Head Coach John Fox on Monday announced that running back Willis McGahee suffered a ligament tear in his knee, but the injury will not require surgery.
“Obviously, (we’re) disappointed to lose a player of Willis’ caliber,” Fox said. “We’re disappointed for him.”
Though McGahee will not need surgery, Fox said he doesn’t have a timetable for a return other than that the running back will be “week-to-week.”
“Right now we’re not making a roster change as far as IR,” Fox said when asked whether McGahee could head to injured reserve with a designation to return. “He’s a fast healer. He’s a tough, competitive guy. A lot of times your veteran guys are that way. We wouldn’t at this point want to prolong it that far.”
Through 11 weeks of the season, McGahee gained 731 yards on 167 carries, finding the end zone four times. In his absence on Sunday against San Diego, running back Ronnie Hillman picked up 43 yards on 12 carries and Lance Ball chipped in another 35 yards on just six carries.
Fox said the team has confidence in the running back stable currently on the team, from Hillman and Ball to Knowshon Moreno, who has been inactive since Week 3, and Jeremiah Johnson, who is currently on the practice squad but rushed for 77 yards and had 62 receiving yards with the team in 2011.
Fox said the team “may or may not” bring in free agent running backs to work out this week, and that those discussions won’t occur until later on Monday.
“Right now, we feel really good about the guys we have — they’re trained in our system,” Fox said. “I’ve said many, many times, it’s the next man up. It was yesterday and will be next Sunday. Who that’ll be? We’ll see how practice goes and what our active list will look like next Sunday.”
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Ranking the Broncos 5th…above the Patriots —-I don’t think so….
oops – bad link
Go to Bleacher Report and see the new Power Rankings. Pretty bad.
They looked at Lt before the year I think we may reach out to him just an idea but I think the staff wants a reliable lead back which we don’t have with willis down
If we go after any running back it should be Addai because he knows Peyton’s offense. Otherwise it’s pointless bringing in a new guy in my opinion.
DB if you the Patriots are better than us you’ve got another thing coming. I’m not convinced they could beat us now and they’ve beaten two teams with a winning record. And we’ve all but won our division and they haven’t locked up the east yet. Just my opinion of course but even talking heads don’t think there’s just one threat in the AFC.
McGahee is our most balanced back, good at running and pass protection.
Ball is an average runner but good at pass protection.
Hillman is a decent runner but poor at pass protection.
Moreno when healthy is an average runner but poor at pass protection.
Johnson is an average runner and unsure at pass protection.
In my opinion if Moreno wants to salvage his career he had better step up and fix whatever reason he’s been inactive. Hillman, Ball, and Johson better step up if they’re in. Think of all the work the team has put in with Manning knowing his lingo the system, coming into a new system is hard enough, then you add in what Manning does and the new back will probably be lost. I could see them bringing in Addai for the same reason they brought in Tamme and Stokely. To make Payton more comfortable.
I agree tlcat06 I could see them bringin in Addai, depending on how well he’s kept himself in shape.
Since I know everything, hehe, how about more meaningful rankings:
Total Offense (YPG)
1. New England Patriots 431.9
2. Detroit Lions 401.7
3. Denver Broncos 394.2
4. Indianapolis Colts 393.4
5. New Orleans Saints 391.3
O Passing (YPG)
1. Detroit Lions 301.8
2. New Orleans Saints 296.4
3. Atlanta Falcons 292.9
4. New England Patriots 289.0
5. Denver Broncos 288.9
O Rushing (YPG)
1. San Francisco 49ers 165.5
2. Washington Redskins 165.0
3. Minnesota Vikings 150.5
4. Kansas City Chiefs 145.4
5. New England Patriots 142.9
19. Denver Broncos 105.3
Total Defense (YPG)
1. Pittsburgh Steelers 259.1
2. San Francisco 49ers 277.2
3. Seattle Seahawks 296.8
4. Houston Texans 299.2
5. Chicago Bears 312.1
6. Denver Broncos 312.8
D Passing (YPG)
1. Pittsburgh Steelers 169.3
2. San Francisco 49ers 182.9
3. Seattle Seahawks 196.2
4. New York Jets 200.1
5. Arizona Cardinals 204.7
12. Denver Broncos 219.0
D Rushing (YPG)
1. Tampa Bay Buccaneers 81.8
2. Houston Texans 85.6
3. San Diego Chargers 87.9
4. Pittsburgh Steelers 89.8
5. Denver Broncos 93.8
A quick look will tell you that even so we are a Manning led O, we need to be way better running the ball in the long run to go all the way. At this point it is the glaring lacking ingredient in our quest to win a SB. And of course with McGahee down it’s not going to get any better soon.
And those stats bring up the interesting point that our D is slightly ahead of our O to the surprise of many.
And the D against the pass is not as stellar as some have us think, Carter and Harris are wonderful acquisitions but they are still a work in progress and those safeties of ours still get killed by opposing TEs.
Nonetheless, overall these are tremendous numbers that a year ago would of simply been of the pipe dream variety, other than the rushing O of course which was well ahead of where we are now because of Tebow’s running.
The key to winning it all is in the running baby, that’s my stance on all of this.
And don’t you think for one minute that Belicheck doesn’t know a thing or two about winning it all, look at how he has improved his team’s rushing yards!!! 5th, with nearly 143 yards per game to our 105, that’s unheard of, and that’s only because he knows that even with Brady at the helm that’s the ingredient that they kept missing in the last few years to reclaim the top spot, running the football.
Something for the Denver Broncos organization to reflect on this off season for sure. My feeling about all this is after two years at balking at taking top names for the running game in the draft or FA, Fox and Elway will change that trend come early next year, can’t wait for that either as everyone knows. Understood they went at things in order of priority, but how running talent was not prioritized in a Fox O is still remaining a mystery to me. My only explanation was the acquisition of Manning blinded them to that running need, well by now the blinders should be getting loose and they are hopefully about to fall out.
Maybe the most amazing stat above for us Bronco fans is being 5th against the run!!!!! Who would of ever thought that????
DB just so you know Denver had the toughest first six games and came out 3-3 Patriots had the easiest and came out 3-3.
The combined record of teams Denver lost to. 25-5
The combined record of those NE lost to 18-12
Cat just so you know Denver 7-3 SD at 2nd in the division is 4-6. NE is 7-3 as well with the other three teams tied at 4-6. So with both teams the division is theirs to lose.
And John, I know you haven’t forgotten what Terrell Davis meant to you, just be kind to Manning would you, LOL.
I miss Tracy porter. They took advantage of mr. carter’s height yesterday. He does a great job there is just a slight weakness in his game. Great 3rd or 4th but we cant have him at 2nd.