Houston – After missing the past two football seasons mired in NCAA red tape and controversy, Maurice Clarett will miss his first NFL chance.
But Clarett isn’t getting the next few days off. The Broncos’ rookie running back from Ohio State will be working harder in Denver than he would if he were in Texas with his teammates.
A pulled groin will keep Clarett from playing in Denver’s preseason opener Saturday night against the Houston Texans, but the Broncos may be sending him a message by leaving him behind to work with an assistant strength and conditioning coach at Dove Valley headquarters.
Coach Mike Shanahan said Clarett is “picked on” by media and critics because of his past notoriety. Shanahan also said that “like all rookies, Clarett needs to learn to work through things.”
This week, Clarett’s lesson will be the work it takes to get over injuries. An MRI showed he had no major damage to his groin, an injury that began to bother him last Thursday. Clarett returned to practice Friday, sat out Saturday, took Sunday off with the rest of the team and was laboring hard Monday.
Shanahan said he expects Clarett to be ready for practice Monday when the Broncos return to Dove Valley for the final four days of training camp.
In the meantime, Clarett will be rehabilitating his injury with coach Greg Saporta.
“He’ll be working hard,” Shanahan said. “He is getting rehab right now, working out a couple of times a day in the weight room, getting treatment about four times a day. Hopefully when we get back, he will be ready to go.”
The only other Bronco to stay behind is defensive tackle Mario Fatafehi, who is recovering from a sprained knee and will be out one to three more weeks.
Clarett was unavailable for comment Wednesday. Clarett’s agent, Steve Feldman, said Tuesday night that he thought it would be a good idea for Clarett to rehabilitate in Denver.
Clarett, a third-round pick who hasn’t played since the 2002 season at Ohio State, likely will be closely monitored by the coaching staff when he returns to practice next week.
He was being ridden hard by coaches Monday during practice. Earlier in camp, there were concerns he wasn’t showing enough energy.
If he’s healthy, Clarett could make his preseason debut against San Francisco on Aug. 20 at Invesco Field at Mile High. Clarett is fifth on the depth chart at tailback and will need to quickly make a run for playing time and a roster spot.
“If you cannot play, you cannot move up the depth chart,” Shanahan said. “That is common sense. The main thing we have got to do is get him ready. If (the injury) is sore and he cannot practice, he cannot practice.
“But obviously if you are not practicing, you cannot move up on any depth chart.”
Broncos linebacker Jashon Sykes returned this week from a groin injury. The former Colorado star said he pushed himself to get back because he thinks his roster life is riding on it.
“I was double-dosing my rehab,” Sykes said. “I was doing extra work when I was away from practice. Some people’s groins are more serious than others. I don’t think mine was that serious, and I don’t know how serious Maurice’s is. But I bounced back after two days because I’m in a position where I had to get back. If I’m going to make this team, I had to get out there.”
Staff writer Mike Klis contributed to this report.
Staff writer Bill Williamsoncan be reached at 303-820-5450 or bwilliamson@denverpost.com.
