Brian Dawkins expects to be back on the field on Sunday against the San Francisco 49ers after missing two straight games due to a knee injury.
The veteran safety has been on the sidelines for the last two home games, firing up the crowd and inciting his teammates — not a position he wants to get used to.
“It was very tough,” Dawkins said. “I’m not on the team to be a cheerleader. But that was my duty as far as what I felt, anyway, to do whatever I could for my teammates. Whether it be on the sideline telling them what I saw as far as different coverages, helping Nate (Jones) out as much as I can and pumping up the crowd as much as I can. That’s all I could do at that point.
“It will obviously be different this week.”
His teammate in the secondary, Andre’ Goodman, is on pace to return to the starting lineup in London as well after having missed four games and the majority of a fifth with a quadricep injury.
“We feel better about having those guys back in there because of the comfort level we have with their ability to communicate and make sure everybody is playing the same call — that’s always the first thing that the secondary has to do anyways,” Head Coach Josh McDaniels said. “Both of them are very good players, so it’s a big boost for us. (We) feel good about both of them, in terms of the progress that they’ve made and we’re excited to have them back.”
In other injury news, Robert Ayers, Perrish Cox, Darcel McBath, Kevin Vickerson and Wesley Woodyard will not travel with the team to London. Eddie Royal had limited participation in Thursday’s practice after not participating on Wednesday, and will make the trip. Dawkins and Goodman both practiced fully for the second consecutive day.
For San Francisco, QB Alex Smith and C Eric Heitmann are both out for Sunday’s game. TE Vernon Davis hasn’t practiced on either Wednesday or Thursday. CB Tarell Brown had limited participation on Thursday after not practicing Wednesday. CB Nate Clements and RB Anthony Dixon have been limited in practice on both Wednesday and Thursday, and LB Ahmad Brooks had full participation in Thursday’s practice after not taking part in Wednesday’s session.
HONORARY CAPTAIN
John Elway will serve as an honorary captain for the Broncos on Sunday at Wembley Stadium, while Jerry Rice will represent the 49ers. Both men will take part in the coin toss.
The Hall of Famers will be joined by two British Olympians who will take part in the 2012 games in London. Mo Farah — the 10,000m and 5,000m gold medalist at this summer’s European Athletics Championships — will serve as the Broncos’ other honorary captain. Three-time Olympic gold medallist yachtsman Ben Ainslie will stand alongside Rice for San Francisco.
WHEELS UP
The Broncos will take off for London in the next couple hours and, due to the time difference, arrive at their destination Friday morning.
“We’re telling them to sleep on the plane as much as possible,” Head Coach Josh McDaniels said. “Once we’re there, we’re trying to treat it like a normal Friday.”
The team will then get checked into the hotel, go through a meeting and watch film from Thursday morning’s practice before holding a practice session Friday afternoon — on a cricket field or a tennis court under a bubble, depending on the weather.
On Saturday, the team will hold one final walkthrough in advance of Sunday’s clash at Wembley Stadium.
DenverBroncos.com will have coverage throughout the entire transatlantic journey.
-Gray Caldwell, DenverBroncos.com
Tags: Brian Dawkins, John Elway, Mo Farah
samoanbronco, everyone can dream, you just did with your 31-9 Bronco win prediction, LOL.
im with white bronco when he says we just want a win and i wasnt going to predict but here goes
30-20
broncos win … forgot that part >_>
hey guys just a little piece of info i read on the Denver Post website that i wanted to share with you. not sure if anyone else has brought this up or not but just in case i thought i would. i know a lot of people were up in arms over the contract negotiations with champ. stating that McD was doing a terrible job handling one of our best players. as it turns out some… ahem… apologies may be in order. lol this is a quote from the DP: …………. The decision to end contract talks with cornerback Champ Bailey, for example, was made above McDaniels by Bowlen and chief operating officer Joe Ellis……the entire story can be read here if interested: http://www.denverpost.com/broncos/ci_16440005?obref=obinsite#ixzz13lI2rB75
enjoy!
keep on buckin broncos (and fans)
THE BATTLE IS WON IN THE TRENCHES
If that’s the case, what are Bowlen and Ellis really trying to say?
Yeah, and rest assured we gave it to Bowlen then, LOL. Seriously that was like a month ago and we debated it here at length and absolved McD and Xanders of any wrong doing on that particular subject and shifted the blame onto Bowlen and Ellis. Bowlen just couldn’t lay out this kind of money on Bailey with the uncertainty of next year.
It brought up the point that money trouble we have and I talk about that at length all the time, Bowlen needs to consider bringing in some partners and maybe next year is a blessing in the sky if there is indeed a walk out for the season because I don’t think Bolwen will be able to absorb that so he might be forced to re-visit the I don’t want any partners thing. Elway would gladly contribute.
