ENGLEWOOD, Colo.—The biggest surprise when the Denver Broncos released their depth chart Monday was at strong side linebacker, where Louis Green was listed as the starter despite not having played there yet.
The Broncos are holding auditions for the position vacated by D.J. Williams, who was moved inside to replace Al Wilson at middle linebacker.
Nate Webster, Warrick Holdman and T.J. Hollowell are among the other players vying for the job. Green has been impressive at weakside linebacker while backing up starter Ian Gold. He was supposed to work with the No. 1 defense on the strong side Monday but missed practice with a swollen right knee, which he bruised during goal line drills Saturday.
Coach Mike Shanahan said Green doesn’t necessarily have the inside track.
“Well, it could change any day,” Shanahan said. “Lou has had had excellent camp so far. That’s why we put him as the No. 1 ‘sam’ linebacker. But in a day or two it could be (he slips to) two or three. We’ve got a number of players at the linebacker position that we think are capable of starting. So, it’s a good battle.”
Shanahan said an MRI on Green’s right knee over the weekend revealed no structural damage, “but it is sore. He took a pretty good hit.”
Green got hurt when center Tom Nalen hit him square on the right knee Saturday. He returned for the final half hour of the workout but the knee swelled on him later in the day, and he had an MRI, which revealed no ligament damage.
Green feared he had a serious injury at first, although “I didn’t feel anything pop. I just knew that my knee was hit and it was hurting real bad.”
He found it somewhat ironic that he was listed as the starter while he was sidelined Monday.
“Aw, man. It was very crazy. Because I was actually supposed to get reps with the 1s at ‘sam,’ but that’s part of the game,” said Green, who hopes to return to practice Tuesday.
This would have been his first action at strongside linebacker at this camp.
“I’ve actually been studying ‘sam’ and ‘will,'” Green said. “I realize in this league you have to be able to play every position. Today would have been my day, but like I said, things happen and all I can do is stay positive and get on the field and show what I can do.”
Green said he still considers himself the underdog in his quest for a starting job.
“I’ve had to fight my way into this league and I fight every day to stay in it. Being the underdog just keeps me hungry and keeps me from getting complacent,” he said.
Therefore, he wasn’t smiling about being atop the depth chart.
“Seeing your name up there doesn’t mean anything,” Green said. “You have perform every time you get on the field. You can be No. 1 at all three positions and you still have to go out and feel hungry.”
An example of how the depth chart is a work in progress occurred during the morning practice when starting right guard Chris Kuper allowed three sacks and was replaced by backup Montrae Holland.
“We’ve got a competition at a lot of positions. But when a guy gives up three sacks in one day, sometimes we make a move to see how the other guy responds,” Shanahan said.
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BELL’S TOLL:@ A year ago, undrafted rookie running back Mike Bell was king for a day when the depth chart came out and he was listed as the No. 1 running back.
This time, he’s not even No. 2.
Travis Henry is the runaway starter, followed by converted fullback Cecil Sapp and then Bell, who rushed for eight touchdowns last year as Tatum Bell’s backup.
Bell shrugged off his slide down the depth chart.
“I don’t look at no stinkin’ depth chart now,” he said. “I’m more concerned about doing the same thing and doing it right. You can’t get caught up on the depth chart right now. If you do, you’re focusing on the wrong thing.”
Sapp concurred.
“I don’t look at the depth chart,” he said. “It’s too early to put much into them now. There’s too much of the evaluating period left. We haven’t played a preseason game yet.”
Just like Bell, Sapp said he was “more concerned about consistency” than pecking order.
Coach Mike Shanahan didn’t shed much light on his decision to list Sapp ahead of Bell.
“Travis Henry has looked very, very good throughout our practices and he’s the No. 1 tailback and everybody else is fighting for that No. 2 and 3 spot,” he said.
Quarterback Jay Cutler has been impressed with Henry, a free agent acquisition who ran for the Tennessee Titans last year.
“I’m probably more excited about him than anybody else,” Cutler said. “The way he is hitting holes and reading blocks, getting out and catching the ball, I’m pretty excited about what he can do out there.”
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HONESTLY, NOW:@ Coach Mike Shanahan revealed his feelings about the first preseason game when a reporter asked him on Monday if the intensity of practice is rising with the team’s exhibition opener at San Francisco just a week away.
“To be honest with you, we don’t pay much attention to the first preseason game,” Shanahan said. “I hate to say that, but it’s the truth.”
He said the team will continue installing plays all week and then on Saturday come up with a game plan for the 49ers.
And it will be pretty vanilla, at that.
“We don’t get too complicated,” Shanahan said. “We want to see our players perform. This is not a game plan-type of game. It’s a game that you’re trying to evaluate your players, young and old, get your starters a few plays and obviously evaluate your second-and third-team players.”
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EXTRA POINTS:@ WR Quincy Morgan had the best play Monday when he caught a touchdown pass with Domonique Foxworth covering him. Both tumbled into the crowd. … RB Mike Bell made a nifty one-handed catch in the morning practice, and S John Lynch picked off a Patrick Ramsey pass for the top defensive play.
