For the last three weeks, injuries at running back have been a defining Broncos storyline. But with Andre Hall, Travis Henry and Selvin Young all back at practice and taking part in the full gamut of activities Wednesday, the harsh injury spotlight shone on wide receiver Brandon Stokley, who sat out Wednesday after injuring his left knee Sunday at Oakland.
This is the second knee problem for Stokley in two weeks; he bruised his right knee against Chicago and missed the Wednesday practice but was back to work a day later.
“I got kicked on the inside of my leg and my whole leg kind of whipped out,” Stokley said of the latest injury, which occurred during the second quarter of the 34-20 loss to the Raiders. “I kept playing through it. It was bothering me a little bit off and on, but in that situation, you’ve just got to play through it.”
But he couldn’t practice through it Wednesday, and didn’t want to jeopardize his chances of returning Sunday by jogging or doing anything that might place additional strain on the knee.
“I didn’t even try,” Stokley said. “I’m just going to see how it does. Maybe try it tomorrow. But I just rested it today.”
Until Stokley tests the knee, he won’t have much of an idea about his status for the Chiefs game.
“It’s kind of hard to tell until I go out there to run on it and see how it does,” he said. “We still have a little while to go, so if there’s any way possible, I’m going to play; there’s no doubt about that. We’ll have to wait and see.”
Stokley was joined on the sidelines by safety Nick Ferguson, who did not practice due to a knee injury.
Hall, meanwhile, said he felt “a little pain” in his first practice since suffering the left-high-ankle sprain against Chicago on Nov. 25, but didn’t feel any lingering soreness by the time he returned to the locker room about 15 minutes after he completed his extra post-practice work on kickoff returns.
When asked whether he’d be able to play Sunday, he was resolute in his reply.
“Definitely. I’m back,” he said. “I don’t care about that ankle. I’m not worried about it. I’m going to do what I’ve got to do.”
In addition to Hall, seven other Broncos were listed on the injury report but made it through the entire two-hour practice at Broncos headquarters: John Engelberger (shoulder), Glenn Martinez (ankle), Isaac Snell (thigh), Javon Walker (knee), Nate Webster (ribs), Jamie Winborn (hamstring) and Young, who hurt his forearm Sunday at Oakland.
Meanwhile, in Kansas City, quarterback Brodie Croyle made it through the full practice after missing Sunday’s game with a bruised back, but third-team understudy quarterback Tyler Thigpen suffered a knee injury during Wednesday’s session, which came three days after he saw fourth-quarter action for Kansas City. Edwards said Thigpen would have an MRI examination Thursday.
“If (Croyle) feels good (Thursday) and everything’s OK, yeah, he’ll be the starter,” Chiefs head coach Herm Edwards said.
Running back Larry Johnson saw some individual work, Edwards said, but remains out for Sunday, while linebacker Donnie Edwards is “questionable” according to the coach after sitting out with a hamstring injury Wednesday.
“It’s questionable right now,” Herm Edwards said. “I’ll know more later in the week. I don’t want to answer that right now. Later on we’ll find out.”
Also sitting out Wednesday at Arrowhead Stadium were tackles Damion McIntosh (knee) and Kyle Turley (back) and safety Greg Wesley (head).
Tags: Andre Hall, Brandon Stokley, Herman Edwards, Kansas City Chiefs, Selvin Young, Travis Henry
We REALLY need #14 out there, but if he can’t go we do have some pretty capable replacements. Marshall can catch over the middle. It is very comforting to have an almost full complement of running backs. Let’s hope Cutler and Henry work on hand-offs this week. GO BRONCOS!!
Walker better step up if he wants to stick around in Denver. You’re either injury prone or your not and it’s not looking positive for him right now. Stokley’s a gamer, if he says he can’t practice I don’t look for him to play.
we need stokley…i trust his hands more than other WRs…but he has dropped some balls in the last couple of weeks….
Come on Stoke!! We need ya for this push to the playoffs!!
