Like a category-5 hurricane lingering over 88-degree waters, the storm of injury-related losses that has beset the Broncos continued its unremitting fury Thursday when Jarvis Moss fractured his right fibula and tore ankle ligaments in practice, ending the first-round pick’s season after just eight and a half weeks.
Moss’s injury was compounded by the news that Rod Smith would not be ready to play within the next two weeks, thus going beyond the three-week trial period allowed to physically-unable-to-perform list. He, too, is lost for the remainder of the season.
Moss’ injury was “kind of a freak accident,” Head Coach Mike Shanahan said when he announced the news after practice.
“He’ll have surgery here in the next few days and it will be about a three- or four-month recovery time,” Shanahan said. “It’s very similar to the injury Cecil Sapp had (last December against Seattle), and he came back full speed. It happened in a nine-on-seven drill today.”
As for Smith, the decision came after a week of practice during which the wide receiver’s hip remained “quite sore,” some eight months after the debridement procedure that sidelined him through all of the offseason and training-camp practices, as well as the first seven games of the regular season.
“After seeing the doctor (and) after practicing for about a week, he could see that he’s a little too far away to have a chance to be activated in the next couple of weeks,” Shanahan said. “So, obviously, he won’t be activated in the next two weeks, which means he won’t be activated for this year. We’ll just take some time, see where it’s at at the end of the season and we’ll see exactly where he’s at.”
LYNCH UPDATE: Shanahan said that John Lynch was limited in his on-field practice work Thursday, and that he would have a better idea of his status after Friday’s session.”
Tags: Jarvis Moss, Rod Smith
Well, it’s been a good career, Smith — amazing, really.
I was excited last week when I heard the news that he had started practicing again, but to be followed by this… Ahh, it makes it worse.
I don’t see Rod comin’ back next year.
Thanks for the memories, Rod. It’s been great!
Also, wishes to Moss on a quick, and full recovery.
Is it about that time to start thinking about the draft? No! It is not that bad and I think we are going to be a great team… We have so much more to overcome than any other team in the league, and if anyone can do it it’s got to be mike! Rod, well I really think McK is right Denver Loves you so you should be looking for a news room job maybe… Lynch looks like you might ahve some competition in the news rooms next year eh!?!
Man, this season is a tough one.
Rod has been awesome for our team. It’s been great watching him throughout the years but sadly, I don’t see him coming back. It’s a sad day in Broncos Country.
I was hoping Rod would be able to make it back this year. If this is his last year, I wish he could have played to send himself off right. He is a leader on the team that will be missed.
I honestly hope this isn’t true yet I know it is. This has got be like the worst nightmare come true for this team. I really don’t like this, I just hope we can have some players come back soon like Walker and Lynch. At this point, if we don’t get some of our key players back ASAP then we’re doomed for this year. I’ll always have hope and faith, but this is just the tip of the iceberg. This is almost too much to handle. I’m becoming overly stressed about this, I just want our once dominating team back just as much as the next person around here. I love all of our guys and I hope this terrible news won’t affect them for the game on Sunday. I hope they can keep their heads up high and out of the clouds. Go get those Lions, crush ‘em for me!!!!
GO BRONCOS!!!
We gone beat detriots ass. Cutler getting in his rhythem and soon very soon our playmaker will come back
don’t ever doubt rod, the more you say he won’t be back the more i know he will.
can’t wait to see you again next year rod. your the man!
thank you #80.
Sorry to say Td and htekid, as much as I love to watch Rod play, I think he is through, I feel the only reason he was on the roster this year is because of what he has meant to the team. It tottally sucks when a great player goes out to an injury like this, just like Terrel Davis.
Losing Moss now only adds to our woes, I do believe that Lynch will be back, he’s a super competitor and the team needs him in there especially since Wilson is no longer with us. How many times did we have too many or too few players on the field after John went out? ridiculous.
Mason, you do a great job reporting on the team. It must be hard for you to hide your own frustrations, but you do it well, keep up the good work.
Will
noooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo i will miss jarvis soooooooooooooooooo very much! also i really hope Rod can play next year!
GO BRONCOS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
So that’s why Moss wasn’t in there against the packers…
I think #80 will play again maybe not a full season or as a starter but he will suit up next yr. that’s just Rod, i doubt he’s ready to quit, Rod stay strong and lead this team man we need a leader… as for Moss well hopefully he can come back next season and show us how a #1 draft pick is spose to get down in Denver…
We’ll always love you Rod!!