Interesting tidbit:
The Broncos are 2-3 against teams using the 43 D, but winless (0-2)against teams using the 34 D. And wouldn’t you know it, the Niners use a 34 D.
And definitely do not like to hear what Dawkins had to say yesterday about he and Goodman being back should big a big boost:
“I’m not on the team to be our cheerleader. (But) it doesn’t matter if everybody is back healthy, if we don’t go out and execute, communicate and play the game like we love to play it instead of just playing it because it’s our job then it won’t be a fun trip.”
It’s not far fetch to assume he meant that some players have indeed been just playing as a job, something I have been pointing out for a while now.
Broncos win 31-10… and you can take that to the bank.
Sorry can’t take that one to the bank. I took last weeks to the bank and I’m pretty sure they’re not letting my bank with them anymore. LOL!!!!!
That’s what starts happening when you start losing your team, just like last year, some guys just don’t really have their hearts in it anymore, Scheffler, Marshall, Hillis last year and many others I suppose, you just don’t have main guys being upset without having some following, so who is it this year, seems to me Bailey is where it starts, and for good reasons (see above contract negociations walk out), and he could have a pretty good following, just saying. Time for the kool aid drinking bloggers to come to the rescue, I’m sinking here, LOL.
hahahaha, switch banks?
I’ll take it to the bank Monday after I make sure it’s not counterfeit, haha.
stevecan2, help me out here, if I remember correctly by year end last year you were one of the ones who was giving it real hard to the team and the organization, in fact you chose to defect the blog you were tired of being bashed by the kool aid drinking bloggers, but yet this year it’s like a different Steve, one with completely renewed hope, like you had yourself a keg of kool aid, am I missing something, or just remembering it wrong?
Champ can not adjust to the current climate of NFL negotiations. Just another reason of pointing out why average players like Kyle Orton over all are better for the team. They are not superstars who are pampered their careers and can adjust or handle adversity. Champ has fought for one contract his whole career and that was his rookie contract. Coming of a huge one that he is, he must understand that he is older, not producing the same results and is more of a risk to ownership not contribution. The scale is changing and hopefully he can realize that and play for the team and fans. Adversity reveals character, much to my dismay it is also why I am overly critical to WR’s and CB’s in general.
i would like to believe that I was for the team against individuals such as cutler, marshal and sheffler. and fought hard to push the team first mentality. however if I was not, then I appreciate the assessment so I can adjust my points to indicate my motives. I have been with one exception favorable of McDaniels and his vision for the team.
The exception is results based. 8-8 seasons or average of three season with no playoffs are the results that I have used time and again to make my point that Shanahan was ready to go. So using that I have to hold McD to the same standards.
So McD might be stripped of his duties of controling the team and be demoted to just the HC,is this what the article is saying???
I had always also said that when people just start playing for a check thats when things get bad. I guess thats why the patriots way is to underpay because if u are willing to take a pay cut the understanding is that u are not playing for a paycheck, you are playing for the team. Thats not always the case. Some people just wanna be compensated appropriately for their efforts (ie Marshall, Champ, etc) you can only suck it up for so long … and for others, McD just got off on the wrong foot with them or they had a falling out or something (im guessing) and decided McD is not the kinda leader they want to go to war for. You gotta motivate your players to want to put it all on the line for u because they know u have thier back and their best interest in heart as well. McD doesnt inspire that in my opinion. Just like someone made a joke about this loss last week, that “looks like the players were trying to get McD fired” so its always been a thing many bloggers have thought. He brought a lot of ex patriots to be spies and to try to convert from the inside out (at least that was always what i believed) i could be very wrong….
i really dont see McD leaving after this year, but his next year coaching he will DEFINATELY be on the hot seat.. and if he cant produce then i will be the FIRST ONE screaming OFF WITH HIS HEAD!!
and just fyi bay… the kool aid just makes me feel soooooo goooood! lmao
i dont think the article is making that claim that it will happen but it should have been implemented. I disagree with that consensus, but it would be very logical to support it also.
I look at the injuries and who is being forced on the field. It’s not as though the starting line ups are being based on freely motivated decisions. As far as depth goes, how many NFL teams could really over come the injuries our defense have sustained and be successful? I am a highschool position coach and truly understand the need for a “system” above players coaching mentality. However, even a solid system like say Buddy Ryan’s defense in the 80′s failed when quality players were not a part of it.
stevecan2…If we are losing because of injury,then why did we almost and should have beaten the Jets(arguably the best team in the AFC),then lose miserably to the Raiders the following week,with pretty much the same injuries????
BFE92 let me look at the particulars of the statement. I have to go back to school now, but I will respond in the near future.
