Injury Updates?
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re: DenverPost.....
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Backfield looks bruised
Three games into season, Droughns' role with Broncos likely to grow
A team rich in running backs is starting to run low on them.
Broncos running back Clinton Portis has bruised ribs or a bruised sternum or both, and did not finish either of Denver's past two games.
Fullback Mike Anderson underwent a magnetic resonance imaging test on his right knee Tuesday, and after the exam, reported, "I'm OK."
Rookie running back Quentin Griffin, recovering from a hairline foot fracture he suffered on the opening day of training camp, did not make his NFL debut until Monday night, when the Broncos beat the Oakland Raiders 31-10.
The Broncos' healthiest back is fullback Reuben Droughns, who has a healthy appetite to carry the football Sunday against the Detroit Lions, the team that declined to renew his contract after he started three games for them in 2001.
"I'll be really motivated for this game," said Droughns, who signed with Denver in April 2002. "I'm real anxious to go against them. I can't wait to face them.
"I've been waiting for two years now to get the opportunity just to show them, 'You guys made a mistake."'
Asked why Detroit decided not to bring him back after it invested a third-round pick in him during the 2000 draft, Droughns replied: "They said I didn't have enough shiftiness. They said they were looking for a scatback. So now I just have to show them what they're missing."
As the Broncos' third option at running back, Droughns could get the chance. But so could Griffin, who in his NFL debut carried the football seven times for 26 yards and caught one pass for six. Griffin is the latest Broncos chosen one.
In 1999, Denver drafted running back Olandis Gary, who now plays for the Lions. The next year, the Broncos drafted Anderson and watched him run away with the NFL's offensive rookie of the year award.
With Denver's backfield ailing and a monster-sized game looming Oct. 5 against the Kansas City Chiefs, Griffin and Droughns could receive more work.
"Hopefully I can get the ball," said Droughns, who did not have any carries Monday night. "If they give me the opportunity, I'll be able to handle it just as well as (Griffin) can. Obviously you saw the spark that he brought into the game Monday night.
"With our offense, you really don't have a true running back or a fullback. We're just all tailbacks out there in the backfield. You can just throw any of us back there, and we can all get the job done."
Anderson is thankful it looks as though he'll have that chance sooner rather than later. When he caught a 6-yard, fourth-quarter pass Monday night, he fell backward, but his right knee did not.
Initially, trainers feared Anderson had torn his anterior cruciate or medial collateral ligament - injuries that could have sidelined the fullback indefinitely. But an MRI revealed no significant damage, and Anderson said he should be ready to play Sunday against the Lions.
The incident frightened Anderson in a way he could not have predicted. When trainers rushed to his side at the 29-yard line, they exhorted him to relax.
"I had to calm down," said Anderson, who had a game-high 14 carries for a game-high 70 yards against the Raiders. "That scared me; that really scared me. It got planted, and it didn't give. You don't want that to happen, ever."
Though Denver's backs are ailing, the Broncos know the situation could be worse. After today's practice for the Detroit game, the Broncos should have a better feel for which backs will be in their backfield Sunday.
The Lions will not have any sympathy for the Broncos. They have considerable injury problems, especially at cornerback.
Former starting left cornerback Andre Goodman suffered a dislocated left shoulder Sunday and will miss the rest of the season. Detroit already was without its No. 3 and No. 4 cornerbacks, Chris Cash and Chris Watson, who suffered season-ending injuries during the preseason.
Also, Lions return specialist Eddie Drummond will miss at least two weeks because of ligament damage in his right knee and a sprained right ankle. Quarterback Joey Harrington suffered a dislocated index finger on his right hand. And guard Ray Brown (torn pectoral), tight end Mikhael Ricks (foot and knee) and wide receiver Shawn Jefferson (ribs) left Sunday's game versus Minnesota.
"We've got to find a way to healthy up," Lions coach Steve Mariucci said this week
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Backfield looks bruised
Three games into season, Droughns' role with Broncos likely to grow
A team rich in running backs is starting to run low on them.
Broncos running back Clinton Portis has bruised ribs or a bruised sternum or both, and did not finish either of Denver's past two games.