Shanny? You too… unless you punt from the 37 yard line ever again at home with Elam or 6 yards for the 1st! …your play calling at the end of regulation was Freaking Horrible too! Nobody’s perfect but…
Gawd help us on the injury end of things! Make a list starting with Al Wilson and carry it on through J Moss WOW-OUCH
And then consider the busts that were our off season D-line pick-ups!!
God preserve Cutler, Marshall, Shef & Young… I’ll enjoy watching them grow!
See ya next season though..
What a drag
In Rod’s own words – I won’t play for the sake of playing, only if I am going to make a difference.
Only the pros know how much it takes to come back after being taken apart year after year. To me Rod Smith is an icon who should not persevere if it is going to do him long term damage later in life. Whatever happens I know Rod will make the right decision.
I don’t know if this is it for Rod or not. He’s overcome the odds before doing what he’s done as an undrafted player, so I wouldn’t count him out. He’ll know when he’s ready to call it a career, and what a remarkable career it’s been!
Agree with that GB. I know sports has become a business as cutthroat as any other, but I have faith that the team will give Rod the chance to make this decision. A couple of things we all know about him: he will do what is best for the TEAM, because that’s who he is. More importantly, look at all the odds he has overcome to get where he is. If he decides he wants to come back next year, I wouldn’t dream of betting against him, and I hope the organization feels the same way.
You beat me to it, 80s. Never count that hard workin’ man out.
Like I said after the loss to GB, this season is over and now the injury proves that to be even more true. I just really hope everyone can come back next year healthy, and stay healthy. New trainer anybody? I think its time “greek” gets the boot and we get someone young and more on top of the technology.
in Rod, we *still* trust!!!
get healthy, Rod, and hope to see you in uniform next year…
The season just got a whole lot tougher. Rod’s time here has been great, but I’d rather see him leave now to see him attempt another comeback. Looking back it pained me to watch him last year, and I don’t want to remember such a great player like that. God speed Rod
Sad to see 2 things ’round here: “Fans” wanting to bag the season BEFORE halfway and people writing farewells for Rod Smith’s career. The leaves only just started falling off the trees two weeks ago, and you’re already wanting to QUIT and look forward to the summer of next year? >>shaking head in disgust
Sad to see 2 things ’round here: “Fans” wanting to bag the season BEFORE halfway and people writing farewells for Rod Smith’s career. The leaves only just started falling off the trees two weeks ago, and you’re already wanting to QUIT and look forward to the summer of next year? -{shaking head in disgust}-
Anyone who wants to quit on Denver at this point, should do so. But please don’t wear, use, talk, show or argue anything to do with the Broncos … just quit. You’re allowed, there’s nothing wrong with it.
I just hope you stop posting here for the season, it clutters the place up and detracts from people who have something informative, constructive or useful to say. (I get shivers every time I read posts by Darrent or Damien’s family and friends, it’s mind blowing to realise how passionate they are towards THIS team. It inspires me, and makes me realise how great my life is!)
(In my opinion) Rod needs to go through THIS season (rehab) and pre-season before ANYONE knows whether or not he can make it back. From all reports, his hip was a mess, so what the hell, take a year off, we all know he’s earned it. Shanny knows the value of a veteran #3/4 WR on the field (remember Jerry Rice in Denver) plus with so much young talent at WR, it might do them some good to see the work ethic of an undrafted HOF candidate. They don’t come along very often!
Thanks again for the blog Mr Mason, but I think im converting over to the “Dark SIDE of the Horse” and will now be reading Foxworth’s blog FIRST, nothing personal, … it’s just … well …
##sorry for repeat – script error##
Well like I said it will be my last posts this week since this season is obviously going nowhere with the tragic injuries the team has suffered. However, nowhere is relative since I will still be rooting for them to play good football and get the young guys a lot of experience since they WILL come back stronger next year via draft, free agency, and injuries being healed. But it won’t stop me from reading up and getting to laugh at the comments of fans who are “blind” and still think denver will go to win the superbowl this year, since ultimately anything other than that is truly considered a failure. As for Rod, time will tell, he is definitely a trooper and I place my faith in whatever decision he makes aswell as everyone else on the team.
My only beef is getting a new trainer since ours must be doing something wrong. The way Javon’s injury was handled, REALLY bothers me the most.
The coaching I will give to the end of next year before I speak my mind since they deserve a good 2 years to develop cutler and the offense, along with developing the defense.
And lastly, Broncos D-Under, I’m hoping your name is meant to mean Broncos D-Underconstruction, right?
It breaks my heart that Rod won’t be back for us this season. He has been one of my favorite Broncos since the time he came into that game against Washington and made the winning TD reception. He has left a legacy of prestige and prowess and thankfully, many of the younger Broncos are following in his footsteps. Hopefully, he’ll be good to go in training camp of ’08 because we all love you, Rod!
