Add wide receiver Javon Walker to the Broncos’ growing list of walking wounded.
Walker sat out Wednesday’s practice after suffering some inflammation in his right knee — the one that was surgically repaired two years ago when he was still with the Green Bay Packers. Even though Head Coach Mike Shanahan expects the six-year veteran to play Sunday at Indianapolis, he still deemed it wise to take all necessary precautions.
“We thought we’d give him a day’s rest,” Shanahan said. “It’s been sore the last couple of weeks.”
Walker underwent an MRI examination that revealed “nothing serious,” Shanahan said.
“There’s some inflammation, but hopefully it gets better,” Shanahan said.
Five other players did not take part in Wednesday’s practice — safeties John Lynch and Hamza Abdullah, guard Ben Hamilton, defensive tackle Sam Adams and running back/fullback Mike Bell.
Abdullah and Hamilton have already been ruled out, whilst Adams has not practiced on Wednesdays throughout the regular season as the team looks to ease the wear on the 14-year veteran.
Lynch, meanwhile, will “probably” be held out of Thursday’s practice, with Shanahan intending to test him out during Friday’s shorter session. The 15-year veteran strained his groin during the Jacksonville Jaguars’ 18-play, 80-yard touchdown trek last Sunday.
As for Bell, had some head pain Wednesday and sat out as a result.
“I’m not sure if it was from the concussion or a migraine, but whichever one it was, (he missed practice) because of his head,” Shanahan said.
Quarterback Jay Cutler, meanwhile, saw a full practice of work Wednesday after injuring his ankle against the Jaguars. The same was true for fullback Paul Smith — who incurred a pinched nerve against the Jaguars — and offensive tackle Ryan Harris, who practiced for the first time since the second week of training camp.
In the weeks in between his practice, the third-round rookie underwent surgery.
“I had bones pinching on my nerves so I had to go in and take some of the bone out and give my nerves some space,” he said. “Then after that it was just a matter of healing and getting back in shape to come out and be affective here on the practice field.
“I feel 100 percent; I feel ready to go; I feel like I healed up well,” he added.
More to come over on the main site as the afternoon becomes evening … I caught up with Curome Cox earlier and talked to him for a while about the possibility of filling in for Lynch this Sunday. Until next time, vaya con Dios.
