The day-by-day wait for Javon Walker’s return from knee inflammation just got much longer.
Head Coach Mike Shanahan announced after Thursday’s practice that the sixth-year wide receiver would undergo an operation on his knee Friday. The procedure is “more of a cleanout,” Shanahan said, but it will necessitate Walker being sidelined for “a few weeks.”
The procedure will take place in Houston.
“Javon is not feeling very good,” Shanahan said. “How quickly he comes back, I’m not really sure. It’s more of a cleanout — the same knee he had the operation on.
“(The) doctors don’t think it’s very serious, but it’s serious enough to go in there and clean it out because he’s been off of it for a few weeks and it hasn’t gotten much better. Monday he practiced full speed and it looked like he was going to come back ready to go, and yesterday he was limited and you guys know the rest.”
Walker had remained in Denver during the bye weekend to work on rehabilitating the knee, which became inflamed and filled with fluid late last month. The pain in the knee — which he said was not related to the anterior-cruciate-ligament surgery he underwent in 2005 — forced him to the sidelines during the losses to Indianapolis and San Diego just before the bye.
Walker had reconciled himself to the constancy of pain in the knee for the rest of the regular season, and practiced Monday with no unexpected side effects from the work — even 24 hours later, when further pain often sets in.
“Tuesday was alright,” he said Wednesday. “You’ve still got the achy feeling and everything’s not going to be 100 percent.
“I really don’t notice it until everything is done and it’s time to calm down. But usually when I’m out there in the midst of playing, I don’t even notice it.”
Wednesday afternoon, however, Walker was limited, and by Thursday, he was not in uniform with his teammates as they went to work.
“It always hurts when you lose a player of Javon’s ability, but we’ve got a number of guys that we’ve got confidence in. We expect them to step up and get the job done.”
On the other side of the line of scrimmage, Champ Bailey also sat out Thursday’s practice. When asked whether he would play, he was noncommittal, saying, “I don’t know,” while adding that he would discuss his status more on Friday.
“(Bailey) said he felt a little bit better than yesterday,” Shanahan said. “Hopefully he feels better tomorrow and he can practice.”
Meanwhile, safety Hamza Abdullah was listed as having limited participation after going through the full practice on Wednesday. He has missed three straight games with a hip injury.
Tags: Champ Bailey, Javon Walker
Mas,
Who are the likely candidates to replace him? I know in the SD game we started Marshall and Stokely, but I think I would much prefer to see Stokely remain in the slot (where he is so good) and have Martinez start for Javon. I think Martinez has better hands than Marshall, and is as good at route running as Stokely. He’s definitely better than any of the other options I know of. What are your thoughts?
This is a huge hit. People dont realize how important this guy is to our offense. Horrible news. I wanted him to light Green Bay up too.
Sucks
Martinez in not better than Marshall, but in thre WR sets your right Stok in the slot and have Marshall and Martinez outside.
Since Smith and Walker are out we really need these young guys step up make plays and not use inexperience as an excuse.
Plain and simple TE’s are going to have to be more involved in the passing game, maybe now we can start running play action with regularity again (and Im not taking about bootlegs all the time either).
We’ll be alright I just wish we had a vet other than Stok who played outside normally.
[...] Andrew Mason hype it up! | Posted by Kyle in Denver Broncos, Injury [...]
I still don’t know why they got rid of Hixon. I know Bronco fans disliked him as a returner but what about him as a reciever. He showed a ton of talent during preseason and practice, just ask Champ Bailey!
This really hurts the Broncos and it makes it all the harder to emerge with victory. Nevertheless, our history is rife with players stepping up when no one expected anything out of them, so perhaps this can occur once again. Of course, we’re better with Javon than without but as cliche as it sounds, it’s a team game and if the Broncos play within the framework of the team concept, convert in the red zone and contain the run, we’ll beat the vaunted Steelers. At times like this, you can tell who the real fans are. I’m among them (the real fans) as are many of you, so thanks fellow Broncos fans, I’m not alone in this world.
Dam, this totally sucks.
OC in SD, you are right. This is a big hit for us because of what he bring to the team and our offense. Hopefully whoever takes his spot will step up.
I am glad that Scheffler is back to playing and I would love to see him a lot more involved on Sunday, especially in the red zone so Jay can connect for 7.
Dude, this totally sucks.
