By now, Chris Simms’ career-threatening and possibly life-threatening injury has been well documented.
Three games into the 2006 season, Simms — then the starting quarterback of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers — suffered a ruptured spleen against the Carolina Panthers.
The fact that Simms could start an NFL game on Sunday for the first time since that fateful day, and a subsequent splenectomy, has not been lost on Head Coach Josh McDaniels.
“I have a great deal of respect for what he’s overcome now to come back and do this, and I can also see every day why he’s overcome it,” McDaniels said. “He works as hard as or harder than anybody we have on our team.”
According to McDaniels, there isn’t much, if anything, not to like about how Simms handles himself on a daily basis. He deems Simms’ attitude as “phenomenal,” and considers his work ethic to be top notch. McDaniels said the seventh-year pro “lives in the weight room” and is always the last one working out after practice — usually when nobody is looking.
“Those are the kinds of things that make you believe in a kid like this that went through an injury the way he did,” McDaniels said.
“His outlook, I am sure, was probably affected by (the injury), and I think he enjoys every day that he’s here and he takes advantage of it,” McDaniels continued. “That’s why I think that our team embraces him in his role and would embrace him in whatever role he would serve for us because, again, I think you gain a great deal of respect from your coaches and your peers about how you work and how you handle yourself, and I don’t know anybody who does that better than he does.”
While it is still up in the air as to who will take the helm at quarterback for the Broncos in Week 11, this much is for certain: If Kyle Orton can not take the field due to injury, McDaniels has confidence in Simms’ ability to lead the Broncos against their AFC West rival, the Chargers.
“Chris had a good day (on Wednesday),” McDaniels said. “I feel very good about the way he practiced. Mentally, he’s on top of the game plan, as is Kyle. I think any quarterback is going to benefit from the reps. I think he certainly did. As practice went on, you could see there’s a little juice to him and (he) got more confident. It was good to see that. We know he can do that. I think everybody has great confidence in him.”
Simms missed the entire 2007 season due to his injury and worked diligently to regain his form in 2008 while serving as Tennessee’s third-string quarterback.
After a long road back, Simms does not hesitate when asked about his enthusiasm level when thinking about the posibility of starting on Sunday — with first place up for grabs, no less.
“I am extremely excited,” Simms said. “I really am. Any time you have the chance to play, it’s exciting. And in my case, it’s been a long time.”
MORE TICKETS AVAILABLE
Extra tickets are now available for Sunday’s AFC West matchup between the Broncos and Chargers at INVESCO Field at Mile High.
The Broncos announced on Thursday that the Chargers have returned 300 tickets for Sunday’s game, and those tickets are now on sale to the general public.
The tickets are being sold at all Ticketmaster outlets, via Ticketmaster Charge By Phone, through online sales at www.ticketmaster.com and at the INVESCO Field at Mile High box office.
There were four changes to the Broncos’ Injury Report on Thursday. After neither player participated in Wednesday’s practice session, Josh Barrett (hamstring) was a limited participant on Thursday and Brandon Marshall (neck) was listed as a full participant. Correll Buckhalter (knee) and Brandon Lloyd (foot) were both limited participants on Wednesday, however, neither took part in Thursday’s practice session.
For the Chargers, TE Antonio Gates (foot) and OLB Shawne Merriman (foot) were full participants on Thursday after both did not practice on Wednesday. DE Travis Johnson (groin), DT Ogemdi Nwagbuo (ankle) and OLB Shaun Phillips (ankle) were all listed as limited participants after not practicing on Wednesday. P Mike Scifres (bilateral groin) practiced in full after being listed as a limited participant on Wednesday.
– Zach Eisendrath, DenverBroncos.com
Here are some pictures from the onset of Thursday’s practice session at Dove Valley:
Tags: Chris Simms, Head Coach Josh McDaniels, Kyle Orton, San Diego Chargers, Week 11
All I want us to do is win, I don’t care how, we just need to beat the Chargers.
Thats all that matters is a W….All I want for Christmas is a playoff berth.
I feel this…after seeing what the chargers are doing…and what Orton was doing to Washington before he left with the injury…we will need Orton in to win the game.
So I guess this blog post coupled with The Associated Press reports of Kyle Orton having torn ligaments in his ankle pretty much indicates that Chris Simms will start on Sunday?
