Agent James Field was going to make his first trip to Denver this year to see longtime client and close friend Dwayne Carswell play Sunday against the Philadelphia Eagles.
Field was hoping to see if Carswell could repeat his NFL-record feat of catching two touchdown passes as an offensive lineman, as he did in his hometown of Jacksonville on Oct. 2.
Instead, Field will soon be visiting Carswell at Aurora South Medical Center, hoping the genial man teammates call “House” will return home soon. Carswell suffered season-ending injuries in a car crash Thursday morning in southeast Aurora.
“I was coming out anyway,” Field said from his Alabama office. “I didn’t think I’d be going to the hospital, though.”
Carswell was on his way to Broncos headquarters for a routine day of meetings, practice and preparation shortly after 7 a.m. when his 1994 Chevrolet sedan was involved in a chain-reaction, five-car accident near Cherry Creek Reservoir. Two northbound cars on Parker Road collided, jumped the median and veered into oncoming southbound traffic, including Carswell’s car, near East Hampden Avenue.
Carswell, 33, who has been with the team since 1994, underwent five hours of surgery after suffering massive bruises, multiple rib fractures, a ruptured diaphragm and a ruptured spleen, which was surgically removed. He was in critical but stable condition Thursday.
A team statement said Carswell’s prognosis is excellent. Initially, physicians were concerned about bleeding from his heart and aorta, Field said.
Carswell is expected to be hospitalized at least two more days.
Broncos coach Mike Shanahan said Carswell will be able to see visitors from the team today or Saturday.
Shanahan said Carswell’s injuries are not career-threatening. At his age, Carswell’s return could be a challenge.
The removal of Carswell’s spleen is not expected to impede his return. Former Avalanche star Peter Forsberg’s spleen was removed in 2001, and he is still playing.
The spleen helps clear old, damaged blood cells from the system. There usually are no long-term effects after a splenectomy other than a slightly increased risk of infections.
Shanahan said after the accident Carswell called his wife, Tamara, who lives in Tampa, Fla., with their children during the season.
Tamara then called Broncos veterans Rod Smith, Tom Nalen and Keith Burns. Smith was in the Broncos’ training room at the time and notified team officials. Tamara Carswell was expected to arrive in Denver on Thursday night.
“This is tough,” Shanahan said. “He is such a good guy.”
It was the second time Carswell was a victim in a car accident this week. Tuesday, a taxicab broadsided and totaled another Carswell vehicle, Broncos backup offensive tackle Cornell Green confirmed. Green was a passenger in Carswell’s car at the time.
Marquita Brister, the driver Aurora police say they believe caused Thursday’s accident by making an abrupt lane change, was treated and released at a local hospital.
Brister, 22, was issued a summons for careless driving. Aurora officer Anthony Guzman said alcohol was not a factor in the accident.
Rescue workers had to cut open Carswell’s crumpled car to rescue him.
“The accident was pretty serious in nature, and we had to close down southbound traffic for a while to get the lanes cleared up,” Guzman said. “It caused a time delay. People need to slow down and take their time and allow themselves time to get to work.”
The rest of the team was told of Carswell’s accident in a meeting Thursday morning. The players were updated on the practice field after Carswell’s surgery. The team chanted his nickname, “House,” after breaking from a huddle.
Broncos director of pro personnel Rick Smith was at the hospital much of Thursday.
“I’m looking at it from a personal perspective, not a teammate perspective,” Burns said. “He’s a person you’ve known since the first day you’ve been in the NFL. We got the good news that the surgery went about as well as we could have hoped. But until I see him, I’m going to be thinking about him and praying for him.”
Added right tackle George Foster: “I’ve grown very close to him. We have a connection. All we can do now is just pray for him.”
Carswell was moved from tight end to the offensive line in training camp. He played often as a backup, on special teams and as a third tight end at the goal line. He caught two touchdown passes from Jake Plummer in a 20-7 victory over the Jaguars.
Carswell likely will be placed on the non-football injury list, and the team will probably add a player.
Staff writers Felisa Cardona and Mike Klis contributed to this report.
Staff writer Bill Williamson can be reached at 303-820-5450 or bwilliamson@denverpost.com.
