Julius Thomas grateful for bye week break

Tight end Julius Thomas has admitted that the bye week that the Denver Broncos enjoyed last weekend has helped his ongoing recovery from injury.

Despite an explosive start to the campaign, Thomas failed to fully overcome an ankle problem that he picked up during week 12, leading to him make just three receptions in the final three matches.

With no wildcard weekend contest, last week was a chance for Thomas to undergo some extra rehab in time for his team's divisional clash with the Indianapolis Colts on Sunday.

He told ESPN: "It was a big week for me and it was good to get some rest.

"Every doctor will tell you the most important thing is rest, but it's tough to do in the middle of the season. So I got a little bit of time to stay off it and get some treatment on it. It went well."

Thomas enjoyed success against the Colts in the opening game of the season, posting 104 receiving yards and scoring three touchdowns.