I’m not trying to be negative, but im predicting a blowout by SD. Yeah, how hypocritic can you get, right?
I just don’t understand! It said the day after the game that Orton will start against the Chargers on Sunday??? What is going on?? Just like always, we have that wonderful great start and then let the Chargers come in and take it away!! It’s not looking all that great!
Come on Broncos, Take that AFC West Lead!!!
Lets look at it this way, since beating the chargers we haven’t won a game. Since the Chargers lost to us they have won all their games. I think this week can turn that all on its head. I believe the team will come out firing. If we get the win we roll right into the playoffs and the chargers will fail.
I feel better knowing that Simms is putting in hard work and so he’ll be prepared to start if need be on Sunday. He wasn’t prepared to take over last Sunday, this time he knows there’s a very likely chance he’ll be starting. I expect good things from him if that’s the case. I’m behind these guys all the way. They just need to find a way to win on Sunday… just find a way to win, fight for the win and I’ll be happy.
Right now I don’t care who our QB is… just come away with the win. That’s all I ask.
And play like a team.
Oh and score a touchdown or two or 3 or 4, oh heck, go all out and smother those no good surf junkies with TDs. Fine by me. That would be a nice touch.
And it won’t really bother me if they buried Rivers 6 ft under all night, that would be funny.
ST could also stick in some good returns like what happened last time, that would be good too.
Just stick it to ‘em… again! That’s all I ask.
We need this win and they know it. Don’t let them come into OUR territory and take OUR win. They expect that. Tell them to expect the unexpected.
Keep the faith Bronco Country…
GO BRONCOS!!!!
This is the season right here, if the team is for real they need to win this game.
Im only bringing this up because ESPN did something about it. But I am really excited for next year’s QB class. I am very happy with Orton but with our Bears 1st rounder I hope we pickup Claussen, Locker, or Bradford (depending on how far he falls). Claussen is my favorite of the 3. But in all honesty, when healthy our team is legit, losing this week with out Orton is understandable and this year is a solid step forward regardless of how we finish. I don’t think we are a Super Bowl contender right now because we can’t hang with Pitt or Bmore.
The future is bright Bronco fans
One positive is that they do not know how to play against simms..Which could give us the upper hand..
Read:
http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/print?id=1492027&type=columnist
No need for predictions marshallman-15…u can avoid the whole issue by not even prediciting a blow-out by san diego because if the broncos win by 40 then u gon feel like kickin yoself in the u kno wut…im not tryna call u out but we all true bronco fans n i find it disturbing u rootin for the opposite team and san diego at that…..keep the faith we’ll be alright n i can bet we will make it to the playoffs….
A win here would put us in the driver’s seat. I think the game will be closer than a lot of people seem to think. It’s in Denver, and that’s always an advantage. I kind of get the feeling that McDaniels may be giving Simms the reps so he can surprise the Chargers when Orton starts on Sunday.
Ive had time to cool off. K so the funny thing is is that simms could give us a chance to get back on the winning track because of the aforementioned reason teams dont know how to play against him. They will most certainly want to attack and try and make him uncomfortable by blitzing so we know that is certain. Perfect opportunity to get our short to mid range passing clicking again. We wont have to worry about wether or not we have a deep threat simms most definitely has a strong arm. The kid is smart and plays hard I dont expect him to do any worse than kyle would to be perfectly honest with you. The key this week will be on defense and time of possession. We absolutely must pressure rivers in many different ways to keep him out of sync. He usually only needs two to three good minutes to pull off upsets so we need him in check so their one dimensional running can get stuffed. Overall I think it should be quite interesting im not predicting a blowout in either case
Well said eternalorangandblue. Couldn’t agree more about the key being the defense and time of possession (where’s Monodono!!). Also getting our running game going would be great!. It’s going to be a showdown!
GO BRONCOS!!!!!!!!
GO BRONCOS WIN THE WEST THIS WEEK!!!!