OC, I totally agree with you on how important Walker is to our offense and hopefully whoever takes his spot will step up.
I am glad Scheffler is back and I would love to see him a lot more involved in Sunday’s game, especially in the red zone.
if bailey is out too this is gonna be a long game. and i seriously doubt if walker will return this season these types of injuries always linger i bet he is out for the season after they take a look at how the surgery went
[...] wide receiver Javon Walker will have knee surgery and miss “a few weeks,” the team announced on its official web site. Although head coach Mike Shanahan downplayed the significance of the surgery, the Broncos will be [...]
The season is looking like its over more and more as the days go by. Such a bad year to be a Bronco fan but hopefully they can get it right this offseason.
Yeah Walker is really important to our offense but I am tired of him being hurt already. I had a feeling he would end up to be a liability thats why Green Bay didn’t want him anymore. He has a lot of talent but the fact is he is never going to be a reliable receiver! I have no idea what to do about our offense. We need a good #2 receiver to take pressure off of Marshall and Stokely doesn’t have the speed or the size for that. He will always just be a decent slot receiver. Wow this is disheartening!!! Seems as though we need to focus on our recruiting. Stop getting drug users and injury proned players!!!
If Javon goes on IR will we bring in Hixon?
As for improving returning on special teams why not use Brandon Marshall?
This indeed is another hard hit for the broncos. Lets not question our coaches decisions. Its not the end of the world though. Lets think about it,,by next year,,the team should be beyond clicking. Cutler would be more mature and more confident with his game, Marshall would be in his third year and we knw that third year receivers usually have their breakout years on their third season, not to mention Walker back all healed with no “leg inlfamation”, the team should be able to pcik up quite a few solid picks in the draft….and theres more talent in next years draft.
I was kinda dissappointed that walker was out,,I too, like OC, was hoping that he would burn the Steelers D again like last year and light up Green Bay. but every cloud has a silver lining. this could be the chance for the team to get into the “one team, one goal, one win at time” mentality.
Go Broncos!!!!
I don’t understand what is going on in Denver. I heard a nurse call in on 950 The Fan about two weeks ago. She had taken a close look at Steve Antonopulos and his medical background. The man doesn’t even have a masters in a medically related field. I don’t care how long he’s been with the Broncos you need to keep up with a science that is changing every month and as “Head Trainer” the buck stops with him. We are one of the most oft injured teams in the NFL. If you look at our history our players are not only banged up more but when the get severely hurt they either don’t come back all the way or they never come back at all. From a strictly medical standpoint, something has to change. Our strength and conditioning isn’t what it’s supposed to be and our players are not receiving the medical care they need. I know I’m not the first one to ask this question. A lot of people have commented how the Bronco’s players just don’t look as strong as their counterparts on other teams and their right. If you look at the list of players this year that have sustained injury’s you’ll see that even with time on the sidelines their not getting healthy. I have had 4 knee surgeries. If you get fluid build up in the knee you wait a week to see if pt, ice, heat, and time take care of the problem. If it doesn’t you get in there and scope it out. If Walker needed this surgery it should have happened a least a week ago and there’s nothing Antonopolis is going to say to tell me that a knee that’s still swollen today looked any better yesterday or even a week ago. This team has a chance to break back into the fight but it’s not going to happen against teams who have gotten healthy over the bye week and are stronger than we are to boot.
Mike in San Diego.
Hey everyone,
I see some people on here who still believe, and I am one of them. Nothing &%$@es me off more than the people like 1018 who thro in the towel because a player is out. I think this is going to be a great opportunity for Tony to get a TE in our game, and I really like the confidence Jay has in Tony. So you Bronco fans that are into Fantasy play, and don’t have a clear cut #1 TE or have someone like Benjamin Watson or someone in a bye week it would be good to pick Tony up off of waivers!… I think Martinez is going to have a break out game this week (for a young gut of course). Maybe with Champ out our D will find its Identity (other than being a pass D)… This all may just be wishful thinking, but as Bronco fan I believe we are going to do well this weekend!
Hey Bronco Fans, did we forget? We let Hixon go for the guy by the name of Brian Clark? If I remember right, during the Pre-Season this guy outplayed Hixon! Walker might be a few weeks out but we have young guys to step in and it looks like Scheffler might be back in play so I believe we’ll be fine. When Javon comes back and Smith comes back we’ll make a good run for the end regardless if it’s for the playoffs or not. BRONCOS FOREVER!
where are you #80?
we need rod smith.