I am really looking forward to having Hall retuning again… If Stockley cant go I would really like to see Javon and Jay gain some chem.
hrdnokd, slow down there will ya? There’s 4 games left, who knows what we’ll see from Walker. Most people forgot what Walker did for us last year, I mean he’s a big playmaker. You’re quick to sign off players, thank god some of you idiots aren’t GMs or head coaches. We’ll see Walker and Henry next year on this team whether you like it or not.
Amen beast. Writing Walker off at this point is just silly. However, I think I would rather see him not play again this year, and make sure that knee gets as rested and healed as it can for next year. Why risk trying to go on it prematurely? Sure he would add a huge dimension, but we’ve been without him this long…
I’m happy to see that there still some true Broncos fan left. I totally agree with Beast, and vegasbronco. There so many people who write without thinking. So many people talk out there butt. Get rid of this guy or get rid of that guy bench Henry, or Walker can’t play anymore or fire that coach bla bla bla! That’s all it is. Get real people we had a bad season. We been spoiled with winning seasons and we don’t know how to act when we have bad ones. I look forward to the rest of this season and next. We still have a great core of guys all we need is some key people in some areas to be a real contendar. I don’t mean to question anybodys loyalty. But act like true fans. Things could be alot worse, we could have a team like Miami and be 0-12.
Missing 1/2 of the past 3 seasons doesn’t bode well for any player, especially one with a gimpy knee. If Walker doesn’t come up big everyone can kiss off any chance of actually playing in the postseason since the teams been scoring so much without him. Henry may be back but I wouldn’t bet on it. I read somewhere that a good chunk of his “signing bonus” is a roster bonus in April. Draft anyone? I’m a die hard fan, but the roster turnover this year has been beyond ridiculous and Shanahan does have the final word. Pat Bowlen would NEVER allow this team to be the laughing stock of the NFL like Miami. One playoff win since 98 is hardly spoiled.
G funk… Are you serious? Since when does telling it like it is not make you a true fan? Let me give you some facts…..Greg Robinson-369 points, Ray Rhodes 344 points, Larry Coyer 305 points, Wade Phillips 396 points. All were canned after there defenses allowed those points. Now Bates is on pace to allow 439 points. Yes 439 POINTS. He also cut Gerrard Warren. His system could not stop USC and Shanny thinks hes doing a good job. Its time for a new coaching era in Denver. Especially with all our young guys. How about Jimmie Johnson as head coach and bring in Rod Smith as a assistant. Just a thought.
Look people…..Walker will do good but you guys are forgetting something…CUTLER WONT THROW IT TO WALKER!! he is also only playing on 3rd downs. If we see him on all 3 downs then we will see progress to run on the knee and he’ll be able to get better on it. We just need San Diego to lose to a tough team in Tennesse and Detroit who could play big with the run game while we play Kansas City and Houston and if this goes to plan then whoever wins the matchup on Christmas Eve. will likely win the division. Wont that be a Christmas to remember! Ha Ha!
GFunk does make one REALLY good point: We have been spoiled since at least 1996, with the exception of that one forgettable 1999 season. None of us know how to handle this kind of thing. Not the organization, and certainly not us spoiled fans who were privileged to have the greatest QB of all time on our team. As bad as this season has been, there is a lot of hope for the future…
It’s good to see Stokely return to practice. I hope he can play Sunday. I live in an area where I get tired of hearing about the Kansas City Chiefs. I hope that the Broncos will send the chiefs home with a frown on their faces. It’s also good to see that the Broncos signed on two defensive lineman and another defensive back, I hope their up for the game.
Is anybody else really excited about Steven Harris? I know he was sent down to the practice squad after the preseason, but the guy has tons of potential, and I think him and Marcus Thomas should really help each other out. Things may be looking up on the D-line….