Lack of on the field leadership. No leadership no stability. Dawk’s comments i believe to be a great reference to this. Point also made by the inability to over come the first quarter fiasco. From there it spiraled out of control. When it hit me, I couldn’t believe what happened. I could only imagine a young inexperianced player’s emotions. and to see staples of the D like Champ cave, it took em all down. It takes solid players who happened to be injured on the D to be able to return a sense of normalcy after a vicious onslaught as we seen within minutes of the game starting.
Internet froze for about 10 minutes now I really am leaving. I will catch up tonight after work.
Injuries and excuses can only go so far. It takes talent to win in this league on a consistent basis. Furthermore, it takes superstar talent to win in the playoffs on a consistent basis. Lastly, it requires the combination of your superstar talent and “average” talent to achieve the pinnacle of the NFL.
Where does the HC fit in this scheme of things? Well, its his job to maximize the talent on his team. And win with it. Or lose by it.
I will be shocked if this team can turn it around.
To help put the injury thing to rest, the Packers have more injuries than anyone in the league with 4 starters on IR and a list of weekly injured that pretty much takes the cake. Guess what, they are leading their division. Our problems go way beyond injuries, but if that makes anyone feel better about our team, good for them.
To blame it on injuries was implied.
I – Inability to run the ball
N – No pass rush to speak of
J – Juking in the backfield for negative yardage
U – Unable to stop the run
R – Running gimmick plays
I – Inability to convert in the redzone for touchdowns
E – Execution mistakes
S – Stupid drive killing penalties
Now, those kind of “injuries” reasons to explain our 2-5 record I buy. Imagination rolling off your keybord once again brian, well done.
Basically the major injuries we’re suffering from more than anything are self inflicted.
i agree that injuries have hurt us pretty bad this year. especially doom. but what i dont understand is why NO ONE ELSE ON THE ROSTER can get to the qb on any sort of consistent basis! to me that means that either the players arent all that motivated, the scheme is poorly designed, or the scheme is poorly executed! all, IMO are coaching mistakes. the only other possible explanation is that the other teams just have better players than us! i would prefer to NOT believe that. i dunno…..im tired of this musical D coordinator game we have been playing the last 5 or so years but im not sure that wink is up to the challenge. Nolan should have NEVER been let go. his defense in currently in what… the top 5 in the league? go figure! no matter what happens, i would hope that our next HC knows how to build a defense first!! if you have a good defense that can minimize other teams ability to score then you will almost always have a shot to win! add to that a running game and you have a chance to do some really good things during the season! at least thats my opinion! screw this high powered offense! i want a high powered defense!!!!! GIMME SOME ORANGE CRUSH BABY!!!
KEEP ON BUCKIN BRONCOS (AND FANS)
THE BATTLE IS WON IN THE TRENCHES
when injuries happen the talent to win in this league is not existent when the talent is not on the field. good job Bay. show me numbers and a good example with Greenbay.
ok, to all the pundants. you are implying that last week was not a fluke. That playing competitive against the Jets was. That everything of our team is broken and unfix able. Well I hate to let you all in on something. The Broncos have almost the identical record as predicted by the majority of the NFL community.(predicted with no injuries) So in reality we are exactly where we should be and that is with adversity whether it be injuries or otherwise. You CANNOT convince me or most rational people that not having Doom, Dawk, Goody, Champ(playing at least decent) on the field would not improve this team. Just two weeks ago, we had the #1 passing offense in the game, with a QB that is still posting an almost perfect TD to INT rate with in the red zone and still topping NFL records in that category. There are plenty of positives to build on. But of course it’s not because we have been starting special teams players the last two games on defense. Oh no, its McD right? (rhetorical question)
there is a huge difference between excuses and reasons. The excuse of injuries is that a back up or non starter, starts the game. The reason injuries effect the team is because the starter is not playing.
The excuse of Terrell Davis wanting to leave the game in the second quarter in the SB against GreenBay was that he had a migraine. the reason was that the migraine made it hard to see straight.
Wheres the top rated Offense now,the Defensive injuries ain’t stopping the Offense,just saying.
I have to agree with sndvl and rj26 on this one.
If we can give effort against the Jets,we should have gave effort against the Raiders(a much worse team).
