Champ Bailey made it to game 97 despite missing the preseason with a strained left hamstring.
He made it to game 98 despite a dislocated left shoulder.
Now, the Broncos’ cornerback is confronting the biggest challenge to his consecutive starting streak: game No. 100.
Signs were not positive Friday when Bailey didn’t practice for a third consecutive day because of a strain to another area in his left hamstring. That doesn’t mean he won’t play Sunday, when the Broncos bring their 2-1 record into Jacksonville for an AFC game against the Jaguars.
It just means that as of Friday, there was reason for doubt.
“We’re going to put him on the treadmill in pregame and see how he feels,” Broncos coach Mike Shanahan said.
Denver’s other starting cornerback, rookie Darrent Williams, returned to practice Friday after missing the past two days with a sprained ankle.
With Bailey questionable and Williams gimpy, the Broncos’ starting cornerbacks Sunday could be Lenny Walls and rookie Domonique Foxworth. Each is approaching the game as if they will be starting.
“That’s what it looks like, but I’m not here to speak on what’s going on and I don’t make that decision,” Walls said. “We’ll see. Don’t count Champ or Darrent out just yet, either. Champ is one of those guys that doesn’t have to practice all week. If he feels good on Sunday, he’s going to be out there.”
Shanahan honors Smith
During a team gathering this week, Shanahan presented receiver Rod Smith with a commemorative football after he passed several milestones during the team’s 30-10 victory over Kansas City on Monday. Inscribed on the ball was Smith’s 10,000 yards receiving, 100 catches on “Monday Night Football” and the only undrafted player to attain 10,000 yards receiving.
The ball also included the date of the game, the score and logos of the Broncos and Chiefs.
Testing Sauerbrun
In light of Broncos punter Todd Sauerbrun’s association with an indicted South Carolina doctor and steroid prescriptions last year, he is one of three players subject to 24 random drug tests this season.
The Washington Post reported Friday that Sauerbrun and two of his former Carolina Panthers teammates, Jeff Mitchell and Todd Steussie, will be subject to the 24 tests, even though the players were not suspended or fined by the league.
Those players reportedly filled prescriptions by Dr. James Shortt, who last week was charged with 29 counts of distributing steroids and the human growth hormone.
Mike Klis can be reached at 303-820-5440 or at mklis@denverpost.com.