Number 14 is a Huge part of the offense! Not necessarily because of the number of catches he gets a game or because of the way he is used by Shanahan (which are good reasons) but because (in my opinion) he is Jay Cutlers Favorite WR!! There relationship on the field in my eyes is growing and Cutler is really starting to trust in him! On monday night against the Titans I saw a most beautiful thing happen, Jay Cutler and Brandon Stokley were having fun together!!! I loved it! I think we need Stokley on the field for Cutler’s on field sanity. By the way I just have to say Jay Cutler is the man! He is young and inconsistent but will be better than anyone we have seen as QB on the Broncos. Yes a very bold statement, but all I have to say is look at the numbers for the first 17 starts for number 6 against number 7′s. I love JE just as much as the next guy but the past is the past and Im extremely excited for the future. As far as the RB position on this team is concerned I feel that Mr. Hall is the best fit for the Broncos! He wants it people he really does and if he can go from the practice squad to Starting against the bears (and really kick ass) (Think Mcdonald’s) Bu Bu Bu Bu Bu im lovin it. Anyway this is my first comment iv been a fan for my whole life but just registered. I must say I had fun. GO BRONCOS BABY!!!!!!
Again, 1 playoff win in almost a decade is not what I’d call “spoiled”. Maybe some of you have forgotten what true BRONCO FOOTBALL is SUPPOSED to look like! Shanahan, rally the wagons, you got 4 games left before the real season kicks off.
West Coast I see your point. But my point is that for the past few week all I see is the negative stuff people our writing. I know its just opinions but get rid of a player because he hurt is stupid. Your throwing out facts let me throw one out for you two superbowls under Shanny the man Knows what he doing. And if he feels Bates need to be out he will do it. If you have already forgotten the D has made some great progress in the past few weeks except for last week the D been playing pretty well. We have had some bad turnovers at some critical parts of the game that has hurt us this year. And the changes in the line up every week hurts to. Like i said before I’m not saying there not fans. But is it being a fan only if the broncos win. But when they lose your ready to turn on the team. That’s what bothers me.
all im gonna say is let javon rest his knee, and if he comes back next year and produces then great, if he gets injured next year, then get rid of him. lets just hope for the best…..broncos better kick the chiefs asses, i live in pa and everybody creams their pants over the eagles here, im ready for the broncos to have a better record than at least them!!!!! GO BRONCOS!!!!!!!
Stokley is much needed for Sunday and so is Walker but if Stokley doesn’t feel that he’s ready and can play through any of the pain then I don’t want to jeopardize his health. On the other hand, I applaude him for sticking with it in Sunday’s game… it takes a strong person to play through tough pain like although I’ve never had an injury like this, I’ll take his word for it. And if Walker doesn’t play like he did last year for the remainder of this year doesn’t mean he won’t be with the team anymore, you know there are some coaches that believe in giving people like this a second chance and frankly Walker is worth keeping and worth a second chance after his injury is healed. Walker is a HUGE asset to this team and we need him but I don’t want him to jeopardize his health either if he’s not ready… he’s really the only person that will know when he’s ready to play to his full potential again, no one else can tell him that for him. Its HIS injury, HIS decision, no one else’s. Yes, he gets advice and thoughts from anyone who helps him and the coaches but the bottom line is, he’s the only one who knows when he’ll be 100%.
As for Sunday, looks like our foes will be without Mr. LJ so we’ll see how well we can hold up our previous win. I truly believe we won that game because we not only tried but we just went out there and did it… we fought for that win, we earned that win and clearly we got that win. That was a game I’ll never forget, solely on the fact that we won in Arrowhead, I honestly can’t remember the last time we did that. That’s an amazing threshold to come over to begin with and we beat a huge rival as well. We need to play like we did in that game but just add another 1,000,000% to that… there’s absolutely no excuse why we can’t win this game especially on our own territory. We should just tear them apart… Crrrrrrrush those Chiefs!!!!!!!!
GO BRONCOS!!!!!!!!!
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stokley is one of the best slot recievers, its nice to know though that we have 3 backs now that can all put in a descent amount of carries so that none of them get worn out or get reinjured. if stokley doesnt play then walker, sheffler, or maybe even graham or martinez will have to play very exceptional because marshall cant catch 30 balls on sunday. id like to see more screen passes also to our now healthy back field, it gives cutler a saftey option so he doesnt have to throw dumb interceptions into 2-3 man coverage, which not even tom brady can do. this is a big home game, and we need to absolutly DESTROY the chiefs if we want any kind of moral boost for the final stretch of the season. if the linebackers can pick their holes right and bly and champ dont get burt there is no reason why we dont CRUSH the chiefs. i know if we win all our games we’re in the playoffs, cause im possitive chargers are going to lose twice (broncos, titans)
BEAT THE CHIEFS, GO BRONCOS!!!