Okay, I want to start by saying this, as much as you guys have to say about the team this year, the season is not over. There’s quite a lot of football to be played. People can step up at anytime to fill a position once held by a quote “irreplaceable” player. No one saw Terrell Davis coming until he laid that hit on spec. teams…. This is a game of variables. In response to the injuries, Rod, get well. Hope to see you as soon as possible. Javon, hope everything is going good for you and hope to see you on the field soon. Losing Moss was a hardship, but if he can recover, i think he’ll come back strong. Other than that, I’ll still be wearing my #84 broncos jersey every sunday, and hoping to see a glimpse of what i KNOW this team is capable of if they can just execute. The Green Bay Game, lots of people made mistakes, but that is what this game is all about. Making mistakes, and LEARNING from those mistakes. My last note, is that i hope that the team can pull together and go out of this season on a stronger note than we have begun it. GO BRONCOS!!!!
Thursday’s have become just terrible. It started with the news on Henry, then went to the news on Walker, and now we loose moss and officially smith. The thing about moss is that this will almost for sure hurt his development down the road. It just keeps getting worse and worse. I am almost afraid to see what happens next.
Losing Moss is a huge blow, everyone expected this guy to be a special pass rusher but he more than proved he can be a starting end in the NFL. His run stuffing was impressive to say the least, maybe Rice should have been learning from the rookie instead of the other way around. I hope he has a full recovery, the kids had some tough breaks. Rod Smith, or as I like to call him Hot Rod, is a class act. He may seem rough around the edges when he talks to the press but what do you expect from a guy that’s had to fight and claw for every ounce of his playing career. I doubt he’ll be back, he always said he’d have to have the uniform ripped off of him and that’s what’s happened. A MILE HIGH SALUTE FOR MR. ROD SMITH and for old times sake be sure to rock some “jewelry” when you have that final goodbye.
broncos_for_life;
I would suggest using the ID of broncos-for-7games. It suits you better. And if, they do play the way US DIE HARD FANS! know they are capable of playing, don’t post on here again this year. We know you’ll be back this year and next year to state your opinion’s…..that’s what all wanna be fans do….We don’t quit on out team. Lastly, calling a season ending injury a sore is well….like calling you a fan. Anyways…go away
Broncos97rule,
I’m with you!! Injuries, as unfortunate as they are, can surface great talent. Every time I see Selvin Young run, I think of Terrell. Not comparing their talents just the situations they are in…We’ll see.
Detroit! Sorry you’re getting a loss this week, because we simply said so!!!
Go Broncos.
Andrew, I’d probably pay the $66.00 I love coming to this site so much. Especially since I’m probably the only member to have had so many votes to be banned!
Well here’s another comment towards that side of the fence:
The Broncos should look to the Los Angeles Dodgers for some advice. They sought a winner, they interviewed a winner and they now have a LEADER and a WINNER in a head coach…Joe Torre.
Mike Shanahan, please resign since ownership does not have the balls to pull the trigger on you!
I AGREE WITH EVERYONE, THE BRONCOS ARE WASHED UP AND NEED TO REGROUP, MIKE SHANNY, I HOPE YOU GET THIS TEAM READY FOR NEXT YEAR BECAUSE THERE IS NO NEED TO TRY AND MAKE THE PLAYOFFS BECAUSE MOST LIKELY YALL WILL LOSE TO INDY,CHARGERS, PATS, ACTUALLY ANYONE!! LOL ANYWAY I STILL ROOT FOR YALL BECAUSE I STILL BLEED ORANGE AND BLUE BUT ITS COMMON SENSE YALL WILL NOT MAKE IT..I WONT BELIEVE IN SOMETHING THAT DOES NOT CONSISTENLY HAPPEN
THANKS DB
I love when “blind” fans call people who see the reality of a season not true fans. As if I’m going to go root for another team now or something when I’m actually completely disheartened this year and can not even watch the games anymore because the Broncos are doing so poorly. Why place all that blind faith into a 3-4 record where 2 wins came off last second feild goals against 2-5 teams. Lets all get a grip on reality please.
“Mr know it all Broncos D- Under is not very smart is he??”
Smart (and literate) enough to tell a coach from a “couch”!?! And to think that KC will LOSE, not “loose”, to Denver!
As for being a “fan” from Kansas … HA! … you have no idea son! “D-Under” is shortened from Down Under, as in Australia! Ever FLOWN for 24-30 HOURS to see a Bronco game? I’ve even seen my Broncos play in Cincinatti, New York (Jersey) and Pittsburgh, and NEVER hide my teams colours!
