The Broncos are hoping for some good news on the injury front heading into this week’s game against the Chiefs. The Broncos could have defensive starters Champ Bailey, Nate Webster and D.J. Williams back in uniform this weekend.
Bailey for one, said he believes he will be on the field.
“I’m saying I’m going,” Bailey said. “Unless something else happens, I’ll be out there.”
Daniel Graham said it would be great to get those playmakers back out on the field, but said if they can’t suit up he has confidence in their backups and what they have been able to accomplish the last few weeks.
“Just to get them back to help the defense out,” he said. “It is also encouraging that if something does happen to them that we have some young guys that can step up and replace them.”
Rookies Josh Bell, Spencer Larsen and Wesley Woodyard been thrust into the roles of starters and have embraced their opportunities
Ebenezer Ekuban likes what he has seen from the group of first-year starters.
“We have young guys and rookies that are stepping in there and playing like veterans,” he said. “The sky is the limit for those guys.”
What are the Broncos going to do with all these players when the starters return healthy?
“Those are problems you want to have,” Head Coach Mike Shanahan said. “You want guys that are backing up that have had playing time and proved themselves. Sometimes when guys do come back they are not able to play a full game so you might have to split time. So there are a lot of different intangibles that go into it. You really don’t know until the end of the week which direction you are going to go.”
INJURY UPDATE
Coach Shanahan said that Josh Shaw suffered a dislocated elbow during Sunday’s win at New York.
“Right now, it doesn’t look good but we are going to wait to get the MRI back and I (give) something more definitive on Wednesday,” he said.
-Jake Grilley, DenverBroncos.com
Tags: Champ Bailey, D.J. Williams, Jake Grilley, Mike Shanahan, Nate Webster
I’m starting to have a hard time getting to put numbers with faces… that game yesterday against the Jets had me guessing big time!
I said before how huge it would have been to have gotten champ back for the jets game but I thought the secondary did a great job overall in shutting down the jets receivers aside from a few screens that got a little outta control. Dre Bly stepped up big time and shut down the jets best receiver so with champ back at the other side and a little pressure on the qbs from time to time the D will be in good form to shut down any and all passing attacks that come our way.
ALL I KNOW IS THAT THIGPEN IS IN FOR A LOOOOOOOOONG DAY NEXT SUNDAY. CHAMP IS HUNGRY TO BACK BACK AND A PART OF THIS TEAMS SUCCESS AND BLY IS PLAYING LIKE PRIMETIME AGAIN SO LET THE OWNING OF THE CHIEFT BEGIN. 45-10 BRONCOS LETS GO!!!!
ALL I KNOW IS THAT THIGPEN IS IN FOR A LOOOOOOOOONG DAY NEXT SUNDAY. CHAMP IS HUNGRY TO BE BACK AND A PART OF THIS TEAMS SUCCESS AND BLY IS PLAYING LIKE PRIMETIME AGAIN SO LET THE OWNING OF THE CHIEFS BEGIN. 45-10 BRONCOS LETS GO!!!!
If all these guys start getting healthy and out on the field soon thats a great sign for this team. Everyone is going to count them out in the playoffs and i love that, this team plays its best when there underdogs and they will be underdogs in every game in the playoffs. I can also see guys on this team sticking together and thats a good sign. I would love to see everyone on the team get healthy and allow some of these rookies who have been playing great to get a bit of a rest so that they dont hit that rookie wall. If selvin can get healthy and allow hillis to play full back and have both of them on the field at the same time thats HUGE. teams will have to game plan for that and give them one more thing to worry about with our offense. this is the greatest time of the year and i cant waite to see how things play out. Im not saying we will be superbowl champs but this is a great step for us and with a few more key players added this team could be great for a long time.
all i know is im sick of this one more week thing. they said champ could be back 3 weeks ago and have continued every week to say the same thing. i wanna see what the starting lineup will be when these guys are back i love watching woodyard play i wanna see him in there with dj and nate
I hope we get to play the colts in the playoffs this year. Then it will be revenge for all those times they beat us in the past. Now lets trash some chiefs this weak!!
I hope we play the colts in the playoffs, it will be revenge for all the times they beat us in the past. now i hope we trash the chiefs this weak.
haha, well said ddk broncos fan… Thigpen doesn’t know what kind of trouble he’s gotten himself into this time. Whenever this second game comes around for them to come to the Mile High City, its always a “revenge” kind of game for us losing in their house. If we lose to them again especially them being 2-10… I am going to lose my mind. I can’t imagine us losing to them but then again I didn’t see us losing to Oakland at our house either. However, I have no doubt that we are not going to let these little punks get us again… plus we have got to get better at home, its absolutely absurd and just plain weird that we can lose on the road to a very good team like the Jets but we have so much trouble at home. I don’t get it but it is what it is. Although it can be fixed and it better get fixed by Sunday. I love when these 2 teams play against each other at Denver b/c then I get to go and watch the little Chiefs get squashed like a bug. I live for this game every year… and it is so worth it when we embarass them out of here.