G Funk, do you even watch the games or do you just post with your Homer goggles on? The D has made some great progress, SERIOUSLY?! The D allowed Chicago and Oakland to hang 30 points on the scoreboard, 2 of the most anemic offenses in the league! You sound like your trying to discipline a toddler for crying out loud. “Just don’t let the Raiders beat you up like that next time Shanny. I know you’re a good little coach.” Like it or not in the NFL you get rid of players that STAY INJURED. I hope Walker can come through and prove he can stay healthy, especially since Stokley is hurt, but facts are facts. 1998 was almost a decade ago and too many of you are living in the past. Sure Shanahan knows X’s and O’s, but he doesn’t know free agency and he doesn’t know how to draft. Do we need to rehash all of the busts he’s picked in the first 3 rounds?
P.S. Andrew, you do great work my man! I appreciate you staying on top of the stories.
Hey guys………GO BRONCOS!!!!!! thats all i have to say.
THANK YOU HRDNOKD!!!! I am so sick of people whining “Why is everyone focusing on the negative about the team”! Are you serious! That’s why are team sucks this year! I think that every time we lose Shanny has gone into the locker room and told the team that they did good job despite the loss. Hey guys we’ll get um next time. Listen I love the Denver Broncos and I hate talking smack about them but hrdnokd is right when he says that 98 was damn near a decade ago. When are we going to stop giving Shanahan a free pass cause of what he did 10 and 11 years ago. I love Shanahan but when I want to motivate someone really get a fire up under there ass (Like the Broncos should have had against the raders) I tell them this is your last chance to show your fans that all the money we pay you is not wasted. Go out there and prove to the fans and to yourselfs that you dont suck! You have all played at 50% thus far and its time to turn it around! People we have SO much talent on this team DOES NO ONE SEE WHAT I SEE!!!! Shutdown corners that really have not been hurt all year(but look like they just don’t want to play). Hard hitting young Safety’s. John Lynch for god sakes he is a master at what he does I don’t care if he’s old he still tackles better than anyone on are team.(he tackles low THATS WHERE YOU TACKLE LOW AT THE ANKELS i don’t care how big you are 5’9, 190 Mr. Bly tackle LOW for god sakes maybe everyone in the NFL wont break your tackles) Are problem in 04 was we had NO pass rush we improved we have Dummervil who is in on damn near every play and John Engelberger has been really the only one playing well. We have it better this year than we have in a long time but NO one is really playing up to there money. Im sick of it and im sick of fans not seeing it. I LOVE THE BRONCOS so I don’t but I dont give free passes.
ok after the 89 superblowout i mean bowl, how many times did we make the playoffs?(so quiet you could here a mouse screech) and when we did how many times did we win? exactly. bring in jimmie johnson ah hello mcfly are you out of your mind. any of you that think shanny should go should start cheering for some other team. lets see we have had the best offense in the league for 12 years, hmm lets fire that guy. fair weather fans imagine what all of you would have said when we went 5-11 with elway. yall probably would have said trade elway uh. if eb and moss werent hurt engelberger would be on the practice squad. so there, we lose nalen hamilton our best reciever twice,(smith for the season and walker pretty much for the same) our starting corner gets murdered in front of walker, (mind f@!k there) nash dies after a charity b-ball game(another mind f@!k) and then we try to play ball. i will admit some of our players arent playin for what there gettin payed, but i dont see it all the time. only after we win 2 games in a row, then they think were the champs and were not. hopefully we win out and can use that for next season, thats the best case senario but im not gonna hold my breath for a playoff berth. i hope we get in but its looking pretty slim, but by winning out that shows we have some pride at least. and i will also say that SOME of shanny’s draft picks have been ?able only SOME though others have been the bomb,davis wilson both williams marshall scheff even oniel(we got a first rounder back when we traded him i think) and lets not forget about cutler. i think that if moss doesnt get hurt he probably is starting and producing. and what about thomas, that guy is a beast and is only gonna get better. so thats my nickles worth.
totall agree with you Shelbo Bronco
Shanny is a great coach…he needs to change a few play calling here or there but he is still a great coach…in my opinion, Bellicick, Shanny, and Fisher are top 3 coaches….
people need to stop jumping on and off these bandwagons…
after we beat KC and SD loses to Tenn, all these fairweather fans will be back…its gets pretty old watching you guys jump on and off.