So when it comes to dedication, belief and being a FANATIC, … -{shrugs shoulders}- … you and your “white towel” antics should stay in Kansas!
GoBroncos!! (DownUnder)
PS- I’m not saying we’re going to win the SuperBowl this year, but I accept the losses, see the positives and will be 100% onboard with my team this year, regardless of the final record.
PPS- Mason, I’m actually wondering where all these “hater/fans” are coming from, it’s strange to see and I wonder if there’s something larger/darker afoot?!?
Hot rod won’t just be let go if he can play mike will give him the option,and as for lynch competting for a booth that persons nuts. We look good guys! We’re just beating ourselfs. Once we get get walker back things look alot better
Mr. Down Under, glad to see Bronco colors fly all over the world. I agree Rod should take all the time he needs, but I’m a realist about his comeback. The man’s played a long time and the kind of surgery he had usually takes away the ability to run at top speed. I am a die hard fan, I’ve watched every game for the past 5 years (thanks to DTV) but I have to say I have never seen a Broncos team look this bad in so many phases of the game. The defense is terrible, that’s the only way to put it. In order to turn this season around it’s going to have to start up front and the LB’s are going to have to TACKLE! Once we get in the redzone it’s like Shanny loses his ability to play call and we settle for 3 poitns. The team is young, and I’ll pull for them, but I don’t hold out much hope for a playoff birth.
I been a Lions fan since birth, I thought I’d go out of my way to let you guys know you’re going to lose Sunday thats reality. Better luck next year.
i think all we need is some luck i have never seen anything like all these injurys. just keep on believing i do i havent gave up on the broncos and never will . go broncos!11
Hey guys, lets get real here. There is no chance in hell that THIS team would touch the Colts or Patriots. Or goal and the team’s goal is not to just make the playoffs, but to hoist the Lombardi Trophy at the end. IT AIN’T GONNA HAPPEN (this year)!!!!!! It is not being a fair weather fan, it is reality. I love my Broncos, and they made huge strides to put together the core of our team for the future, but the future obviously ain’t now!!! We will win more games. We might make a playoff run to try to get in, but we ain’t hoisting the trophy. As for Rod? I don’t think there is room for him now except as a #4. Did Jerry Rice continue his career to be a #4 receiver? Neither will Rod. It is a sad day, but I wish him well. I am sure he will have some role in this team forever. If not, he will aways have a place in Broncos lore as THE BEST WR TO EVER WEAR THE ORANGE AND BLUE!
WOW! You people are mostly all now agreeing with everything we’ve ever said. This Broncos team has no chance. They wont next year either, how old will Lynch be next year 47?
They will have no chance until Mike Shanahan is TERMINATED. It is after that, then maybe we can re-group. This team has simply had a bad leader for many years now.
Everyone that keeps pining for ROD, how can you make fun of us for pining for Jake. Believe me, Jake will be on an NFL field again before Rod is. How old is Rod 80? Stop pining for the old guys hall of fame team. Rod was great, hall of fame caliber, but you know what, Ed Mccaffrey was hall of fame caliber in my opinion, but he knew when to hang em up!
Too bad Rod wasn’t as popular or good as Rice, he could be on Dancing With The Stars right now!
I disagree that my fellas out there are washed up, never that, but I do hope that Rod takes care of himself first this time. But no doubt he is still a Bad, Bad Man! To the media, please don’t rush him with the Retirement question cause you already know he is going to clown you. HAHAHA! I love it when he snaps you all up!
To all those who crack on the veterans about hanging it up, you are so FAKE! You are same ones that if you were to see these cats face to face you’d grinning and cheesin’ in their face, “You’re the Best, None Better, You still got it.”
Whatever the deal keep it real.
Rod get some rest, take your family, nothin’ but love for ya bro. You a trooper! and a Bad, Bad, Man! U GO BOY!
The era of shanahan completion, but say that nothing will happen, is a lie. What awaits us is unique mediocrity for the next four years.The worst stupidity was changed to plummer by cutler.the next Sunday
After returning to lose in detroit, we will see that tells us shanahan. We go to give hurt in detroit
We do not have nothing, neither defensive nor offensive.
Bring to a new head coach.bring to Elway
“Oh down under colors?? or colours??” … I swear, I’ve been giggling at that for 5 minutes! That’s the first time I’ve ever see someone (unknowingly?) kick their own butt with grammar “smack”! :p
Wormy, remember when the Steelers took down the “best ever” Indi Colts, at Indi in the playoffs? They were the AFC’s #6 team to make the playoffs. Sure we ALL know what happened the NEXT week, but the point is: in the NFL today, ANYTHING can happen come January!