Fullback Mike Anderson underwent a magnetic resonance imaging test on his right knee Tuesday, and after the exam, reported, "I'm OK."
Rookie running back Quentin Griffin, recovering from a hairline foot fracture he suffered on the opening day of training camp, did not make his NFL debut until Monday night, when the Broncos beat the Oakland Raiders 31-10.
The Broncos' healthiest back is fullback Reuben Droughns, who has a healthy appetite to carry the football Sunday against the Detroit Lions, the team that declined to renew his contract after he started three games for them in 2001.
"I'll be really motivated for this game," said Droughns, who signed with Denver in April 2002. "I'm real anxious to go against them. I can't wait to face them.
"I've been waiting for two years now to get the opportunity just to show them, 'You guys made a mistake."'
Asked why Detroit decided not to bring him back after it invested a third-round pick in him during the 2000 draft, Droughns replied: "They said I didn't have enough shiftiness. They said they were looking for a scatback. So now I just have to show them what they're missing."
As the Broncos' third option at running back, Droughns could get the chance. But so could Griffin, who in his NFL debut carried the football seven times for 26 yards and caught one pass for six. Griffin is the latest Broncos chosen one.
In 1999, Denver drafted running back Olandis Gary, who now plays for the Lions. The next year, the Broncos drafted Anderson and watched him run away with the NFL's offensive rookie of the year award.
With Denver's backfield ailing and a monster-sized game looming Oct. 5 against the Kansas City Chiefs, Griffin and Droughns could receive more work.
"Hopefully I can get the ball," said Droughns, who did not have any carries Monday night. "If they give me the opportunity, I'll be able to handle it just as well as (Griffin) can. Obviously you saw the spark that he brought into the game Monday night.
"With our offense, you really don't have a true running back or a fullback. We're just all tailbacks out there in the backfield. You can just throw any of us back there, and we can all get the job done."
Anderson is thankful it looks as though he'll have that chance sooner rather than later. When he caught a 6-yard, fourth-quarter pass Monday night, he fell backward, but his right knee did not.
Initially, trainers feared Anderson had torn his anterior cruciate or medial collateral ligament - injuries that could have sidelined the fullback indefinitely. But an MRI revealed no significant damage, and Anderson said he should be ready to play Sunday against the Lions.
The incident frightened Anderson in a way he could not have predicted. When trainers rushed to his side at the 29-yard line, they exhorted him to relax.
"I had to calm down," said Anderson, who had a game-high 14 carries for a game-high 70 yards against the Raiders. "That scared me; that really scared me. It got planted, and it didn't give. You don't want that to happen, ever."
Though Denver's backs are ailing, the Broncos know the situation could be worse. After today's practice for the Detroit game, the Broncos should have a better feel for which backs will be in their backfield Sunday.
The Lions will not have any sympathy for the Broncos. They have considerable injury problems, especially at cornerback.
Former starting left cornerback Andre Goodman suffered a dislocated left shoulder Sunday and will miss the rest of the season. Detroit already was without its No. 3 and No. 4 cornerbacks, Chris Cash and Chris Watson, who suffered season-ending injuries during the preseason.
Also, Lions return specialist Eddie Drummond will miss at least two weeks because of ligament damage in his right knee and a sprained right ankle. Quarterback Joey Harrington suffered a dislocated index finger on his right hand. And guard Ray Brown (torn pectoral), tight end Mikhael Ricks (foot and knee) and wide receiver Shawn Jefferson (ribs) left Sunday's game versus Minnesota.
"We've got to find a way to healthy up," Lions coach Steve Mariucci said this week
re:miljsonline...
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Sherman also said a magnetic resonance imaging test revealed that starting wide receiver Robert Ferguson did not suffer a new knee injury, but rather that he aggravated the medial collateral ligament that has bothered him for two weeks.
"It hasn't changed. It isn't loose. It is tender, though," Sherman said. "When his leg gets torqued, it seems to resurrect the pain in the leg."
Making his first appearance since a neck sprain and concussion sent him to the hospital, starting receiver Donald Driver said he came through fine.
re:rockymountainnews....