McD’s system for qbs is like shanny’s system for running backs no matter who is back there they are going to succeed. Proof? Matt Cassle last year. Look at him in a different system? Need I say more? I think by far that Simms is way better than Cassle anyways. He just needed to knock some of the rust off so he will be better this weekend if he starts. Second the only way the chargers will win and the only reason they have been winning is if we can’t contain sproles on special teams and the face of the franchise Gates. We contain those two we win easily. Ok sorry if we put peyton hillis in we win easily. I hope McD uses him this weekend like alot. Maybe he is waiting for moments like this where we use him as a special weapon. Anyways chargers d sucks and we will be able to keep the chains moving all day and our d will be like our d before we started losing.
Prediction
Broncos win
28-17
we need orton to win simms sucks and should not even be playing in the nfl if orton cant go bring in the rookie
Hey, yeah, sorry for my “negative” predictions. You can’t tell me that I’m gonna feel stupid when we win by 40, because every week I’ve said how we were gonna dismantle a team, we lost. LAUGH, but dont think I’m an idiot for being superstitious.
From now on, I’ll let you guys discuss how well we’ll do because, If you havent noticed already, I’m always wrong.
peace out, im gone
i think simms starts but if it goes sour early orton plays
I think that if Simms starts, it will only be because Orton is out for sure. If it goes sour from there, maybe Brandstater will get a chance.
Hey guys, still here, just took a sabbatical, spent three days on the water, litlle cruising, lots of anchoring, full wash and wax job, oiled the teak, anyway I’m beat and kind of calm about this week, imagine that. Been reading all the posts, things have cooled down a whole bunch since Monday, not many more mentions of good and fake fans, nice to see. I got the few predictions made for the game down, only one predicting a win, the other two a loss.
Listened to all the press conferences, few things stick out to me, Dawkins thinks this is a huge game and he is super excited, McD thinks it’s an important game but nothing like an AFC championship game, and not a game that will decide the division winner, he said sure it will give the winner the upper hand, but no sense of urgency from him, much different sounding that Dawkins. Dawkins is like trying to elevate himself psyche wise a couple of notches for the game, while McD is trying to bring the game down a couple of notches to keep it on a level keel. Interesting radical differences in approach….
And of course the injury thing, complete evasion of that subject as usual, trying to keep the Chargers in the dark as much as everybody else, and successfull in doing so. Chargers have no idea who to prepare for, the righty or the lefty, therefore they have to prepare for both. Probably won’t be announced until game time. Either way, a limping Orton or a prepared Simms should not be a huge difference wether we win or lose, a healthy Orton, yes, but healthy he is not. Not exactly the best of circumstance to be in this situation, but it is what it is, we will be fighting for our division title hopes, I don’t care what McD says, looking at the mathematical possibilities of things hardly ever works in the NFL, with a prepared Simms or hobbling Orton, your guess is as good as mine, matter of fact your pick of who should start is as good as mine. I’d probably say go with the healthy guy.
Probably won’t make a big difference if the ST and D don’t play 60 minutes. They haven’t for the last three games, so maybe they have enough in the tank left to do it Sunday regardless of how much they will be on the field. Of course, T.O.P. is always the big equalizer and what better week than one with a hobbling starting QB and a three year removed from starting a game back up QB to rely on the running game, like 60% of the time, what about it coach? Regardless of all the explanations of why we haven’t run the rock in the second half of the last three games, granted it wasn’t there against the Ravens and the Steelers, but it certainly was there for the taking against the Redskins, and you simply didn’t give it a fair shot. It’s your team, do what you think is right, but sooner than you may think, it probably will be too late to start playing games with the urgency that they are do or die games, just not important games, like this one. I am not a math major, but I do know that to rely on mathematical posibilities in the NFL usually doesn’t work, what works it taking it when it is here for the taking, that never fails, IMO.
Here is to hoping enough players on the team can play with that do or die mentality Sunday, just listen to your leader Dawkins, and give me the great satisfaction that everything is back on track with a WIN.
Predictions do not show where your heart for a football team is at. Especially when you are talking about a fan with a presence on the boards such as Brian_Schneider.
I think the Broncos will come into Sunday more pumped and motivated than the Chargers. They will come out fired up by Dawkins, and want this game much more than the Chargers. We have something to prove, and we’re proving it in our own back yard. If we can establish the run well, then we don’t need to worry about the QB because we won’t have to throw as many passes and we can burn more time.
Hey Guy’s and my Broncos sis.
