TORAIN UPDATE: Head Coach Mike Shanahan announced after the morning session that running back Ryan Torain will need surgery to repair damage done to his elbow during practice on Wednesday. Torain broke the upper bone in his elbow and an MRI revealed ligament damage.
“We will see how the operation goes and see what the doctors say,” Shanahan said. “But it is obviously more serious that we first thought.”
Torain gives an update in his blog entry.
In preparation for Saturday’s preseason opener at Houston the Broncos held an abridged morning session without pads, similar to the team’s afternoon jog through sessions.
ATTENDANCE REPORT: Hamza Abdullah remained out of pad nursing his groin injury… Champ Bailey continues to nurse his right hamstring… Peyton Hillis remained on the sidelines with a left hamstring… Chad Mustard is still recovering from his right hamstring injury… Tom Nalen remained out due to a sore left knee… Ryan Torain was out due to his aforementioned elbow
POSTURING FOR POSITION: Eddie Royal took reps with the first unit offense at times lining up as the wide out opposite Brandon Marshall with Brandon Stokley at the slot. Nate Webster again took reps with the first unit offense at middle linebacker. Domonique Foxworth and Marquand Manuel continued to receive reps in place of Bailey and Abdullah in the secondary. Spencer Larsen, who has seen time at his primary postion of linebacker during camp, received reps at the fullback position. Larsen saw time at fullback during the team’s OTAs. Michael Pittman saw reps at both running back and fullback.
FOCAL POINTS: The team spent the majority of practice with the offense lining up against the defense during 11-on-11 jog throughs.
Another portion of practice was spent with the field goal unit practicing audibles from field goal formation into fake field goals and punts.
TAKE AWAYS: The team had a lighter morning on the practice field to help prepare for the Texans on Saturday.
This afternoon’s session was canceled as well.
QUOTABLE: “It is kind of intimidating in your first NFL game playing a position you haven’t played since high school, but I am real excited.”
-Spencer Larsen, on being told he will get reps at fullback during the Broncos preseason game at Houston on Saturday
-Jake Grilley, DenverBroncos.com
Tags: Champ Bailey, Eddie Royal, Hamza Abdullah, Jake Grilley, Mike Shanahan, Ryan Torain, Spencer Larsen, Tom Nalen, Uncategorized
It seems we have alot of people nursing hamstrings day to day and other strange injuries. How does our Injury Report hold up against some of the other teams in the NFL so far in camp? I hope this doesn’t turn into last year!
Jake – what is the timetable for cutting down the roster? Don’t they do it in waves? Can you remind us scatter-brained fans the dates and numbers the organization has to be down to?
Thanks
rev79-
NFL teams must have their rosters reduced to a maximum of 75 players by Aug. 26 and reduced to 53 players by Aug. 30.
-Jake
Thanks
Quote for the day! “Using Spencer Larsen as FB is stupid”. He hadnt played FB since HS maybe? He was PAC 10 Def player of year, and 2X capt of the Defense. I dont get it? He has no speed. I know that Hillis is going to be the FB, but geez this doesnt make sense.
I agree, all these scrapes/pulls/tears are once again mounting up? Carlton Powell excluded, we have opportunities for roster spots begin open. Are we going to see another carousel of players coming and going?
What is the word about Torain other than what’s been said already? I know ligament damage usually means the IR. I would hope they would place him on the PUP and see how it progresses. This kid could really come in with fresh legs and drive the team if he can come back at the end of October.
How is Spencer Larsen performing at middle linebacker? What should we take away from the double-duty?
Hey Hogblog, Could it be that Spence Larson is just an all around football player!? I think that’s exactly what we need more of. Actually this is good for him and his career. If he can show some versitility and some willingness to do whatever it takes–a capable backup at LB and FB–are you kidding me? That’s awsome. You know realistically that in his first season he’ll hopefully make his primary impact on speacial teams anyway. Regardless, he must have made an impact in order for the coaches to be trying to find a roster spot for him. You could be right about Hillis, but this is the pre-season when we’ve got to secure the whole roster. I think working Larson in a FB is brilliant… if it works. If you don’t try anything, you don’t do anything.
oh boy…..that dam injury bug is stickin around Dove Valley….let’s hope it doesn’t get as bad as last year!