As for Champ – I pray to God he does come back. He is needed and I want him out there. His football days are NOT done, he’s got so much more to give to this team. I just want to see him out there Sunday having fun and get at least one INT for himself. He’s too good at it and its a blast to watch him do it. But like one of the other players said, if for some reason Champ or D.J. can’t come back I know we got some rookies that have proved themselves and I know they won’t let us down.
Go crush ‘em boys!!!!!!
GO BRONCOS!!!!!!
Wow!!!! What a great team win yesterday. What’s so amazing about this win? I will tell you. The Broncos are so depleted with injuries and the young guy’s are stepping in and making things happen. Yes there are those moments when you wanna scream, but with the personnel they have to play with, the Defense has put forth some great effort all year. With a few solid Tackles to plug and push the middle this defense has the potential to do special things. (Don’t get Cocky).
The offense, when they are good, their good. When they are bad, well we don’t even need to go there. Again a very young squad, but with a sky’s the limit talent pool. No real offensive weapons necessary for next year. Hopefully, our RB’s get healthy. Hillis is the Man!! Reminds me of a young Meryl Hodge. Only thing he lacks is break away speed. But he can stay! He has the heart of a lion.
I believe this team can compete with anyone if they show up to play. If the offense will continue to set the tempo and score, score, score and then score some more, the defense will not have any unnecessary pressure placed upon them. Since we lack a pass rush, the opposing teams need to be forced into making mistakes by being one dimensional.
It’s really a simple as long as this TEAM shows up to play they will win. If they get Cocky and play to the level of their opponent then it will be a long day.
Dear Broncos Players & Coaches,
Please o Please do not look past Kansas City. Time for some revenge. Stay focused and do not let them come into Broncos Country and whip your ass like last time. Stay focused, execute and stomp them Chiefs. You have all the tools to perform the task, just get out their and do it. Bring back the Mile High Magic. Your destiny and the destiny of the fans is in your hands. I believe you can win out the rest of the season. Take the rest of the season one game at a time, Ride High into the playoffs and once you get their, you will have success. Great win yesterday, enjoy it, build from it and most of all repeat it this sunday
Sincerely,
Broncomania56
GO BRONCOS!!!!!!!!!!!!! GO BRONCOS!!!!!!!!!!!!
This was a big win for the team,the fans, and the city Of DENVER. They should great heart and determanation. I so happy for the team. For all you who said the team is awful i bet you are eating your words. i know the team been inconsistant but they are a great team and should be considard as one go broncos
Im gona be honest… This game will not be a blowout I think it will be close… I am a little wooried
im glad barret played i thought he looked good, any1 know how bad he was hurt?
Great to have Champ back. This is the perfect time for us to get our starters back. They will have a few games to get back in game mode before the playoffs. Then when the playoffs start, the whole team will be ready to go for it all. Just don’t look past the Chiefs or it will bite us in the *** again. I HATE to say it, but go Raiders.
Great to have Champ back. This is the perfect time for us to get our starters back. They will have a few games to get back in game mode before the playoffs. Then when the playoffs start, the whole team will be ready to go for it all. Just don’t look past the Chiefs or it will bite us in the *** again. I HATE to say it, but go Raiders. Never mind, I still don’t want them to win.
Great to have Champ back. This is the perfect time for us to get our starters back. They will have a few games to get back in game mode before the playoffs. Then when the playoffs start, the whole team will be ready to go for it all. Just don’t look past the Chiefs or it will bite us in the *** again.
Peyton reminds me of Mike Alstott…
Champ is going to lock Dwayne Bowe up so Thigpen will have to rely on Gonzalez who hasn’t really been that great this season. However, the Jets have more offensive firepower than the Queefs and look what we did at the Meadowlands. The Broncos are beginning to play their best football at the right time. Watch out AFC here we come. GO BRONCOS!!!
