Wesley Woodyard couldn’t stop Vonta Leach of the Baltimore Ravens from scoring a touchdown in the Denver Broncos’ season opener, but the linebacker, who later suffered an ankle injury, hopes to play against the Giants in Week 2 on Sunday in East Rutherford, N.J.
Wesley Woodyard couldn’t stop Vonta Leach of the Baltimore Ravens from scoring a touchdown in the Denver Broncos’ season opener, but the linebacker, who later suffered an ankle injury, hopes to play against the Giants in Week 2 on Sunday in East Rutherford, N.J.Jack Dempsey/Associated Press file photo

The Broncos announced Wednesday night they signed Ramirez to a two-year contract extension through 2015.

The seventh-year pro played in a career-best 15 games last season, including 11 starts at right guard before sliding over to center this offseason when J.D. Walton had a setback in his recovery from ankle surgery.

Dan Koppen, last year’s starter, blew out a knee when training camp began, and Ramirez fended off challenges from Ryan Lilja and Steve Vallos. Longtime guard Chris Kuper, coming back from a second surgery on his left ankle, which was broken in the 2011 season finale, also tried his hand at center this summer, but he hasn’t snapped the ball in a game since his junior year at North Dakota in 2004.

Coach John Fox on Monday praised Ramirez’s play in Denver’s 49-27 win over Baltimore last week in which Peyton Manning threw an NFL record-tying seven touchdown passes.

“As I’ve said many times, I don’t know if people believed me, but Manny Ramirez is our starting center, and he was since last offseason. I thought he performed well,” Fox said earlier this week. “That was a very formidable front that we played against. I haven’t seen everybody, but they’re in the top five in the league; they’ve got more than one-deep. I thought, all-in-all, was it perfect? No. But for a first outing, I thought our offensive line matched up very well.”

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Cornerback Champ Bailey worked on a side field with strength and conditioning coach Luke Richesson during the Denver Broncos’ practice Wednesday, and middle linebacker Wesley Woodyard also was held out.

Bailey hasn’t practiced since spraining his left foot Aug. 17. Woodyard injured his right ankle in the Broncos’ opener.

If Bailey can’t play against the Giants this weekend, he’ll again be replaced by Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie.

If Woodyard can’t go, he’ll most likely be replaced by 12th-year pro Paris Lenon, who signed Aug. 20, the same day All-Pro linebacker Von Miller received a six-game drug suspension.

Miller could face further discipline from the NFL after he was cited last week for speeding and driving without a license, his second run-in with the law in a month.