After wading in and out of the lineup because of injuries, two Broncos could return to the defensive backfield this week.

In his Friday press conference, Interim Head Coach Eric Studesville said Andre’ Goodman and Darcel McBath had two good days of practice this week, and the team has another chance to judge the players’ health in Friday’s practice.

“We are going to get another one today and we are still evaluating that,” Studesville said. “We feel good where we are right now and we are going to just keep going forward from there.”

Goodman has started all four games he’s played in this season, totaling three tackles the last time he saw game action in Week 8 against the 49ers in London. In 2009, the cornerback started all 16 games, notched a career-high 43 tackles and led the club with 5 interceptions and 17 passes-defensed.

McBath has played in five games this year, posting 6 tackles against Indianapolis in his season-debut. The second-year safety last saw action in Week 11 at San Diego for Monday Night Football. As a rookie last season, he led the club with 11 special-teams tackles in before being placed on injured reserve in December.

Goodman (quadricep) and McBath (quadricep/ankle) were limited in practice all week and listed as questionable for Sunday on the injury report. Matt Prater (right groin) is also questionable after being limited in practice all week.

Perrish Cox (non-injury) did not practice on Friday and is questionable, while Brian Dawkins (knee), Spencer Larsen (hamstring) and Demaryius Thomas (ankle) have been declared out since Monday.

STUDESVILLE ON COX

In his Friday press session, Studesville addressed Cox’s Thursday arrest.

“We are in the process of reviewing all the facts, gathering all the information that we can related to this,” the coach said. “It is a situation we take very, very seriously within the organization. We are going to cooperate fully in the whole process of whatever needs to take place as we gather this information.”

Studesville said the team would consider a number of factors before making a final decision on Cox’s playing status.

“We are going to make the best organizational decision for us as to what we need to do, look at all the facts, consider everything, and the policies that we have set forth within the organization,” he said.

The coach stressed that the incident has no relation to the football field. He said he would rely on a the senior members of the squad to keep the team focused as they prepare to face Arizona on Sunday.

“We are not downplaying the seriousness of this event and how it affects our organization,” Studesville said. “We have tremendous leadership from our veteran players. We are going to rely on them to continue to prepare for the game of football.”

A SKELTON CREW

Arizona Cardinals Head Coach Ken Whisenhunt announced on Friday that John Skelton will start at quarterback for his team this Sunday against the Broncos.

Skelton is a 6-foot-5, 244-pound rookie from Fordham University. The fifth-round pick set school career records with 9,923 passing yards, 69 TD passes, 802 completions and 1,363 attempts. He had at least one TD pass in 30 of the team’s 34 games over the last three seasons and ranked in the top 10 nationally in pass efficiency rating in both ‘08 and ’09.

Last week against Rams, he completed three of six passes for 45 yards and threw one interception.

As far as injuries go, QB Derek Anderson (head) is doubtful after not practicing all week. WR Larry Fitzgerald is probable after not practicing on Friday for non-injury reasons.

LB Clark Haggans (groin) and LB Joey Porter (knee) were limited all week and are questionable. DE Calais Campbell (ankle) and K Jay Feeley are probable after being limited in practice all week. CB Michael Adams (shoulder), WR Steve Breaston (knee), DT Darnell Dockett (shoulder) and CB Greg Toler (foot) all fully participated in Friday practice and are probable.

VALUABLE VOTE

For the past three years, Tim Tebow could count on a plane ticket to New York City for the Heisman Memorial Trophy presentation.

Winning the prestigious award in 2007 provided Tebow with a vote in the contest for every year since, and a spot as a finalist in 2008 and 2009 opened up a front row seat from the Big Apple. This year, his seat will stay empty.

Tebow will spend the night in Arizona on the eve of the Broncos’ matchup against the Cardials when the Heisman Trust announces this year’s winner.

“I am supposed to be on a flight to New York is what my body is telling me, but it is very exciting for all those nominees who are there, and they are going to have a great time,” Tebow said. “It will be surreal for all of them and definitely overwhelming for one.”

Oregon running back LaMichael James, Stanford quarterback Andrew Luck, Boise State quarterback Kellen Moore and Auburn quarterback Cam Newton are all nominated for the award.

Tebow chose not to reveal his choice for the winner of the bronze trophy, but he did share what goes into the decision.

“I look at what their team would be like without that player,” he said. “I look at how valuable that player is to their team — a lot of different things like that. So, I try to take into account and make a great decision.”

When he won the trophy three years ago, Tebow became the first sophomore in the history of the award to earn the honor. That year, he also became the first player in NCAA history to rush and throw for 20 touchdowns.

“I think the Heisman Trophy is one of the most prestigious awards out there, especially in the U.S.,” Tebow said. “I took it seriously. I looked all around at all the different athletes and I thought there were some definitely qualified players and I felt like I voted for the best player.”

-Gabe Hiatt, DenverBroncos.com

Below are pictures from Friday’s practice:

Tags: 2010, Andre' Goodman, Arizona Cardinals, Darcel McBath, Denver Broncos, Eric Studesville, John Skelton, Perrish Cox, Week 14

This entry was posted on Friday, December 10th, 2010 at 2:48 pm and is filed under DenverBroncos.com. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can skip to the end and leave a response. Pinging is currently not allowed.