Calvin Throckmorton had used up his three allotted practice-squad game-day elevations. So to use him again this Sunday at Baltimore meant he had to be on the active 53-man roster.

Thanks to Burton, room was made. Burton, a 10-year fullback, was released Friday from the Broncos’ 53-man roster in what essentially was a procedural move. Not subject to waivers, Burton is officially a free agent who will be re-signed to the Broncos’ practice squad Saturday and be elevated for the game Sunday against the Ravens.

Burton was also a practice-squad elevation in the Broncos’ season-opener at Seattle.

Throckmorton has only played three offensive snaps in the three games he has been elevated. He’s also been in on 12 special teams snaps. But Throckmorton would be the first one in if any of the Broncos’ two starting guards, Ben Powers and Quinn Meinerz, or center Alex Forsyth are shaken up for a few plays.

Starting safety P.J. Locke will miss his second consecutive game Sunday because of a thumb injury. Devon Key will once again start in his place. There is hope Locke can return and play next Sunday against the Kansas City Chiefs at Arrowhead Stadium. …

Ravens’ quarterback Lamar Jackson returned to practice Friday after missing the workouts Wednesday and Thursday to, as he put it, rest his body. He said he will play Sunday, as the Broncos anticipated. “Yes, 100 percent,’’ Jackson told Baltimore reporters.