I have to tell ya, I have total faith in Chris Simms’ abilities and I think He will do just fine especially if Coach McDaniels finally starts calling enough running play’s. 21 running play’s a whole game just isn’t cutting it especially when the opposing team run’s the ball 27 times in a half like washington did. The Only way to control TIME OF POSSESSION is to run the ball 30 to 40 times a game. With Buckhaulter (knee) hurt I hope Coach McDaniels can see past any animosities He may have with Hillis and put Him in for substantial amount of carries or a few catches out of the back field. This will help the TEAM most!
TIME OF POSSESSION ! ! !
GO BRONCOS ! ! !
Hello Bronco Nation:
I spy with my eye some here think that Simms can not play in place of Orton. I disagree with that! He was not the reason why we lost to the Skins! I have always supported Orton over Simms due to Orton coming into Denver as a player that fits McD’s mold! But do not underestimate his fire and his preparation to get this chance! Some has called for Simms from the beginning of the season. I could be wrong but I think he will lead us to a victory over the bolts! The talk should be about our D getting back on track and our running game also. This is not the doom of the Denver Broncos should we lose. We are underdogs in this match up and this team will feed off of that!! And this game is in our house!!! Bolts don’t serve!!
Baylin for the record Denver 24 bolts 21.
GO BRONCOS
FTR
Broncs win 27-21
Simms is more than capable of beating the bolts. One thing for sure, he wasnt affraid of airing it out, although that was an ill-advised throw that got picked off…anyways thats all done for, hope Orton heals up or Simms makes the biggest comeback of his career (from injury that is) against a division rival..
Broncos win it 24-17
HILLIS, HILLIS, HILLIS, HILLIS, HILLIS. HILLIS, HILLIS!!!!!! This would be a great week to get Hillis involved in the Running game. I asked for a QB change all along, so I will not complain about Simms performance. “Be careful what you ask for, you just may get it.” I and many others got their wish and now that it happened everyone is trying to undo their wish and is hoping Orton is able to go. I will say this, I ate crow immediately following the skins game and said I WAS WRONG that Orton was not able to throw the deep ball. Orton looked like the best choice overall following the skins game.
Today, I only care about one thing, Winning!!! the most pivotal game in determining the rest of the season. A WIN will help get things turned around.
Get back to the basics, know your job and execute your job. Take personal responsibility for your job and hold others accountable to do theirs. The last three games are gone, they are in the past and cannot be changed. Every man that dawns that Broncos uniform on Sunday is part of the team and must contribute when called upon. As fans we want a victory!!!! As Players they want to win!!! Orton, Simms or Brnadstater, it does not matter they are Denver Broncos!!!!! We are all Broncos Fans!!!! Lets rally our Broncos past the Bolts.
This week the Coach will have the “Player”, whom ever that will be prepared to the best of their abilities. The “Player” will have had a chance to build chemistry with their teammates. Maybe it will take a series or 2 to settle the nerves of the “Player”, but the TEAM has to go out and execute their game plan. As Fans we have no control over the outcome of the game, furthermore making predictions is only opinions, show up, cheer for our beloved Broncos and hope for the best.
All that matters is a Victory!!!!! Regardless of the Player behind Center.
GO BRONCOS!!!!!!
Hey bay,
Sounds like a great time out on the Orang Crush just anchoring and hanging out on the water….. cold beer, fishing and the Sunsets are righteous..eh? What a life!
I’ll be in San Antonio visiting family this weekend so I might not get to see the game…drag for me! Anyhow, I think our Broncos get back on top and win!
BRONCOS 28
DISCHARGE 10
THERE IS A NEW FIRE BLAZING IN THE BRONCOS!!!!!!!!!
ORANG……? hahahaha!!!
Go Broncos!!!!
Cmon people! where is the mile high faith???? u know what? i have lived in Colorado all of my life, and I have never been to a game! never in the years ive been alive…but i wallways believe. its sad when we lose three in a row…but u never stop believing. u know why? CUZ ITS THE STINKIN DENVER BRONCOS PEOPLE!!!!!!!! u dont give up and predict a blow-out???maybe things don’t look too good…but the nfl is crazy and things happen that sometimes is in ur favor. brong back the real denver bronco fans please! the ones that will support denver through thick and thin.