I dont know if were going to miss Bailey or Javon more….
When Bailey is in, the QB usually doesnt even look that direction for the most part….at the same time, w/out walker the D can spread out to cover more field….
Wouldn’t we place Javon on IR if we knew he wasn’t coming back…?
Believe it or not guys, but I think #80 is done… Usually when a player is having trouble in this point in his career as our beloved Rod Smith is, it’s very hard to get back into playing mode.. I’d be very surprised if Smith is able to come back and be an impact player; he is what Jerry Rice was to us back then.. A good coach to younger players. Yes, he still has good hands, but he is going to be lacking that speed that made him so dangerous back then; this is just my opinion, but I think that his farewell year was 2 years ago when he exploded to the pro-bowl.
So yeah, how bout’ that 08 draft?!!!
If denver can beat the steelers at home without javon and champ, then that will show we can win as a team…brian clark did a great job in pre season and martinez is stepping up..plus tony scheffler, i dont know why he hasnt been playing..scheffler should be playing all the time, thats cutler’s boy, dont we remember last year, when he always threw schefflers way….Denver is going to win this week, i can feel it..lost at home twice already….denver needs to use daniel graham on one side and scheffler on the other side with martinez or clar wide out with marshall and stokley in slot..scheffler is like a jason witten..great hands but faster like a shannon sharpe..but not cut like shap…lol….
If champ bailey does not play look for d-fox to have a big game..hes been waiting for this opportunity to show he can start in this league..just watch…
Let me know what u think denver fans….. go broncos…
BRNCOS4LIFE
I’m glad my comment of a pretty obvious fact &^$$es you off Dekreybroncofan. We are 2-3 and have lost our past 3 in an alarming fashion but yet you still blindly feel like we will win a superbowl this year. I’d honestly rather get a better draft pick than go and get knocked out of the playoffs.
I’d obviously love for the team to turn it around with all the young talent but in most cases young talent needs time to develop. As a bronco fan I will always have hope they can turn it around but as a fan of the NFL, I also see that they stand no chance with our defense at beating teams like the colts and the patriots. I’m glad I am capable of accepting the fact this team is young and looking more toward the future than the present but I also do wish that was not the case. If they lose this week to the steelers there truly is no point in hoping for a turn around because they will obviously get handled in the playoffs.
But here’s to hoping we do win the superbowl this year, as much of a longshot as it may be with the tragic injuries we have had over the past year… I’m fortunate enough to be able to watch this team grow for years to come at least.
I’m kinda bummed out Javon, I was looking forward to his return. Oh Well….I STILL BELIEVE! We have some young talent and I think we have a good crop of them! It’s Tony time! Scheff should step it up i LIKE THE IDEA OF sELVIN yOUNG RETURNING KICKS. GO BRONCOS!!
I’m kinda bummed out Javon, I was looking forward to his return. Oh Well….I STILL BELIEVE! We have some young talent and I think we have a good crop of them! It’s Tony time! Scheff should step it up and I like the idea of Selvin returning kicks. I think he’ll give our special teams a little spark (just don’t drop the rock!). GO BRONCOS!
we have great young talent at wide receiver, when are we going to start using it! great young talent at TE ,when it tony gonna get the ball? when are we going to put the ball in the hands of our playmakers? cultler and sheffler have great chemistry, we saw it last year, why haven’t we seen it this year? the best way to help out defense it by keeping out offense on the field and the ball in the hands of our playmakers. selvin young returning kicks, i like that idea. put the ball in these guys hands!!!!!!!! crush the steelers! go broncos!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I’ll just like to say that team spirit and pshychology is a much bigger part in sports than anyone think. If everyone on our roster can gear it up, if we feel that the world is against us an that we are written off than two things can happen:
1: The team can stick together and fight for every yard on every play. “Go down with the flag raised”, and that is enough to start winning games.
2: Start believing it is not ment to be this year, and then we lose the reminder of the games.
I believe the players do have some pride and will stick together. We’ll see on Sunday. Also I’d like to see some more offensive playcalling. Get creative in the “red zone”. Try something crazy, cause what we’re doing now is crazy, but in the opposite manner.
It’s not gonna be a SuperBowl year, but it could still be a fun year watching the young players taking steps to become elite NFL players.