I belive!!..always have..always will
go Broncos!!
Right on! Shelbo and Mr. clutch. Shanahan is the man but Shelbo you just said they get two wins and they think there the champs. How much of that do you think is coaching yeah shannys the man but even a NFL god like him has his off days in this case he is having an off season in rallying the troops. Would you agree??
Mine F%@!’s have something to do with it but I don’t give pass’s for that. Play through it. Sounds harsh but I just got back from Iraq and we were told to “play (in my case fight) through it” everyday and we did. Mr. clutch I love it! I belive too brother! GO BRONCOS BABY!!!
I agree with what you say, hrdnokd, that one playoff win in the last decade is not spoiled by Broncos standards. My point when I called us as fans “spoiled” is that we have not had to endure the typical, 2-3 year stretch being under .500 like most teams go through. After losing our franchise qb, we had one season where we were nowhere near being in the playoff hunt. Contrast that to Miami after losing Marino, Buffalo losing Kelly, etc. I agree with you, that the bar has been raised and anything less than the SuperBowl is not what we expect around here. When I say spoiled, though, I mean we have never had to endure extended stays in the cellar, like Oakland, Detroit, Arizona, etc.
And, did someone say Cutler is going to be the best qb we’ve ever had? I love the enthusiasm (I think), but come on! Let’s give him a few years before we even start saying that kind of thing. It isn’t fair to him, and it certainly isn’t fair to the guy who gave this franchise and fans everything he had for 17 years. We all know Elway’s greatness cannot be measured in stats alone…
I think we are going to beat KC and HOu..actually I KNOW we are going to beat them….
Then Shanny will have 11 days to come up with a game plan for the big game in SD….He is a great coach who I have alot of faith it and he will come up with his biggest coaching win in the last 10 years with the win in SD….
Cutler will finally win a BIG GAME where everything is on the table…
AFC WEST DIVISON TITLE!!!!
Some you may call me stupid for believing that but I really always believe in my team…
Some of you are spoiled as the guy above mentioned. WE did have a few years of rebuilding, but even when the Broncos are rebuilding, they are still competitive. You want to live in AZ, Det, Clev, NY, where rebuilding is going 2-14, 3-13. We have never had to go thru that. Every team will have a few down years to retool their team and we are lucky that the Broncos can do that while still fielding a decent team.
We are on the upswing and it will start to show in these last 4 games and into next year.
Go Broncos!!!
Hey people…..if you love the Broncos….next time you post something say Hell YEA!!!!!! plus we could win the division still! GO BRONCOS!!!
Shanahan has been in the same spot now for 13 years, all bread eventually goes stale. The man knows his X’s and O’s as I’ve said, but you cannot turn a blind eye to the terrible drafts and offseason acquisitions any longer. If anyone was counting on Smith coming back this season and being a #2 wide out you really need to pay more attention. Hip surgeries end football careers 99% of the time. Yeah, I remember when we didn’t make the playoffs 2 years in row and we fired the coach. I believe his name was Wade Phillips. My point here is Bowlen doesn’t stand for non-playoff seasons for long before he makes a change. We are spoiled only because Pat Bowlen is one of the greatest owners in NFL history. As for the drafts, only in the past 2 or 3 years have the drafted players stuck for more than 2 seasons. Maurice Claret ring a bell? Being a great player for another team doesn’t exactly help the Broncos now does it? For every successful drafted player I can name 2 busts, HUGE BUSTS, and that’s a fact. Shanahan hasn’t looked so great without Elway playing quarterback has he? Like I’ve said, one playoff win in a decade doesn’t cut it Broncos Country. Beat the hell out of KC!