GO BRONCOS
I just love how when i supported simms last week i was told to “get out” and not its the fad X.x kind of silly. ANy way i totaly agree that simms will do fine with reps under his belt. And when he plays sunday hell give us a chance, and an addaded advantage with defenses not knowing how to play Simms. GUARINTEE our running game will outweigh our passing, until or unless we get behind and have to start passing. Honestly i just hope simms and work in the clutch..Honestly dont forget royal saved us last time we played, so hopefully he has another big game for us, or the offense puts up more pts.
I dont think any of us can know what to expect at this point…lets just hope they get a W.
Go Broncos!
I hoenstly don’t know how Simms will fair this Sunday. During preseason he looked descent especially compared to Ortons debut throwing 3 INTs. Then the season comes and all of a sudden people are talkin’ about Orton and how he’s playin so well, and he was. I’m sure Orton and Simms spend a lot of time reviewing the playbook, understanding the gameplan, know what McD wants from them. The only difference is the starter gets most of the reps it is like that on every team. So last week Simms more than likely didn’t get a lot of reps. He performed poorly against WAS that can’t be sugar coated. This week he is getting most or all the reps. So he’ll have a better feel of how he needs to throw the ball to certain WR, or where to place the ball for certain receivers, things like that. Simms has the capability to help the Broncos win, I’m not saying he’ll lead us like Elway but him and Orton are the same type of players, smart and accurate. We’ll definately need the running game to help Simms out heck a good running game helps any QB out. This will be a good game and if we do lose the season still isn’t over yet. You know how we are going throug a little slump, well the Chargers could do the same thing. This win would definately help out our situation a lot, sweeping the Chargers would be fantastic.
I believe that the Broncos can win with Simms at QB, he’s done it in TB so why can’t he do it here….
Go Broncos!!!!!!
TOP!! Run the ball w/ Hillis. Keep our D fresh for the 4th quarter.ST needs to show up.
OC, yeah, not complaining over here, pretty simple formula, work your tail off most of your working life, follow a plan, get a couple lucky breaks and enjoy early retirement. Come to think of it, it’s the same thing for our Broncos, work your tail off, follow the game plans, get a couple lucky breaks and you may just enjoy going all the way. However, they are not always working their tails off (60 minutes), they have not followed the game plans of late (assignments) and luck can only go so far if you don’t take care of what you can control first.
So what is it the team really wants out of this season, after all, what you get out of something is whatever you put into it, if it’s greatness then it shall start Sunday, they missed the bus a couple of times already and have fallen a couple of stops behind shedule, there is no more time to slack around in my opinion, time has come to put up.
I know most of you must have already figured this one out but it bears being printed in caps: IF WE WIN THiS GAME IT WILL IN ESSENCE GIVE US A TWO GAME LEAD IN THE DIVISION BECAUSE THE FIRST TIE BREAKER IN CASE OF A TIE IS THE HEAD TO HEAD MATCH UP RECORD WHICH WE WOULD WIN 2-0. So to anyone who thinks this game is not the most important one of the season, you must be following beach volleyball or something… We can come out of this with in reality a two game lead over SD, or they come out with a one game lead over us.
THAT’S A THREE GAME DIFFERENCE!!!!!!! Anyone sees the crucial importance of it yet? McD? At least Dawkins does, I hope he carries the team on his shoulders Sunday.
Champ looks totally focused in…I like that.
Hey, brian, sorry I wasn’t here the other day when you got some tong lashing over not being a true fan, what a bunch of you know what, I would of had your back. Don’t worry about these type of fans, in my eye they are more cheerleaders than real fans like you and I. We say what’s on our mind because we have earned that right, they just follow the flock regardless of whether there is the promise land or a cliff right in front of them. Blind Faith, just like the band of the same name, but they wouldn’t know that either, way too old for them, like me, hahahaha!
I would like to think that our veteren leadership on defense has changed the teams mind set. They have to know that we can’t look over our shoulder at SD, like we have done for what seems like a decade. That is our job as fans.
If our D can stop the run and those stupid screen passes SD likes, I believe we can pull this one out.
GO BRONCOS !!!
Simms will be just fine! Trust Me!
Our Defense is going to be amazing! Trust Me!
