DENVER-
Broncos safety Nick Ferguson missed the camaraderie as much as the competition when he blew out his left knee last November.
Six months after surgery, he’s enjoying both again.
Taped next to his locker when he reported to the team’s passing camp last week was a poster of Kentucky Derby winner Barbaro with Ferguson’s number 25 etched into the saddle.
John Lynch was the culprit, and he’s also the one who gave Ferguson his new nickname.
“We were joking with him earlier, calling him Barbaro because he had a pretty good limp going on,” Lynch explained.
Actually, it’s hardly noticeable and Ferguson said he’s feeling fine and is way ahead of schedule.
“I’m glad to say I’m where I need to be. If I had to put it into percentages, I’m like 98.5,” he said.
The Broncos fell apart after the steady and savvy Ferguson got hurt Nov. 19 against San Diego, losing five of their last seven games and missing the playoffs after a 7-2 start.
Following surgery to repair the torn cartilage, Ferguson was told he could expect to be ready by training camp in late July but was determined to come back much sooner.
“I wanted to try to come back healthier and faster than they thought I would because I wanted to participate in these minicamps,” Ferguson said. “So much so that me and my wife were supposed to take a visit to her family. I told her we couldn’t take that visit because this was a little more important …
“I not only wanted to prove to myself but prove to anybody in the organization and you guys as well that this injury is not going to change anything about the way that I play the game.”
Ferguson was having another solid season when he came down wrong while making his only interception of the season in a loss to the Chargers, ruining his hopes of finally reaching Hawaii.
“The injury was one thing, but I was thinking Pro Bowl,” Ferguson said. “That’s still on my mind. … That’s why I wanted to participate in this May camp, so I can push myself to be ready and make a push for that Pro Bowl.”
Although he lacks strength and endurance in his surgically-repaired leg, Ferguson said he’s not favoring it and is already able to let loose in drills without worry.
“I don’t feel any different. I’m not thinking about the injury,” he said. “It would be a problem if it was a thing where when I made a move I was thinking about the injury. But I’m not. I’m back to my natural self.”
Coach Mike Shanahan was counting on just that when he declined to select a safety in the draft last month, in part because he figured a rookie would only be a backup to Lynch, 35, and Ferguson, 32.
“Coach Shanahan is a smart man and that’s a smart decision,” Ferguson said. “As far as me and John are concerned, it doesn’t matter who you bring in here, they’re just going to be standing next to you on the sideline.”
And that’s a place that Ferguson wants no part of.
“It’s great to be back on the field,” he said. “There’s always been things in my career that have humbled me … and reminded me how much I love this game and being around the guys.”
Even if they’re razzing him.
