For the second straight day, Champ Bailey participated fully in practice.
That painted a hopeful picture, but the Pro Bowl cornerback made it even clearer after practice.
“I’m playing,” he said. “Period.”
He admitted that there are “little things” that he’ll have to overcome, but maintained that he’ll be on the field Sunday when the Chargers come to town.
“Huge,” Brian Dawkins said. “I can’t overstate the fact of what he means to us as a defense and as a teammate, period. What he brings, when I look over to my left and see him standing out there, there’s a confidence level that he just gives that I can’t explain.”
Bailey hasn’t played since suffering a hamstring injury in Week 1 against the Raiders, and is anxious to rejoin his teammates for another AFC West battle.
“It’s big because I know these guys need me out there, and I want to be there, so I’m doing whatever it takes to get out there,” Bailey said.
Elvis Dumervil spoke for his teammates when he said the team wants to do its job against the Chargers “to give Champ a nice welcome back.”
INJURY REPORT
There were two changes to the Broncos’ injury report Thursday. Daniel Fells returned to practice with limited participation after missing Wednesday with a knee injury, and Rahim Moore was added to the injury report. The rookie safety did not practice Thursday due to illness.
Everything else remained the same as Wednesday — Dawkins (ankle), Eddie Royal (groin), Demaryius Thomas (finger), Julius Thomas (ankle) and Jonathan Wilhite (illness) did not participate. Bailey (hamstring), Marcus Thomas (groin) and Knowshon Moreno (hamstring) had full participation for the second consecutive day.
For the Chargers, DE Luis Castillo (tibia), DE Jacques Cesaire (knee), TE Antonio Gates (foot) and WR Vincent Jackson (hamstring) did not participate in practice for the second consecutive day. CB Quentin Jammer (hamstring), who practiced fully yesterday, did not participate in practice Thursday. C Nick Hardwick (neck) participated fully Thursday after not participating at all Wednesday.
Below are photos from Thursday’s practice:
-Gray Caldwell
Tags: Champ Bailey, Week 5
Happy to hear it champ … no gates and their true only Offensive receiving weapon Jackson being shutdown by champ and our new pass rush … I truly believe more than any other time that we win. Also the rush D has improved. Dunno if anyone noticed so if we make running hard for them, and force them to pass … we can do well. Champ makes a difference in coverage and in the way his teammates play, through leadership, action and not having a guy like Dawkins trying to do to much to compensate for our inexperienced CBs short commings … there by increasing his own mistakes. Its all about assignments and u need to be confident that your team mate can handle his. Thats what having Champ back means … confidence. TRB
Im hearing Vjack has hamstring issue
champppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppp
BAY – here is this weeks prediction.
Chargers 31 – Denver 17
as you can tell not a lot leads me to believe Broncos can overturn recent years bad statistics against Chargers – but I do wish the team will man up and prove me wrong….. I have no problem eating some humble pie if that happens.
Bustin’ out the 50th anniversary Champ Jersey…!!!
You’re right TRB, it was way under thrown. I’m sure it was the 2nd ball this season Ort would love to have back…
my prediction is chargers 30 broncos 16
these past weeks with champ being out we saw exactly what our secondary will be like when he retires lol we need a CB in next years draft or the year after for sure!
thats the difference it makes. Champs presence takes away the big play on the back end
although rivers has been the only qb known to test and beat champ on occasion
does anybody have faith in the broncos? my prediction is broncos 30 chargers 27 and thats a game folks!
Champ………enough said!!!!!!!!!!
30-26 denver wins. With a good pass rush from vondoom. It will make rivers to make alot of mistakes to cover the onces that orton will make.
I don’t know about any of you but when I see even a picture of Orton throwing a football it make me want to throw up, I don’t even like the number 8 anymore. ORTON SUCKS!
OComedy Factory Releif…… just for giggles
photo1.. Champ and Doom in the Glory Days…
photo2.. Orton showing off his limp wristed throwing form, in the style of Lamarr from Revenge of the Nerds…
photo3.. Miller says “Batman, do you think Tebow could score more points than Orton?” Dumervil says “Robin, of course he would but Orton has us over for Poker, Beer and King Crab Legs on Fridays and Tebow only wants to have church groups or some dumb crapp.”
photo4… Decker says “you really cleaned me out at poker last Friday night, look my pockets are empty, and I’m glad to see you.”
photo5… Fells is mad because he happens to like church group and doesn’t get invited to poker night either.”
photo6…. Mays tries to force a fumble while in the background Coach Barone tries to convince Von Miller that Orton gives us the best chance to win.
