John Lynch fully expects to be back in the Broncos’ starting lineup Sunday night against the visiting Oakland Raiders.
The star safety was encouraged Tuesday when he woke up and felt no pain from the pinched nerve he suffered in his neck during the fourth quarter of the Broncos’ 13-3 win over the Baltimore Ravens on Monday night. Lynch’s early encouragement was confirmed Tuesday when an MRI he took in the morning came back negative.
Lynch said he expects to confer with the Broncos’ medical staff this morning but doesn’t expect any setbacks and expects to practice this week and play against the Raiders.
“I feel great,” Lynch said. “Everything looks good.”
Lynch was hit while trying to make a tackle on Ravens running back Musa Smith with just less than seven minutes remaining and Denver leading 6-3. Lynch did not return, although he said he tried but the medical staff wouldn’t allow it.
Lynch said he felt a tingling sensation down his arm after the injury, but it quickly went away. Lynch had neck surgery in 2003 while with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, but he said this injury was different.
“I told (Denver trainers) that it was a completely different feeling,” Lynch said.
Lynch salutes youths
Lynch was at the team’s Dove Valley headquarters Tuesday, his day off, to honor eight Denver-area student-athletes as part of the John Lynch Foundation. Once a month, Lynch and his wife, Linda, honor two middle school boys and two girls, and two high school boys and two girls.
“It’s always been important for us to recognize kids for their hard work,” Lynch said.
Brown decision looming
It won’t be a surprise if the Broncos make a decision this week on Courtney Brown’s future for the rest of the season.
There is a good chance the veteran defensive end is headed to the injured reserve list if he doesn’t have a sudden recovery. In that case, the Broncos would make an addition to their roster.
The Broncos were encouraged by Brown’s progress from left knee surgery Aug. 9 when he practiced for a full workout Oct. 2. However, he didn’t practice the rest of the week.
Brown has said the knee isn’t responding well, and he has expressed frustration. He has missed all four games.
Weekly workouts
The Broncos gave Tuesday workouts to linebackers Kenneth Pettway of Grambling, Saleem Rasheed and Cornelius Wortham of Alabama, Anthony Trucks of Oregon, Renauld Williams of Hofstra and Travis Williams of Auburn.
Sapp sighting
Cecil Sapp had 10 yards on three carries against the Ravens. The fullback from Colorado State was on the field during the fourth quarter as the Broncos were looking for tough yards. Sapp was the starting fullback at the beginning of training camp but a hamstring injury helped former starter Kyle Johnson regain the job.
Footnotes
Bradlee Van Pelt, a former Broncos backup quarterback and CSU star, is planning to work out in Minneapolis. He was working out at his father’s home in northern Michigan. Van Pelt has had several NFL workouts during the past month. … ESPN’s coverage of Monday’s game at Invesco Field at Mile High had the fourth-largest audience in the history of the network. … The Broncos (3-1) are 15-point favorites over the Raiders (0-4).
