For the first time this season, Kyle Orton’s name filled out a spot on the injury report.
The quarterback participated in Wednesday’s practice in a limited capacity as he nursed the rib injury he suffered last Sunday in Arizona. Orton returned to finish that game and said he never doubted his ability come back and perform through the pain.
“They asked me, and I said I wanted to keep on going,” he said. “I was sore coming out of the game for sure. I just keep on getting the treatment throughout the week and (I’ll) be as healthy as I can.”
The Cardinals intercepted Orton three times in the contest, but the Broncos’ signal-caller did not attribute his play to the injury.
In each of the past two games, Orton has thrown for less than 200 yards and been held without a touchdown pass.
“You have to go out and play well,” Orton said. “I have to go out and play better than I have the last couple of weeks.”
Interim Head Coach Eric Studesville said in his Wednesday press conference that his coaching staff and his No. 1 quarterback are working as hard as they can to return the passing game to form.
Orton still ranks fourth in the league with 3,653 passing yards and boasts a touchdown to interception ratio higher than two-to-one. Studesville said Orton is “absolutely” penciled in to start at Oakland this weekend.
“A lot of our guys are banged up right now,” Studesville said. “It is Week 14 in the NFL, and guys that have been playing consistently have bumps and bruises. Kyle does have some bumps and bruises.”
Last year’s matchup against the Redskins on the road indicates that Orton would not force himself to play if he did not feel physically capable of delivering his top performance.
The quarterback took himself out of that game with a hobbled ankle, and missed his only start of the season the following week against the Chargers. Orton came off the bench in that game, entering the contest only when he was called on to relieve Chris Simms.
“I have come out of a game before,” Orton said. “I have hurt my ankle bad enough. I did it last year where I hurt my ankle bad enough I didn’t feel like I could play and be a help, so I didn’t play.”
If the coaches and the training staff do not deem Orton healthy enough to play on the road this weekend, it could mean more playing time for Tim Tebow, who has served as the backup quarterback for the majority of the season.
Tebow said live game action could speed up his learning curve.
“I think it’s a great learning opportunity to have real, live reps and to have that opportunity,” he said. “I think that would help, but either way, I think I’m getting experience just by watching and by practicing and going against a great defense every day.”
As a competitor, Tebow said he would love to play, but he has also expressed a desire to support the team in any role he’s given. The rookie knows he has plenty of time to develop into a professional-caliber player.
“I don’t know that it was this season that I had to prove to myself to be an NFL quarterback,” he said.
“That’s something that I think comes down deep and is something that is deep down inside of your heart and I know that whatever it takes, however long it takes, whatever determination and focus it takes, I’ll end up putting in that effort and determination and get the job done.”
INJURY REPORT
Orton (ribs) was limited in Wednesday practice, while Kevin Alexander (ankle), David Bruton (ribs), Brian Dawkins (knee), Brandon Lloyd (calf), Matt Prater (right groin), Demaryius Thomas (ankle) and Marcus Thomas (ankle) did not practice. Eric Decker (foot), Spencer Larsen (hamstring) and Darcel McBath (quadricep) fully participated in practice.
For the Raiders, DB Nnamdi Asomugha (ankle), WR Johnnie Lee Higgins (ankle), LB Rolando McLain (foot) and DT Richard Seymour (knee) did not practice. T Khalif Barnes (back), QB Kyle Boller (quadricep), S Hiram Eugene (ribs) and WR Nick Miller (ankle) were all limited in practice. S Tyvon Branch (shoulder), LB Travis Goethel (knee), CB Chris Johnson and TE Zach Miller fully participated in practice.
-Gabe Hiatt, DenverBroncos.com
Below are pictures from Wednesday’s practice:
Tags: Eric Studesville, Kyle Orton, Tim Tebow
whao stevecan, go to bed? what country do u live in? lol
Tebow may start??
http://www.nfl.com/news/story/09000d5d81cf4160/article/with-orton-hurting-tebow-might-see-extended-action-or-start?module=HP_headlines
What time is our Tee(bow) Time Sunday?
Ya, South Dakota and Colorado are to different worlds. Come winter time you don`t see thee sun for months.
Being in south Dakota that is. Here in Colorado there`s as many sunny day`s as California.
The Lindsay Jones’ take (on Tebow playing) at the DP is a little different:
If Tim Tebow is going to start his first game at quarterback for the Broncos this Sunday at Oakland, don’t expect any announcement to come from the team until game time.
The team is still hoping starter Kyle Orton will play against the Raiders, despite sitting out most of Wednesday’s practice with sore ribs. Orton again did not throw at the start of today’s practice.
In the short portion of practice that was open to the media, Tebow was the first player in line for the running drills with the position players and was the first quarterback to throw during individual drills. Orton tossed only a couple of short passes to quarterbacks coach Ben McDaniels, but did not throw to the wide receivers.
“I still think we have time. I’m not in a hurry to make that decision,” interim head coach Eric Studesville said before today’s practice. “We still have plenty of time to do rehab and take care of the bumps and bruises, not just for Kyle but for a lot of guys on the team. As long as we’ve got time, we’re going to utilize it.
Studesville said Orton will continue to receive treatment in the training room and could play even without a normal week of practice.
Three more days……… What will happen?
Well the one thing that seems a sure thing is since Tebow as been getting most of the reps, if Orton is unable to go, it will not be Quinn and to that I say HALLELUJAH!
has been, dummy.
Trade Quinn. If you can`t then cut him.
Simms and Collinsworth are painful to the ears, with Collinsworth being moreso.
Joe Montana had one of the slowest deliveries I’ve seen in the last 30 years. But what he did have was accuracy. Enough said.
If Tebow plays these last 2 games, don’t expect them to be wins. Our D needs serious work and Tebow or Orton have no blame on that side of the ball.
I think what makes me think we did the right move by dumping Marshall is that there has not been one single player who has said they missed him. When Moss was traded from Minny the players were livid. Now please correct me if im wrong, but I have not heard one shred of regret from any player that Cutler and Marshall are gone. It is dark days, but it is always darkest before the sunrise…and with those gorgeous orange and blue sunsets, hard to belive we will be kept down.