Courtney Brown passed the first test. Now all that’s between him and an opening-day start is game day itself.
Denver coach Mike Shanahan said this afternoon that it will be a game-time decision whether Brown will be able to play at St. Louis on Sunday. Shanahan indicated the biggest factor will be how Brown’s surgically-repaired left knee reacts to the turf at the Edward Jones Dome in pre-game warmups.
“We’ll take a look at him about two hours before the game and make a decision,” Shanahan said.
While Brown must make the pre-game grade, the fact that he practiced all week is a positive. He had minor knee surgery Aug. 9 and missed the entire preseason. However, there were no setbacks for Brown all week in running practice. He is listed as questionable on the injury report. If Brown doesn’t play, Kenard Lang, who started for Brown in the preseason, would be set to make his first start for Denver. Lang came from Cleveland as a free agent in March.
Brown is the only Denver player listed as questionable on the injury report. Defensive tackle Gerard Warren, who dislocated his left big toe Aug. 5 and missed the entire preseason, is expected to play Sunday.
Still waiting: Shanahan has stuck to his plan of not telling anyone who his starting tailback will be. Shanahan said earlier in the week, no one would know, not even the players, until the appropriate time, likely game day.
“We still don’t know,” Tatum Bell said. “We’re all preparing to play.”
It appears Shanahan starter will be either Mike Bell or Tatum Bell. Cedric Cobbs could also be in the mix for significant playing time. Mike Bell, an undrafted rookie free agent, started the entire preseason. Tatum Bell is the only one of the three with significant NFL experience. Regardless of who starts, Shanahan is likely to use a committee similar to last season when Mike Anderson, Tatum Bell and Ron Dayne all got quality carries.
Throw the flag: Shanahan said he has been where Miami coach Nick Saban was Thursday night. The Dolphins missed out on a chance to challenge a Pittsburgh touchdown. Replays showed the play would likely be reversed, because a late Saban challenge flag went unnoticed by the officials. Pittsburgh kicked the extra point before the challenge flag was noticed.
“I’ve had to run all the way down to the goal line before,” Shanahan said. “I’ve learned my lesson.”
Footnotes: Denver finished its workout inside today after starting the practice in a pouring rain. To prepare for the noise of the dome, the team worked out in the early portion of practice with artificial crowd noise blasting them. To help prepare for the early game – it begins 11 a.m. Denver time – the Broncos moved up practice an hour earlier Thursday. Receiver Ashley Lelie, traded to Atlanta last month, is expected to make his Falcons debut Sunday at Carolina.
Staff Writer Bill Williamson can be reached at 303-820-5450 or bwilliamson@denverpost.com