LPP, I’ll never ask to have you banned, something about the facts and stats you come up with, they just MAKE me think. If you can make me go check a stat/fact in an argument I’ll give you credit, can’t blame you for making an argument and backing it up! (Plus, offering to show people picture of Jake’s wedding on your website… priceless!)
I liked Jake, and always hoped he’d be our next big thing at QB, to me he always came across as likeable and played some GREAT football at times. But when I saw the KC game last year … UGH! When the coach is trying to get some momentum and makes decent (Shannahan) calls, and the QB clearly MISSES open receivers on short routes like a 5yard in, and a RB in the FLAT?
Sorry Jake, your time had come. I hope he does play in Tampa, I wish him all the best!
MR MASON, did you read the paper today?
“I’ll play middle linebacker if I have to,” Foxworth said with a grin. “We’ll lose a lot of games, but I’ll bang heads with everybody.”
That’s why Fox’s blog is gradually supplanting yours! Would you play Middle Linebacker for OUR team? Hehe :p
The show MUST go on, and therefore, so WILL our team! GO BRONCOS! Lambaste the Lions!!
Keep up the good blogging!
thanks for all the great memories Rod you’ve been my favorite bronco, since i was born in 91 and only got to see Elway that i can remember for a few years, that catch and run in super bowl 33 was great!!!!!! and how you’ve always dominated the Pats and chiefs really has helped since i also live in Kc…..please think about comming back next year but if you dont please consider staying with the organization it just wont be the same without you there on the recieving end of a quick slant that would turn into TDs back in the day…..if u do decide not to comeback try and teach some of the young Wr how to block and run routes like you
well guys i think that is a bad season but is no over yet dont give up to easy because all you guys know how many injured players this team has and they still fighting to get those wins but its hard for all the young players the we have i wanna se the next season and would se what happend and i also believe the rod smith will play the next year and jarvis hope you get well soon goooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo,broncos
Pat Bowlen, for the love of God, brings a new head coach. With Shanahan is a dream to go to another super bowl.
1997 and 1998 were left behind. Time shanahan is
Finish
bronco for life;
Don’t get me wrong, I know this year is certainly a struggle, no question. What I’m calling you and anyone else out on this blog is for making statements such as “I won’t watch the team anymore this year” or in your words “I’m done with this team this year” ARE YOU KIDDING ME? and you have the balls to call yourself a “fan”. Oh wait it gets better….then you follow it up with “I hope they beat the chiefs…” For the love of God! I have an idea…Let’s “quit” on the team and then turn around and hope they beat the chiefs so that it simply makes your days run a little smoother with the boys..
I have no problem with people talking about next year, drafts, their perception of reality, calling out the coaches, calling out players, play calling ect….it’s their right and I respect that. However, when it comes to people saying “their done watching this year..” I consider them part time fans. Simply, put. You can argue as often as you want with me but it’s a fact.
So you watch whatever it is you watch during Bronco football and the rest of us fans (the ones that are positive and the ones that are negative. Neither of us will turn our backs) will continue to support OUR team!!
p.s. Do you support everything like this? When it goes bad you leave? where do you draw the line? Family? I certainly hope so….T-Ball can be brutal…
A short note. can anyone tell me the last time our defense ranked as low as they do this year in every catagory, to listen to the announcers talk and almost laugh when talking about our run defense, about time to take a long look at our new defensive coachs and mr. bates, defense is one place we have not taken a beating on injuries.I am sorry but sam adams is to slow to be affetive on the run has to walk off on passing downs, but other than the steelers game, why and when in the h—–l are we going to pressure the offense, our line backers are non existient, no one fills the gaps, our db’s are making the tackle’s on the run 10 yards down field.someone has to be responsible and it starts with the coaching, come on bates if we are going to lose make sure the other team remembers you on monday when they can’t walk because the bronco’s came and hit you in the mouth
TRADE A NEW DEFENSIVE COACH ,
I DO LOVE THE BRONCOS! I DO LOVE THE BRONCOS! Wow, what happened in Detroit fellas. I am from Detroit and I don’t know if the Lions are just having a hek of a season or if my Broncos just need to gain more experience with the rookies, but gadzooks! what’s really going on.
Okay wait! I DO LOVE THE BRONCOS! I’m okay. I don’t know if it’s really a matter of Shanahan not being a good enough coach or whatever, I still thinks he’s great, but even the greatest plays in the world are worthless if the players aren’t executing them on the field. Talent takes time, so let’s give these guys time to develop their talent. It’s all good!