ENGLEWOOD, Colo. -- The Denver Broncos will cross their collective fingers and hope they can close out the preseason with no additional injuries in the defensive line.

In a span of five days, the Broncos saw defensive end Billy Winn suffer a season-ending knee injury in the preseason opener against the Chicago Bears, defensive end Derek Wolfe (right ankle) was carted off the field this past Saturday, and defensive end Jared Crick (back) was carted off the field Monday. Just before the Broncos left for California for two days’ worth of joint practices with the San Francisco 49ers to go with Saturday’s game at Levi’s Stadium, coach Vance Joseph said the plan is to try to ride it out.

“Right now, we’ve got about seven guys working those three spots,’’ Joseph said after Tuesday’s practice. “That’s a concern, but with the number restriction you can’t just bring guys in without losing someone. Right now, we’re going to go as we go and hope we can make it through the next couple of weeks with seven guys. As we go along, if we need one we’ll add one. But right now, we’re going to San Fran with who we’ve got.’’

Joseph said he expected Crick, who had suffered back spasms and had an MRI exam Monday after he was taken off the practice field, and Wolfe to be ready for the Sept. 11 regular-season opener against the Los Angeles Chargers. Crick is not expected to play Saturday against the 49ers and Wolfe is not expected to play again in the preseason.

“[Crick has] been tight for a couple of days. He spasmed up pretty bad and that was pretty much it,’’ Joseph said. “He’s day-to-day, so we’ll kind of see how he’s doing. But right now he’s going to be out, he’s not going to travel. He’s going to stay behind and do treatment with the guys staying behind.’’

Safety T.J. Ward (hamstring) has missed several days of practice and will also not make the trip to California as he will be one of the players working with the team’s training staff at the Broncos’ complex through the week. Joseph also said center Matt Paradis, who has returned from offseason surgery on both hips, will not play against the 49ers and running back Jamaal Charles also will be held out of the game. Those two players will participate at least some in the practices this week.

Both Paradis and Charles are expected to play on Aug. 26 against the Green Bay Packers, which will be the last preseason appearance for any of the team’s starters. None of the regulars are expected to play on Aug. 31 in the preseason finale against the Arizona Cardinals.