photo7… Orton says “Hey Rosairo, check this out, when I hold my hands up like this it really makes my beerbelly hang out, you wanna come over for poker after practice tomorrow, Coach McCoy is bringing a keg of Coors and coach Fox is bringing crab legs?”
photo8… with the wind, Prater clears an 95 yard field goal just inches over the bottom cross bar out of view of the camera…
photo9…. Woodyard chuckles at a Kuper for calling Orton “pick-6 boy”..
photo10.. Coach Smith is explaining to Miller why everyone has to wear their do-rags on the outside of their helmet.
photo11.. Quinn, Green and Riley are laughing their heads off at the Armadillo joke that Kuper and Franklin just told them.
photo12.. Kuper and Frankling running laps ordered by Coach Fox for telling Armadillo Orton jokes again!
photo13.. Coach Tolbert shows Lloyd the transcript of what NOT to say to the media after practice.
and finally photo14.. McGahee beat everyone at poker night and is dancing in celebration… or, he is making fun of Moreno dancing at the line of scrimmage.
ILMSDB!!!!!
OC……..LMFAO…….great perspective bro!!!
@OC #3 is my fave with the church joke lol. Anyway about time Champ comes out and play, i’m tired of watching Vaughn getting harassed every play. Broncos take it 24-0 in the return of #24
Go Broncs!
Love the little stories to go with every pic Orange_Crusher, freaking hilarious.
LOL NICE! Thanks OC, like I posted in a previous blog the ‘OrangeComedy Factory Relief’ has become something I look forward to reading. Keep up the good work!
ILMSOCFR!!!
ILMSDB!!!
-Royalty
stop hating on Orton, how can we be a fan and bash our QB its easy to bash the guy who has the worst defenses day in and day out. SUPPORT them! were not the raiders
[...] Champ Bailey discusses his health and his plans to play in Thursday practice notes. [Max Denver] [DenverBroncos.com] [...]
Orange_Crusher: Those are some great captions haha!
It’s a team effort no doubt and while the defense certainly needs to step it up so does the offense. The offense needs to keep from going 3 & out so frequently putting our defense in a tough position. The defense needs to get off the field on 3rd down and not allowing multiple long scoring drives forcing our offense in a tough position…complimentary football. However with that said when we put the ball in Orton’s hands on 3rd down, he’s got to find a way to make a play even if that means running and diving for a first down.
I think this sucks man, no doubt. Is this what it means to be a Broncos fan? All we have to look forward to for the last few seasons is to make jokes about our cr@ppy team….Well at least it is the American way to deal with Pain and disapointment. I have seen some glimmers of hope this season, Von Miller, Mcgahee and the salutes and Decker….shades of Eddie McDaddy!!! But what the heck has happened to Our rushing game? Is it our UNDERSIZED offinsive line? Knowhere Moreno who can’t hit the holes? NO its an organisation of bootlickers who feel mediocrity is just fine as long as they are getting paid,.WELL!! OFF WITH THEIR HEADS!!! I think we need to clean house and give the fans what they pay for,WINNERS. Oh and as for Fox, Don,t dismiss the fans bud we are usally right. I think we need a think tank of proven football minds who actually look at the miles and miles of tape available and change the direction of this team…Baylinorcrush knows more about this team than just about anybody..I know I have been fallowing his post for years now and he is USUALLY right on target with the stats and you know what else, He seems to have an uncanny abillity to predict Jfox and if he can do it so can other Statitician minded folks..Mr Bowlen, Mr.Elway, what are you guys thinking? Oh wate, I’ll bet Bay knows better than You guys do…..In other news today Al Davis is dead. I don’t know weather to laugh or Dread, Now who’s gonna Wreck the Faiders? Cause God knows it aint going to be us… They can only get better now..this season Sucks!!!
Here is a great idea! How bout performance based contracts for the front office and coaching staffs? Baylinorcrush could you tell me if that would effect the salary caps? Mr.Bowlen do you even read these blogs? Or care what we think? I been a fan of the Broncos since I was four years old 1970 and I am worried about the state of the franchise these days….PLEASE DO SOMETHING…..SOON!!!!
Wow. The talk is about Champ being back and yet it turns into an Orton bashing session. I for one am not an Orton lover, but I’m not all over Tebows’ jock either. Tebow, IMO, is not ready. Orton did not ask to come to Denver, remember? So many people shouted to get Cutler out because it’s a TEAM, not about one player. Remember that?? But now it’s all Orton’s fault. None of it falls on the dismal D we’ve had for years now, the lack of any type of run threat, or the recently failing O line. I for one support whoever is starting, as I’m fairly certain that the coaching staff has a tad bit more knowledge on the players than I, or anyone posting on these boards does. Anyhow, just my two cents…….