Make no mistake… the Chiefs will be riding high after that win over the Faiders, so when Champ plays on Sunday and he shuts down Bowe, Gonzo needs to be shut down as well… Gonzalez is finding some form so we need to stay on top of all thier key players.. DJ & Nate (if their back) NEED to stop that run… LETS GO BRONCOS!!! Its GO time!!!
this is some great news to hopefully have Champ back, DJ would be great as well, as far as Nate, i think he needs to stay on the sidelines. Our backups have been playing like starters and some of them need to stay out there on the field. I like having woody and larsen out there as well as winborn but i know it’s not possible to keep them all. Barrett and Bell need more playing time as well, Bell has filled in nicely and will be a good DB for years to come, the way they have swarmed to the ball, they all play with intensity. it’s great to know that we have good back ups in our time of need. Champ will come back and have a great game, i’m glad he got a couple extra weeks to heal up we will need him come playoff time. Expect Champ to cover Gonzalez this week, he is thier true #1 Receiver threat, bly with some help from the safeties will have no problem with Bowe, as long as we keep Johnson locked up this should be an easy game. just don’t get over cocky guys, let’s not have a replay of week 4.
I love watching this team. this year has had it’s ups and downs but look what has come of it. we have gotten to see early on what our rookies can do. Our future looks bright and i’m excited for the years to come but right now lets look forward to scalping the chiefs and getting one game closer to the playoffs.
a Bronco’s win and a chargeless loss and we clinch! can’t believe i’ll be rooting for the Faiders!
GO BRONCOS!!!!
Broncomania56 I agree 200% with everything you said! All I’ll add is….. Our team needs to stay humble, continue to work, stay focus, and build from the Jets win. With that said we as fans have to continue to support them while trying to remain humble. I hope the team don’t have revenge on their minds bc it might cause them to try to hard to make a play.
I know we want them to try and give their all each week but it’s diff. when revenge is thrown in. I have faith that we will win but I’m looking @ the Thiefs as if they are 10-2 instead of 2-10. I feel this is a must win game bc we haven’t had a home win sine the Tampa game. Plus we have a chance to really grip the afc west in our hands with a win.
Am I the only one that thinks this team can go to the Super Bowl and WIN?
I’ve followed this team for many, many years. I as most of you know their problems, their inconsistencies etc. However, as I’ve said several times, did it really surprise you that the boys won in atlants or NY? Nor did it surprise me that they lost to Oakland and KC.
I know most fans will say those are team that you should own, I know but it doesn’t always work out like that.
Time! Time is what this team has needed. Seriously think about who we beat and with who!
This coaching staff has assembled one of the best draft classes in the history of the organization. That’s not an oops!
I know we don’t have the #1 ranked defense in the league right now, BUT are we as bad weeks 8 through now as we were 1 through 8? I didn’t think so….This team may be a CUMMULATIVE STAT low ranked defense but changes have been made and it has shown HUGE!
What has been consistent is the #2 ranked offense this year. An offense that is capable of putting up points and in a hurry!
This team has turned on and off the switch all year long and have 100% success on knowing when to turn it on. They’ll do it again in the playoffs. Mark my words.
This team is 150% capable of playing with ANYONE! in the NFL and winning. Question is will they turn that switch on that day!
Here’s why:
CUTLER
MARSHALL
STOKLEY
ROYAL
CLADY
SHEFFLER
DANIEL G.
D.J.
CHAMP
BLY
LARSEN
HILLIS
WIEGEM
H*LL THE WHOLE OFFENSIVE LINE THAT HAS THE FEWEST SACKS YET THE YOUNGEST
DUMERVIL
I believe in this team! They CAN be world champions!
GO GET EM’ BOYS!
Jake Grilley – If we put Shaw on the IR could we activate Carlton Powell? What are the rules on the Pup list? Is Powell still working out and how is his recovery???
Thanks – Keep it rolling Broncos!
A couple of weeks ago, i said that hillis running style is similar to john riggins…and so far it has showed. Yet am worried that next year shanny will either put hillis back on FB or as a TE. I hope what he said in his interview was just a thought…Nothing more.. We have a great HB since TD…We can actually make it to the promise land with this guy running in the backfield. Hats off to the OL once again…Keep up the great job in pass and run blocks
rev79 – Carlton Powell suffered a serious Achilles injury, as far as him returning to the roster this season from such an injury it is probably unlikely. But he has been working hard at rehabbing from his injury, so look for him to bounce back and contribute as soon as he can.
