The Broncos got encouraging news Monday regarding the right ankle sprain of fullback Kyle Johnson. And it is not out of the question he’ll be able to play Sunday at Cleveland.
Denver coach Mike Shanahan said results of an MRI showed that the sprain is lower than the team expected. High ankle sprains usually take much longer to heal. Johnson was hurt on the second play of Sunday night’s game against Oakland and did not return.
“It’s not as serious as we first thought,” Shanahan said.
If Johnson can’t play, Cecil Sapp will start. Sapp played in Johnson’s place Sunday night. Running back Cedric Cobbs is expected to return to practice this week. He has been out with an ankle sprain since Sept. 17.
Brown: Bronco or retiree
Three days after Courtney Brown had his second microfracture surgery on his left knee, his agent said his client is hopeful but unsure if he’ll play again. Agent Marvin Demoff said Brown, 28, wants to play with the Broncos.
“It wouldn’t be anywhere else but Denver,” Demoff said.
Demoff said any decision made about Brown’s future will be made in the offseason.
“That’s when we’ll know if the knee is healed,” Demoff said. “He is hopeful, but it’s unknown.”
Facing former team
While the entire Denver defensive front is making its way back to Cleveland this weekend, a former Bronco will be waiting for them. Running back Reuben Droughns was traded to Cleveland for Ebenezer Ekuban and Michael Myers in March 2005.
“They gave me the chance and opportunity to succeed,” Droughns told the Browns’ website Monday. “… It’s going to be exciting to play against some of the guys I practiced against. … (But) I do want to have a good game because it’s a home game, we need to get a win and I’m going against my old team. I want to show them what they got rid of.”
Footnotes
A three-week window for rookie receiver Domenik Hixon to begin practicing has begun. The Broncos have until Nov. 7 to begin practicing Hixon. Once he starts working out, the Broncos have three weeks to decide to activate him or to end his season. The fourth-round pick has been on the inactive list recovering from a broken foot. … Never before in franchise history has the defense gone through a four- game stretch as it has now, in which it allowed just 19 points. … The NFL trading deadline is today. The Broncos don’t expect to make a deal.