I live in my own world,where I see things differently,I guess.
and we didnt have the top rated offense, we had the top rated passing game! HUGE difference! bad teams pass a lot… either becuase they cant run, ie the broncos, or they are behind a lot. you CAN NOT imo be a serious contender in this league with out being able to run the ball. how do you hold on to a lead in the 4th quarter if you are passing all the time? unless you are completing most of your passes to keep moving the sticks (odds are against you doing that generally) you are going to have trouble. a 3 and out with only passing is like … 80 seconds off the clock (estimating a bit) unless you complete every pass, as opposed to a 3 and out running thats i would say more than 2 mins… it just doesnt work well. Defense and a running game… thats all i want for christmas!!
keep on buckin broncos (and fans)
THE BATTLE IS WON IN THE TRENCHES
DEFENSE WINS CHAMPIONSHIPS
Well i am one of a few it seems, to see last week for what it was. A FLUKE. before that we played the 12th and 8th ranked defenses respectively. I am sure your not proposing that the Ravens D is not one of the better of the league over all despite numbers. I refuse to write this season off as lost. I am projecting changes necessary to winning with what we have when available and that is a healthy team. i had no idea it was such an extreme position until frequenting these blogs. I am not in a comfortable position for a full regime change just yet as most here are. We are on the verge of great things, I can see it, whether or not I am a minority i will stick to it.
@ steve…. im not ready for a regime change either… ahem… yet!
and i do agree that injuries have hurt us but injuries happen to every team year in and year out. you cant blame poor play on injuries! thats either a lack of heart, poor execution, or poor practice/study. and last week was just flat poor play in every aspect of the game! turnovers kill. and we gave up several! it just didnt seem like anyone on the field came ready to play!!! that imo has nothing to do with injuries!!
thanks for the correction I meant passing. that is why I also included the red zone td-int rate. However this was done with a QB that was also written off by the majority of the NFL community. an (honestly not very strong case) that the foresight given by this community prior to the season are as flawed as a 2-5 record. So to change my position does not seem likely with the majority now in line with some fans it seems. Also it goes without saying that a running game is essential to winning. But alas, who is my coach’s go to back? Knoshawn… and once again, injury riddled. I am not a fan of the power blocking scheme however we also lost Bobby Turner, that was huge. plus the fiasco that occurred during the 2008 season, it kills me that the run game has been so devastated in Denver during two different “regimes”
One great example of how not having Dawk or Mcbath on the field last week hurt us to the point of a reason not excuse. The Zack Miller touchdown. I must not be the only one here to know 100% that Dawk would have had the experiance necessary and vision to see know the coverage and see that Zack Miller was wide open and go after two covered wide outs. Bey didn’t even have a step on the Wide out…. Follow me here. yes most FS would get behind the wide outs running streaks covered or not, however it takes talent that Dawk possess to know that the weak side linebacker was not in position and there was blown coverages, stepped up and stuffed Miller… that talent not being on the field will kill 99% of a chance for a successful defense.
Last thing. Yes the offense sucked. Turnovers, etc. However the D was unable to stop the Raiders turning them into points in rapid succession. An inexperienced Defense cannot handle the adversity.
ya but the running game was ruined during shannys last year because we were on our what… 8th string running back? not really the same as taking on of the leagues top teams in the rushing category over the last decade and within one off season converting them to middle of the pack and by the next season they are cellar dwelling in that statistical category. as i said, im not ready for a regime change yet, i think the next season is make or break for mcdaniels, but why in the world would you want to change the best aspects of a team when you take them over? heck that was our identity for the last 12 or 13 years!! why not BUILD on that? why dismanlte the line, drop all players associated with that scheme, alienate the positional coaches that helped build that, and then start from scratch? i mean seriously, you CAN play the spread offense without using the power blocking scheme! sorry if i sound confrontational. im just debating with ya here and enjoying doing it!
ive been very supportive of McD since he came here, but i have never been able to wrap my mind around what he did to our running game! boggles the mind!!! 
no argument from me on the defense thing! dawk MAY have stopped miller, but what about the other 8 TDs the hung on us? poor play by our front 7! THAT is what is killing us!! No vocal leader up front… THAT is killing us! No MLB that can meet a back in the whole and lay the wood.. THAT is killing us. remember wilsons last year when we were playin the chiefs and the back was running right through a good hole in the middle of the line and al wilson met him at the line FOR NO GAIN!! it was a HUGE play! the defense rallied and im pretty sure we won that game! THAT is what this team is missing!! just my 2 cents tho.
i dont and hope no one else takes anything written personally. it may get heated but its all because we are discussing a topic that is revered with much love and respect (Broncos) and that brings emotions to the front. I appreciate the responses, even the ones that hit me in the gut. have a great day Bronco Country.
@ Bay ~ Hahahahaha that is true! My pick is gonna come in as sure as the sun will rise in the morning.. Well unless its in England when it just pisses down.
One things for sure BRONCOS are gonna cane it!!!
Give it to ‘em rayjr26 tell’em like it is bro,I agree 100% with what you are saying so far bro!!!!!!!!!!!!
LB play have hurt us the past 2 seasons!!!!!!!!!