I’m also convinced the broncos will win this weekend. We’ve lost to 3 very good teams, and even though we lost pretty decently, we didnt get any breaks in any of the games, i think Javon is a huge hit to our offensive weapons, but with scheffler back, we should see a steady dosage of 88. And why start glen martinez when we have brian clark, he showed a ton in pre season, id like to see him out there, the odds are stacked above us, but i think we pull it out this weekend, dre and fox can cover pittsburgh recievers if champs out, which it looks like, and i think this is the week, against the most improbable team, that our defense stays stout, gets a couple turnovers, and maybe a big performance from special teams via selvin young/andre hall…i dont know why the other fans are writing us off this year already…that makes me really angry, stand by your team you pieces of @#$%…things look glum in dove valey, but i still believe we will win every week, and i still bleed orange and blue!!! go broncos!!!!!
Yeah Walker is really important to our offense but I am tired of him being hurt already. I had a feeling he would end up to be a liability thats why Green Bay didn’t want him anymore. He has a lot of talent but the fact is he is never going to be a reliable receiver! I have no idea what to do about our offense. We need a good #2 receiver to take pressure off of Marshall and Stokely doesn’t have the speed or the size for that. He will always just be a decent slot receiver. Wow this is disheartening!!! Seems as though we need to focus on our recruiting. Stop getting drug users and injury proned players!!!
there’s still hope for the broncos. i’ve seen them excel in the past with much worse personnel. in fact, they have more talent now then they’ve had since elway’s retirement and that includes injuries. that talent may be young, but under the guidance of the leagues best coaching staff they’ll all eventually find their stride. the injuries of these veteran leaders will create space for the young players to grow and before too long the veterans will return giving the broncos tremendous depth. this crisis presents an excellent opportunity for the inexperienced to prove themselves. also, before we resort to talk of doom and gloom, remember that the broncos are only a half game out of first place in the afc west.
however, if the broncos want a place to direct their worry, then they should aim it at the loss of tom nalen. who could possibly step in and replace that man and do what he’s done for this offense so consistently for so many years?
this is so sad I hope he gets back on his feet we need him to win.
For the record, I never said Martinez was better (all around) than Marshall. But, I do think he has better hands. Meaning Marshall is amazing after the catch, but Martinez can make amazing catches (like over top a cornerback, in the corner of the endzone). As for Brian Clark . . . I do like him, but Martinez is better. Let Brian return kicks and sub in when someone needs a rest, but start Martinez, Marshall, and Stokely.
Dekrey, I grapped Tony for my fantasy team a few weeks ago, waiting for the breakout game . . . I agree with you that this week is a great time to play him.
I feel sick!!I hoped all the youth(Moss Crowder etc.)plus the free agents and learning would work great!!!I now will pray but well as I said last time,NO LUCK!I hope walker can come back,andROD SMITH can help soon his showing up with young rec. that might work Defence well hope Bates can fix it now ,not next year like packer player’s said on sunday.I knew champ would get hurt having him play every where.I hope champ get’s back thats my plyer the best all around corner in NFL he can tackle anybody.I agree with him cover corner is not like the one’s who duck play’s!!GO BRONCOS!!!Martinez YOU CAN DO IT!!
well its sad the we dont gonna have javon but i still think the they can turn this around let stockley and scheffler play more. we have to more agresive on the play calling and ofense like and defense. and in that nightmare of kick retuns i like to see selving young that kid have a lot of speed and good moves i think they shuold try that because now we dont have nothing to lose let martinez also play whit marshall i think that would be another good combination, gooooo, broncos
I think the Steelers a going into a Mile High AMBUSH, some how the Broncos do not want to get spanked again in there own back yard on NATL’ TV so they will find a way to show up and win the game. Go Broncos, and Jay” Pleeeeeeeeese no more Int’s.
So…does anyone know which WR’s will be free-agents after this year???
[...] out Mason’s Morsels for info on Walker’s situation – his surgery will be a cleanout that could keep him off the [...]
[...] wide receiver Javon Walker will have knee surgery and miss “a few weeks,” the team announced on its official web site. Although head coach Mike Shanahan downplayed the significance of the surgery, the Broncos will be [...]
[...] wide receiver Javon Walker will have knee surgery and miss “a few weeks,” the team announced on its official web site. Although head coach Mike Shanahan downplayed the significance of the surgery, the Broncos will be [...]