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September 3rd, 2010 with
 LenDale White changed numbers Thursday night, but didn't get to wear it long. (PHOTO: MAXDENVER.COM) Broncos running back LenDale White hoped for the best, but got the worst news Friday — a torn Achilles tendon that ended his season before it began.
White suffered the injury at the end of a nine-yard run during Thursday’s 31-24 preseason loss at Minnesota. He rose, but could not put any weight on his leg and left the field via a cart. White also needed a cart to leave the stadium following the loss.
The Broncos placed him on injured reserve, from which he will serve his four-game substance-abuse suspension.
White’s injury robs the Broncos of a potential answer to the team’s short-yardage struggles, which became apparent late last season, particularly in the November home loss to the San Diego Chargers. He had been effective in short yardage for the Broncos the last five days, scoring against the Steelers and Vikings.
The Broncos did get Correll Buckhalter back Thursday and expect to have Knowshon Moreno back by the season opener. Lance Ball, who started the first two preseason games, could end up rounding out the team’s tailback complement.
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September 3rd, 2010 with
 Jammie Kirlew dives for a football in the mud before practice Aug. 5. (PHOTO: MAXDENVER.COM) The Broncos didn’t wait to get started on their cuts.
Seven players were waived Friday afternoon — including four rookies: wide receiver Alric Arnett, guard Paul Duncan, linebacker Jammie Kirlew and tight end Nathan Overbay. The Broncos also waived nose tackle Chris Baker, tight end Kory Sperry and linebacker Johnny Williams.
Of the seven, the most prominent name is Kirlew, who became the first of the Broncos’ 2010 draft picks to be waived.
Early in training camp, his stock appeared to be rising, particularly as the Broncos looked for pass-rush options after injuries to Elvis Dumervil and Jarvis Moss. But undrafted rookie outside linebacker Kevin Alexander out-played him and assumed a more prominent role — even receiving a first-team snap at Cincinnati when Robert Ayers took a one-play break after being whistled for a personal foul.
The recent signing of Jason Hunter — a converted defensive end who started at outside linebacker Thursday in Minnesota — may have also helped make Kirlew redundant on the 53-man roster.
Continue reading Kirlew, Six Others Cut on Friday
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September 3rd, 2010 with
 Knowshon Moreno warmed up, but didn't play Thursday. Broncos coach Josh McDaniels says Moreno is "close" to being ready to play. (PHOTO: MAXDENVER.COM) MINNEAPOLIS – Breaking down some numbers on Denver’s quarterbacks and more from the Broncos’ 31-24 preseason-finale loss to the Minnesota Vikings at the Metrodome on Thursday night …
2: First-teamers who returned to action Thursday after not playing a snap in the first three preseason games: left tackle Ryan Clady and right guard Chris Kuper.
Tight end Richard Quinn and running back Correll Buckhalter also made their preseason debuts, but Knowshon Moreno did not; he warmed up but didn’t play. Broncos coach Josh McDaniels said Moreno was “not quite ready” to play, but that he was “close.”
“I’m sure they felt a little rusty, but it’s good to work that rustiness and get ready for Jacksonville (on Sep. 12),” quarterback Kyle Orton said.
4: Consecutive first-half possessions that ended with turnovers, beginning with the botched center-quarterback exchange between Tim Tebow and J.D. Walton on the Broncos’ third series, which Minnesota linebacker Erin Henderson recovered and returned 35 yards for a touchdown that forced a 7-7 deadlock.
The next series ended in a Tebow interception, when he attempted to find Matthew Willis in double coverage; Tyrell Johnson intercepted for the Vikings and returned it 41 yards, setting up a 27-yard Ryan Longwell field goal.
“Turnovers in this league will kill you, and (Tebow) knows that too,” McDaniels said.
But Tebow repeated a theme of his preseason — resiliency — which brings us to the next number …
Continue reading Broncos-Vikings: By the Numbers
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September 2nd, 2010 with
 Eric Decker and Denver's receivers put their best foot forward Thursday. (PHOTO: MAXDENVER.COM) MINNEAPOLIS – Matthew Willis exploded when Tim Tebow began finding him in the second quarter. Eric Decker did the same when he crossed into Brady Quinn’s sights in the second half.. And for good measure, undrafted rookie Alric Arnett ran a fade route, reached up and made a gorgeous leaping catch in the back right corner of the end zone.
Their performances in the Broncos’ 31-24 preseason loss Thursday continued a preseason-long trend of the receivers taking turns being the focal point of all three quarterbacks.
In the Metrodome, Willis and Arnett became the sixth and seventh different Broncos to log touchdown receptions. No Bronco had more than one scoring catch during the last four weeks, but five had at least 10 catches — with three of them averaging more than 10 yards per reception.
Willis and Decker were Thursday’s stars. Willis had five receptions for 122 yards, the second-highest single-game yardage total for anyone in the league this preseason. Then Willis left, ceding the stage to Decker, who promptly ran through the Vikings just like he did Big Ten defenses in the Metrodome, grabbing 10 passes for 114 yards — with many of them coming on crossing patterns.
Other preseason games have belonged to other receivers. Brandon Lloyd and Eddie Royal caught touchdown passes in Cincinnati. Jabar Gaffney singed the Lions for 98 yards on six receptions.
And we haven’t even mentioned Brandon Stokley and Demaryius Thomas, both of whom remained back in Denver recovering from groin and foot injuries, respectively.
So many receivers, so few spots. Or are there?
“There might be more spots than you think,” Broncos coach Josh McDaniels said.
Continue reading WR: Broncos Might Have Enough Room at the Inn
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September 2nd, 2010 with
 Ryan Clady gets warmed up before his 2010 preseason debut Thursday. (PHOTO: MAXDENVER.COM) MINNEAPOLIS – After four months on the sideline because of a torn patella tendon, it would be understandable if Ryan Clady took a little time to get his feet back under him.
That’s why Josh McDaniels felt it was wise to get the All-Pro left tackle back onto the field Thursday, where he was immediately tested by Vikings defensive end Brian Robison.
“When you haven’t played in a little while, there’s always those first few plays where it seems like the speed of the game is a little quicker than you remember it,” McDaniels said.
The quick 6-foot-3, 259-pound Robison repeatedly attacked Clady around his left flank, and managed to work past the 325-pound tackle in the game’s opening moments. On the Broncos’ third offensive play, Robison got past Clady and had Kyle Orton in his sights, but Minnesota’s Marcus Sherels arrived first on a corner blitz from the right side, logging the sack and 11-yard loss.
As the first quarter progressed, Clady settled down; on a third-and-14 he provided the block that pushed Robison wide of the pocket, allowing Orton to find wide receiver Brandon Lloyd for 16 yards and a first down.
By the time the Broncos neared the end zone three plays, it was Clady who provided a block that helped LenDale White run for a 2-yard touchdown.
White’s touchdown was Clady’s final snap; he and most of the first team retreated to the sideline after that series, leaving behind a 7-0 advantage.
“I thought (Clady) did fine. I’m really glad we got that out of the way,” McDaniels said.
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