With his turf toe injury healed enough for him to get back on the practice field for the first time in nearly two weeks, Broncos tailback Ron Dayne has two exhibition games to make his push for more playing time.
Dayne, who slid from No. 1 on the depth chart early in training camp to No. 3 when undrafted rookie Mike Bell was moved to the top, may need a strong game Sunday against Houston at Invesco Field at Mile High to help his position. Dayne practiced Wednesday for the first time since he suffered a turf toe injury at Detroit on Aug. 11, when he had five carries for 12 yards.
Fellow backups Cedric Cobbs and Damien Nash performed well against Tennessee last Saturday.
“The more you’re out there practicing, the better off you are, especially if you’re practicing well,” Broncos coach Mike Shanahan said. “You’re going to get injured, and if you do get injured you’ve got to come back even stronger. So hopefully (Dayne) shows well in the last two (preseason) games.”
Nash didn’t practice Wednesday because of a knee injury suffered against the Titans. He had an MRI that turned out negative.
Rookie wide receiver Domenik Hixon had an examination on his broken left foot and was told he is not totally healed. The fourth-round draft pick could be put on the injured reserve list. If not, he could be put on the physically unable to perform list to start the season.
Rookie wideout Brandon Marshall continues to make strides from the knee injury he suffered at Detroit. He likely will play at Arizona on Aug. 31 as he makes his push to be the Broncos’ No. 3 receiver.
Right cornerback Darrent Williams will be returning punts once the regular season begins Sept. 10 at St. Louis. Shanahan has kept him out of punt-return duty in the preseason.
“I love getting my hands on the ball,” Williams said. “Returning punts is a big thing to me.”
Wide receivers David Kircus, David Terrell and Brian Clark are in the mix to return kicks in the Broncos’ preseason. If Kircus makes the team, he could be a kickoff-return candidate for the regular season.
Veteran punter Todd Sauerbrun said he will stay in Denver while he serves a four-game suspension by the NFL. He tested positive for ephedra, a supplement. Players who are suspended under the league’s substance abuse policy can continue to work out at their team’s facility. But players suspended for supplement use must stay away from the team.
Sauerbrun said he probably will work out at a local high school field.
“It’ll be the same thing,” Sauerbrun said. “I’ll just have to be on my own. I’ll get by.”
Paul Ernster likely will get another chance, Sunday against Houston, to show the Broncos he is up to being their punter and kickoff specialist while Sauerbrun is out. Micah Knorr is expected to do some kicking at Arizona in the Broncos’ final preseason game.
Footnotes
Floyd Little, a former Broncos running back, was not one of two finalists selected by the seniors committee of the Pro Football Hall of Fame on Wednesday. The committee selected former Detroit tight end Charlie Sanders and former Cleveland guard Gene Hickerson. … Shanahan said the Broncos’ starters will leave Sunday’s game after the first series of the third quarter if they are playing well. If not, the starters will play through the third quarter. … Members of the Eastern Illinois athletic department were at Dove Valley on Wednesday. Shanahan and Broncos assistant head coach Mike Heimerdinger attended the school.
Bill Williamson can be reached at 303-954-1262 or bwilliamson@denverpost.com.