Why are we as a team so prone to injury? I mean we knew Ryan Torain was easily broken and yet we still draft him! I dont understand its not a safe risk. Hillis has been out awhile aswell is he also injury prone? I hope we dont have the same situation like last year when we lost a ton of guy like jarvis, hamilton, nalen and others to serious injuries. Is it because we need a better strength and conditioning coach? Other teams dont seem to have as many and as serious injuries as we do!
Hamza Abdullah remained out of pad nursing his groin injury… Champ Bailey continues to nurse his right hamstring… Peyton Hillis remained on the sidelines with a left hamstring… Chad Mustard is still recovering from his right hamstring injury… Tom Nalen remained out due to a sore left knee… Ryan Torain was out due to his aforementioned elbow
nicely written, no one was out with a head or anything
What’s with all of the whining. It is better to figure out who won’t be able to stand up now than to find out during a playoff stretch. That is what training camp and preseason is all about. Weed out the weak playres and arm your team with the strong. Our WR corps and RB’s will be among the best this year. We just have to make sure that our defense has the best players available since that is what has kept us out of the playoffs for the past 2 years.
Where is Keary Colbert on the depth chart?
I think that the team can make large strides this year and even win the AFC West. I do believe we will sweep the Faiders and Chefs and split with the chargers so that alone is 5 wins. I believe we can defeat all four AFC East teams which will get us to 9 wins just so I do not seem cock let”s say three wins in the AFC East so we are at 8 we will win at least 3 of the NFC South games so that is 11 and let’s just say we split the remainder 12-4 first round bye Super Bowl here we come. Remember, there is always a team that NO ONE expects to make it that gets there. We have been overlooked by ALL the pundits and are ranked #22 in a recent power poll. ROLL THUNDER ROLL…Broncos all the way
I don’t know about you guys, but it always amazes me just how much the people who report on teams know so little about them. Guess that is why I put such little faith in team rankings till at least 6 weeks into the season. Most recently, I recall a comment from one of the television sports personalities that I respect the most (Marshall Faulk) make the comment that when B. Marshall is out serving his suspension, the Broncos don’t stand a chance because they have no other receivers! Duh!
I like the idea of a player the size of Spencer Larson getting reps at the fullback spot. The Broncos have sucked for years at short yardage plays because of their undersized line which depends on technique not the brute strength that is essential in short yardage plays. I’d like to see them throw in an extra lineman or two at the receiver positions to give them a bigger variety of options with the short yardage situations. Their zone blocking technique just doesn’t work on short yardage, way to many opposing D at the line for technique to be effective.
I have a bad feeling that Torain is going to be put on the IR. Come on, 3 months garunteed out and possibly longer? There’s no way for him to have an impact this year and that late in the season as a rookie. I feel that our RB corps is going to be lead by Young and Pittman. This injury to Torain certainly helps Pittman make a roster spot at HB. Andre Hall is talented, but will not pass up Young. And Aldridge is still too much inexperienced and young to become a starter for this team. We will have to rely on the talent and poise of Selvin Young and the experience and power of Michael Pittman.
Bronco Nation…
I get that some of you believe the dual roles being performed by Larsen is a good thing, and that ait dds value. However, If you want him to perform in a dual role, then put him a LB/ST??? That’s what you do with a position player.
Peyton Hillis when healthy, ended up 9th in Ark history in receiving yards, but that’s in college, not HS. Do we now want to see Hillis lining up opposite Brandon Marshall as the #2 WR, while Larsen runs the FB position? A position he played in HS. Put him on STs. Let him knock some heads, and challenge K2/Webster for the future MLB position. I think this kid has unseen talent.
Let the undrafted rookies particpate in these experiments, ie. Aldrigde a WR…I totally get that! Wesley Woodyard @ Safety. I totally get that too. Anyway….Go Donks, let’s cook up a little “Bull S*** Stew down in the lone star state tonite!