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Broncos runners take a hit
Status of Anderson, Portis unclear after both are injured
By Lee Rasizer and Lynn DeBruin, Rocky Mountain News
September 23, 2003
The Denver Broncos might have put the hurt on Oakland on the scoreboard Monday night, but the Raiders returned the favor when it came to running backs.
Clinton Portis left the game in the second quarter because of what was described as an aggravation of the sternum bruise he suffered last week. But Portis was forced back into action for two fourth-quarter carries after Mike Anderson twisted his knee.
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Portis, who finished with 10 carries for 42 yards, told reporters they shouldn't "jump to the conclusion" that he'll be available for practice Wednesday for the beginning of preparations for the Broncos' next game against Detroit.
And he also was unclear on the nature of his injury, saying he got tackled and "it popped back out," a strange description for a supposed chest injury.
"One of my ribs popped out. I mean, I landed on my shoulder and it kind of jammed it up. But I'm all right," Portis said, adding with a smile, "Most guys would be in the hospital."
Portis maintained he felt better than when he was hurt initially, Sept. 14 at San Diego.
The diagnosis for Anderson looked bad after he was hit after catching a fourth-quarter pass. Trainer Steve Antonopulos talked initially of damage to the anterior cruciate and medial collateral ligaments.
But he reportedly told coach Mike Shanahan later that he felt better about the condition of Anderson's knee.
Anderson said he was "encouraged," and as for any substantial injury he said, "I don't think that," though he admitted more tests were needed.
Probably worse for wear is Broncos strong safety Kenoy Kennedy. He suffered a severely sprained ankle, and Shanahan said his availability for the Lions game is "very questionable."
SMITH EJECTED: Rod Smith meant to take a swing at Raiders defensive tackle Chris Cooper after a second-quarter play. Instead, he landed a blow to the face of umpire Undrey Wash. The Broncos receiver was ejected.
"It's definitely not me and I didn't try to do it. But the rules are the rules and I have to face my punishment," Smith said.
The receiver added that watching the game in the locker room was punishment enough, although the league is sure to decide otherwise. Smith probably faces a substantial fine.
Smith apologized to Wash before leaving the game.
"I said, 'Man, I'm sorry.' That's all I could say because it was an accident and I think he realized that after the fact, but he's got to throw the flag and I respect that," Smith said. "They have a tough job to do as it is. But at the same time it was an honest mistake."
NO PARTY: Daryl Gardener bragged that Monday night was going to be his coming-out party.
Well, the party went on without him as the Broncos chose not to activate the gargantuan defensive tackle.
Gardener, who suffered torn ligaments in his right wrist during an early-morning fracas outside an Aurora pancake house on July 18, still hasn't played a down for Denver.
In March the Broncos signed him to a seven-year, $34.8 million contract that included a $5 million bonus.
Gardener vowed during camp he would be ready for the opener. Then he set a more realistic goal of Monday's game, vowing as late as Friday that he would be suiting up.
"Monday night is show time," he said. "The lights will be on. My people will be watching. My party go-getters will be watching. I'm going to have a big party afterward. It will be the re-emergence of DG."
Team owner Pat Bowlen said he doesn't cringe when he hears such comments.
"Daryl wants to play football. That's what he loves to do. So he's going to be as optimistic as he possibly can be. I certainly don't fault him for that," Bowlen said last week.
Though Gardener has been practicing for more than a week, he still must wear a cast on his wrist.
It limits his ability to grab and tackle and to maneuver against opposing linemen.
GRIFFIN ACTIVE: For the first time this season, rookie running back Quentin Griffin was activated for a game. And that says as much about his recovery from a broken leg as it does concern about starter Clinton Portis, who was nursing a bruised sternum.
Griffin did not play a down during preseason and was designated inactive for Denver's first two games.
The Broncos' other inactives were tight end Jeb Putzier, safety Chris Young, guard Steve Herndon and rookies Terry Pierce, George Foster and Bryant McNeal.
Danny Kanell was the third quarterback.
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Sherman also said a magnetic resonance imaging test revealed that starting wide receiver Robert Ferguson did not suffer a new knee injury, but rather that he aggravated the medial collateral ligament that has bothered him for two weeks.
"It hasn't changed. It isn't loose. It is tender, though," Sherman said. "When his leg gets torqued, it seems to resurrect the pain in the leg."