Here’s what I’m thinking:
Have you ever played anything, a sport, a game of cards, dice, bags, anything. You lose once and you’re like “Whatever Let’s go!” then you lose again and it’s like “Oh..you wanna play that way huh?” then the unthinkable happens you lose a third time!
Now your pissed beyond your mind. Your teeth grit going into the 4th matchup. Now it’s personal! Now you begin to think people doubt you! They forget what you did before the 3 losses! Know what I mean?
NOW! put on a helmet and jersey and call yourself and NFL player. Call yourself a Denver Bronco! You look around your huddle and you see #20 losing his mind! You see #24 with a stone face of excellence. You look around and see #92 wanting to eat! #55 & #56 swaying from side to side taking it all in!
These guys are going to play and play hard! Trust Me!
I have never EVER guaranteed a win! BUT I WILL NOW! These guys are tired! and I MEAN TIRED! of losing! IT WON’T HAPPEN AGAIN AND IT WON’T HAPPEN TO THE CHARGERS AT HOME!
I BELIEVE WITH ALL MY UNDYING SUPPORTIVE HEART THE BRONCOS WIN! THEY WIN THIS GAME AND THEY WIN THE DIVISION! AND WHEN IT’S ALL OVER WITH, WE’LL BEGIN TO SEE THE DENVER BRONCOS WE ALL KNEW WE HAD, EVEN DURING THE 3 LOSSES!
BRONCOS 24
other team 17
GO GET EM’ BOYS! DO WHAT YOU DO!!!!!
@baylinorcrush: Good to know you’re doing ok, thought maybe something might of happened to ya. So you have a yacht or somethin’ like that? Man..that’d be nice. I live in a landlock state of South Dakota so most people own fishing boats. My wife really wants to get me on a cruise to Alaska, I hear they’re nice and very fun, but that whole movie Titanic, I’d like to think technology would prevent those things but ya never know. LOL!
So does anyone know if Orton will even be activated for Sunday’s game or will it be Simms and Brandstater? Last week someone said they had to put Simmms in because Brandstater was not activated. I am just wondering.
brian, no I definitely don’t have a yacht, LOL, but a nice 24′ cruiser I have owned for nearly 20 years, custom fitted so I can do all the things you can do with bigger boats, live aboard, fish, whatever. It’s my pride and joy and bears the name Orange Crush proudly on it’s stern and the top gelcoat is orange. It cruised the Gulf of Mexico in Northern Florida for 16 years and has been on Lake Travis near Austin the last three years. I cruise my colors proudly year round, that’s the beauty of a full cabin boat, it got down to 34 degrees last couple nights, no problem, also got back up to low seventies each day with not a cloud in sight. That’s my favorite way to recharge my batteries for the Broncos, and I needed a recharge real bad after those three losses… LOL.
I really don’t care how we do it or who plays… please, just win this one!!!
Go Broncooos!
ok bronco fanatics this is how i see things going. first off, simms, while im not real high on him right now, will have a fair game. nothing fantastic i dont think, but fair. i have a feeling he will be our starter this sunday. id say maybe 200 yrds is all. 1 td, and hopefully no picks…. the key to this game is our rushing attack. i have a feeling that bucky will play very little this game, and jordan last i knew was hurt, soo…. WE WILL FINALLY see hillis!! i think him and knowshon will carry the load this week. if one of those guys gets 100 yds we will win! i also think scheffler or our TE’s in general will have a good game.
now to the D. with our running game workin (or i should say if) then our defense will have a strong outing! its back to basics for them i think. too many missed assignments and missed tackles last week! we have struggled in the pass rush as of late imo, and this NEEDS to be the game we get that back on track!
on ST, if berger has another bad week, then he needs to be replaced before next week!!
my prediction…. 17 – 13 broncos, time to get back to our stingy defense and winning ways!!
Go Broncos
“DEFENSE WINS CHAMPIONSHIPS”
Berger has about a 1-3 ratio, out of 4 punts only 1 will be good and 3 will be less than 30 yds.
Denver takes this!!!! GUYS WE NEED TO BE LOUD and show phillup cry me a rivers y he stinks!!!!!!!!(not really he is a good qb…but not agaist denver lolz) get ready to shout “INCOMPLETE!!!!”
CMON PEOPLE!!! INCOMPLETE!
IN…COM…PLETE!!!!!