When the Broncos found out Todd Sauerbrun wouldn’t be with the team for the first four games of the season, they immediately searched for a veteran to hold down the punting and kickoff chores.
Paul Ernster was on the roster, but the Broncos wanted veteran insurance. So they signed Micah Knorr. In an impressive training camp battle, Ernster beat out Knorr in both punting and kickoffs. So when the Broncos formed their 53-man roster Saturday, Knorr was cut and Ernster, a seventh-round pick in the 2005 draft, remained.
“I feel like I’m close to clicking on all cylinders,” Ernster said. “I had a good preseason, and now it’s time to go out and perform in the regular season. I feel great that I made the team. But now I still have to go out and earn it every week.”
Sauerbrun can’t work out at the Broncos’ facility or be around the team until after Denver’s fourth game, against Baltimore on Oct. 9.
Sauerbrun was suspended by the NFL in July for using a banned dietary supplement.
Injury report
Defensive tackle Gerard Warren has practiced for the past week and looked good. The Broncos are expecting him to play Sunday in St. Louis.
Warren dislocated his left big toe during practice Aug. 5. He missed the entire preseason.
Warren lost 18 pounds during his rehabilitation.
Defensive end Courtney Brown said last Wednesday he was unsure if he will be able to play against the Rams. Brown had minor knee surgery Aug. 9 and missed the preseason.
If Brown is able to practice by midweek, he should have a chance to play.
Backup defensive end Patrick Chukwurah is expected to practice some this week. He aggravated an ankle injury he suffered during camp last Thursday at Arizona.
Two QBs new trend
It used to be that just the Broncos and Colts would keep two quarterbacks on the 53-man roster. However, as of Sunday, nine of the 32 NFL teams had just two quarterbacks.
Teams are increasingly keeping two quarterbacks on the roster with a third quarterback on the practice squad.
That fact may make it difficult for Bradlee Van Pelt to get immediate work. Van Pelt doesn’t have practice squad eligibility remaining.
Trade winds work
Like most teams, the Broncos worked the phones before making their cuts in an attempt to get compensation back for players on the bubble.
Running back Ron Dayne and cornerback Roc Alexander were discussed. Both ended up with Houston on Sunday.
Right running game
Denver led the AFC in preseason rushing, averaging 163 yards per game.
EYE ON … The Rams
Denver at St. Louis: 11 a.m. Sunday, KCNC, Ch. 4
For the record: The Rams finished second in the NFC West last year with a 6-10 record. They were 1-3 in the preseason.
Last game: Lost at Miami, 29-9, in the preseason finale Thursday.
Streaking: The Rams lost their last four home games last season.
Who’s hot: Gus Frerotte had a terrific preseason (108.9 QB rating) to earn the job as Marc Bulger’s backup. RB Steven Jackson, WR Torry Holt and Bulger are the top three weapons, and all are healthy.
Who’s not: RB Fred Russell (20 carries, 101 yards) had the best preseason, yet was cut. Tony Fisher (30 carries, 104 yards) also did well but was knocked back to No. 3 behind Jackson and recently acquired Stephen Davis.
Key stat: Holt has averaged 95 catches, 1,450 yards and 8 TDs the past six years.
FYI: It was the Rams who gave Jay Cutler to the Broncos by swapping their No. 11 overall pick in exchange for No. 15 and No. 68 (third round) on draft day. The Rams took cornerback Tye Hill at No. 15 and defensive tackle Claude Wroten at No. 68. St. Louis also drafted two tight ends, CU’s Joe Klopfenstein (second round) and USC’s Dominique Byrd (third). Klopfenstein will start. Hill, Wroten and Byrd are backups.
Injury updates: Davis, who just signed, is questionable as he continues to rehab from his season-ending knee injury last season with Carolina.
Coach speak: “The great thing about it is that a lot of the additions are veterans. They know what Denver does and exactly what they’re going to do. We got a little bit of an idea of how it would be when we played Houston in the preseason.” – Rams coach Scott Linehan, on how his defensive additions will help against the Broncos
– Mike Klis