Good to hear A Hall is back. He’s gonna take one to the house! Go Broncos!
djbronco88 i would agree with you about shanny not having us focused, its probably more his fault than anyone elses, and i also agree that you have to play through adversity, thats the nature of the game. i was jus sayin its gotta be hard. hrdnokd elway in my mind was the greatest to ever play, you cant just replace him with anybody, im curious as to what you warrant as a bust. maurice clarrett was a a third rounder man and shanny took a chance on him, the only other first day pick i can think of that didnt work out was watts, please correct me if im wrong.(and i dont mean that in a rude way bro.) i mean sure this season stinks but its not over L.T. could blow out his knee(God forbid) but it could happen or they could just lose a few games and if we win out we would be in. shanny was the O.C. in 84 we went 13-3 and lost in the second round then reeves fired shanny. my point is elway didnt win crap without shanny. why cuz shanny knows how to win, and he drafted td which in my mind is the only reason we won those superbowls. as for smith dont you think some of his success should be credited to coach, and i would be more surprised to see him not come back. meaning i think he will make it back and be affective. and Mr.B doesnt take losing well but he obviously knows a winner when he sees it maybe thats why he resigned shanny to 2011, just my take on it. like i said im not gonna hold my breath waitin for a playoff berth but its only because i will be screming at the top of my lungs for my team. and i think we didnt make the playoffs at all after 89.(i think)
I’d be glad to help ya out Shelbo. Denver made the playoffs with Reeves in 91 but lost to the Bills, Reeves was then fired in 92. The next year at 9-7 they got smoked by the Raiders and floundered at 7-9 the next season, Phillips was fired. Elways #’s took off after Reeves was fired, Shanahan knows his strategy and knew how to use Elway (GREATEST EVER). 1st round busts include Middlebrooks, Nash, Lelie (yes he is), and Foster (can’t even play in Detroit). Mobley was good, so was Pryce, Al was his best draft pick ever in my opinion. 3 guys, maybe 4, truly worthy of 1st round selections.
hrdnkd, you must be one of those guys who loves to hear himself talk but doesn’t know sh*t. Shanny knows how to bring in talent. Look at all the undrafted talent he’s brought here. EVERY team has had busts in the draft. Get off your high horse. Oh, and a qustion for you- How many coaches have ever won back to back Superbowls? ’98 or not? Go back through all NFL history! ALL YOU SHANNY HATERS ARE SHORT BUS KIDS!
Has anybody heard rumors about Shanahan looking at the Michigan job? Some fellas were talking about it on the Denver Post website, but I don’t know if there’s anything to it or just guys blowing smoke out their heineys.
thanks hrdnokd, yea i forgot about those guys they all pretty mush suck now. i just hope he doesnt let it contnue into next years draft, cuz there are alot of badass backers and safties coming out and we all know how much we need a middle line backer(nothing against williams hes out of his “natural” position. once again thanks bro, you really do know your shiznit. peace
Hrdnokd. Did I watch the game did you watch the game. The game I saw was the offence turning the ball over. I think it was 24 points scored on turnovers. Were did the D come into play with that, they were on the field all day long. I don’t understand the Shanny haters. But he is a good coach that knows what he doing his record while being the broncos coach speaks for it self. Hey folks the bottem line is this. All teams go threw this. Its not easy putting a superbowl team togather it takes time.I like to see some of you people go out every week and put a team on the field when you don’t know who going to play. If any thing this year has taught me is that one player can make a big diffrence. And every week this guy out or that guy is out. takes a toll on a team. I agree we have not made the playoffs and its sad. But the future looks great.
I agree that the offense didn’t help the D in Oakland, but what about the other 4 games this year? My God, 5 teams have scored 30+ points on us this year, simply atrocious. Either way I’m sick of inserting player B into the lineup week in and out. The depth is a problem we seem to have every year isn’t it? Coincidence, I think not! Simply put, WIN OUT and give the fans something to cheer about!
hrdnokd I totally agree with that. Lets just hope the team can rally just like they did in 1997. We were a wild card then.