Making his first appearance since a neck sprain and concussion sent him to the hospital, starting receiver Donald Driver said he came through fine.
re:rockymountainnews....
--
Broncos runners take a hit
Status of Anderson, Portis unclear after both are injured
By Lee Rasizer and Lynn DeBruin, Rocky Mountain News
September 23, 2003
The Denver Broncos might have put the hurt on Oakland on the scoreboard Monday night, but the Raiders returned the favor when it came to running backs.
Clinton Portis left the game in the second quarter because of what was described as an aggravation of the sternum bruise he suffered last week. But Portis was forced back into action for two fourth-quarter carries after Mike Anderson twisted his knee.
Advertisement
Portis, who finished with 10 carries for 42 yards, told reporters they shouldn't "jump to the conclusion" that he'll be available for practice Wednesday for the beginning of preparations for the Broncos' next game against Detroit.
And he also was unclear on the nature of his injury, saying he got tackled and "it popped back out," a strange description for a supposed chest injury.
"One of my ribs popped out. I mean, I landed on my shoulder and it kind of jammed it up. But I'm all right," Portis said, adding with a smile, "Most guys would be in the hospital."
Portis maintained he felt better than when he was hurt initially, Sept. 14 at San Diego.
The diagnosis for Anderson looked bad after he was hit after catching a fourth-quarter pass. Trainer Steve Antonopulos talked initially of damage to the anterior cruciate and medial collateral ligaments.
But he reportedly told coach Mike Shanahan later that he felt better about the condition of Anderson's knee.
Anderson said he was "encouraged," and as for any substantial injury he said, "I don't think that," though he admitted more tests were needed.
Probably worse for wear is Broncos strong safety Kenoy Kennedy. He suffered a severely sprained ankle, and Shanahan said his availability for the Lions game is "very questionable."
SMITH EJECTED: Rod Smith meant to take a swing at Raiders defensive tackle Chris Cooper after a second-quarter play. Instead, he landed a blow to the face of umpire Undrey Wash. The Broncos receiver was ejected.
"It's definitely not me and I didn't try to do it. But the rules are the rules and I have to face my punishment," Smith said.
The receiver added that watching the game in the locker room was punishment enough, although the league is sure to decide otherwise. Smith probably faces a substantial fine.
Smith apologized to Wash before leaving the game.
"I said, 'Man, I'm sorry.' That's all I could say because it was an accident and I think he realized that after the fact, but he's got to throw the flag and I respect that," Smith said. "They have a tough job to do as it is. But at the same time it was an honest mistake."
NO PARTY: Daryl Gardener bragged that Monday night was going to be his coming-out party.
Well, the party went on without him as the Broncos chose not to activate the gargantuan defensive tackle.
Gardener, who suffered torn ligaments in his right wrist during an early-morning fracas outside an Aurora pancake house on July 18, still hasn't played a down for Denver.
In March the Broncos signed him to a seven-year, $34.8 million contract that included a $5 million bonus.
Gardener vowed during camp he would be ready for the opener. Then he set a more realistic goal of Monday's game, vowing as late as Friday that he would be suiting up.
"Monday night is show time," he said. "The lights will be on. My people will be watching. My party go-getters will be watching. I'm going to have a big party afterward. It will be the re-emergence of DG."
Team owner Pat Bowlen said he doesn't cringe when he hears such comments.
"Daryl wants to play football. That's what he loves to do. So he's going to be as optimistic as he possibly can be. I certainly don't fault him for that," Bowlen said last week.
Though Gardener has been practicing for more than a week, he still must wear a cast on his wrist.
It limits his ability to grab and tackle and to maneuver against opposing linemen.
GRIFFIN ACTIVE: For the first time this season, rookie running back Quentin Griffin was activated for a game. And that says as much about his recovery from a broken leg as it does concern about starter Clinton Portis, who was nursing a bruised sternum.
Griffin did not play a down during preseason and was designated inactive for Denver's first two games.
The Broncos' other inactives were tight end Jeb Putzier, safety Chris Young, guard Steve Herndon and rookies Terry Pierce, George Foster and Bryant McNeal.
Danny Kanell was the third quarterback.