-Jake
i said it earlier in the year and im going to say it again. if our running game is clicking, then our ENTIRE offense will be better. hillis is running like a freight train. he is running hard, fast and he is starting to hit the hole with a bit more confidence! he is breaking tackles and is not afraid to hit someone, which is a nice change from the fleet footed tap dancing type runners i have seen the last few years. i think it would be a shame to not let him keep the starting tail back job that he has most definately proven he deserves. that job should be his to lose, at least for the remainder of this season. as for our passing offense… we should all send a christmas card to our O line. they have played amazing this year! jay has all day to throw the ball, and it shows! i wish there was a way to get marshall a bit more involved early in the game. he has dropped several easy catches lately, and i think getting him a few catches early would help to keep him focused later in the game! now for the defense… i dont know what to say about them. they in my oppinion have made a complete turn around in the second half of the season. im almost afraid of what will happen when our starters get healthy. we seem to have a chemistry and a fire that i would hate to disrupt! aside from a few young mistakes, they seem to really be playing hungry, and that is exactly what we need. dont get me wrong, i cant wait to get champ back, and DJ is definately a boon, but im not sure i want much else to change! i just hope they can stop overlooking these so called poor teams… cuz those are the games we cant afford to lose. we seem to play up or down to our opponents. we need to be more consistent on the whole! all that being said, i think our team may be peaking at the right time, and if we can keep it going, we will be a force to be reckoned with in the playoffs! when we are playing at this level, i dont think there is any team in this league that can beat us!! and that includes tennesse! this team reminds me alot of the 97 broncos… you remember those guys right! they went through the playoffs as a wild card team to beat the heavily favored packers in the superbowl. dont laugh, im serious! think about it. we have the running game going, cutler has 2 great recievers to throw to, a tight end with big play potential in scheffler, an amazing O line… not to mention the best slot reciever in the game! plus our defense is getting better every week! i see alot of similiarities. let me know what you think. GO BRONCOS
Yes rayjr26,
this is very synonymous of the 97 broncos, i’ve said it all along and now someone else sees what i see. Especially with Larsen lookin’ like Romanowski.
DJ at ROLB
Larsen at Mike
Woodyard at LOLB
i think the D line needs 1 person to really step up and play…..Jarvis Moss!!
With a healthy Shaw, w Robertson backin’ him up….Doom and Moss mixin’ it up
on pass rushes,…yeah i can see.
broncfalss, when this unit finally clicks, you heard it here first….Defensive Records will be broken and reset. and its about time for “odd statistics” to go in our favor instead of us being the team that sets a new ‘statistical mark’ for other teams.
jmonk,
Barret isn’t that hurt,…he faked an injury to stop favre’s ‘hurry up offense’ that could’ve sparked a last minute comeback.
samoanbronco,
thats a good idea to have champ cover gonzalez first game back, someone he can definitely cover at 90% and will give that confidence to let the ‘mental part’ of that nagging injury go! as a DB, i feel for Champ, our strength as Corners is the ‘after-burners’. a nagging hamstring always feels like 1 jet short. but Champ is my idol and has always healed fast, and his athleticism doesn’t allow for injuries. he reminds me of wolverine, healing fast.
broncomainia said it best,
we can’t look past these guys, they need to stop underestimating their opponents, and treat every game like its ” win or go home” starting with the jets!!!
Get’em Boys
Champ must cover Bowe. In the previous meeting, we left Champ on his side of the field and Bowe abused Bly.Without Boss Bailey to cover Gonzo, it looks like it will be Manuel, that is a mistake. This defense needs to bring 8 in the box to stop the run, lock Champ on Bowe, and roll a man/zone double on Gonzo using D.J. and Manuel. Offensively the only team in the world that can slow us down is… us! WE WILL WIN! Our magic number is 2, as in any combination of Broncos wins or Chargers losses equaling 2 and we lock up the west!
(side note: Carlton Powell cannot play again this year because he is on IR).
hey guys just keep on winning some of these non believes are starting to believe i know this team is unpredictable but man when they play they play hard hillis is a animal he plays with so much effort . this offensive line might be called awesome harris and clady plays like veterans.wiegman and hamilton what can i say im impressed . dan graham is a leader of this offense he blocks well and has made some nice catches. the defense is getting better at the right time lets take one game at a time and take care of business. let me also say thanks to coach mike on a great job keeping this season alive and well great job. go broncos
How fun to see our team come together with all the rookie help. Pretty awesome coaching to overcome all the adversity this year and put a winning team on the field. Go Broncos-you have heart!
rev79…Carlton ruptured his achilles and will not be ready until next spring. It takes about 3 months of no weight bearing to heal and then 3-4 months of solid rehad. I ruptured both of my achilles. I cant wait to see him next year becaues he was a run stopper in college.
rev79………Carlton ruptured his achilles and will not be ready until next spring. It takes about 3 months of no weight bearing to heal and then 3-4 months of solid rehad. I ruptured both of my achilles. I cant wait to see him next year becaues he was a run stopper in college.
Someone mentioned Hillis and J Riggins and I think they are spot on I said the same thing about him today. Riggins was a total wack job and Hillis is just a nice kid. I think KC is dangerous so hopefully they dont play a Raider type game. START WOODYARD AND WINBORN AND DJ….