ENGLEWOOD, Colo.—Injuries to the Denver Broncos are beginning to take their toll.
With wide receiver Javon Walker (knee) and safety John Lynch (groin) unable to play Sunday against the Indianapolis Colts, the Broncos were left without two of their biggest weapons.
It showed.
The Broncos’ offense is struggling to score touchdowns in the red zone—a Walker specialty—and their defense can’t seem to stop the run.
Even running back Travis Henry, whom has been the Broncos’ biggest offensive weapon this season, came up gimpy against the Colts.
Henry banged up his right leg when he was tackled and underwent an MRI on his knee and ankle Monday.
Shanahan was hesitant to give specifics about his injured players’ conditions, saying only that he’d know more about their status for Sunday’s game against San Diego later in the week.
Safety Hamza Abdullah (hip) and running back Mike Bell (concussion) were also listed as inactive for the game against the Colts.
The Broncos lost three of their projected starters for the season before the regular season play even began. Guard Ben Hamilton (concussion), defensive end Ebenezer Ekuban (Achilles) and linebacker Warrick Holdman (spinal cord) were lost before playing a meaningful down.
Walker scored nine touchdowns in his first season in Denver last year. He’s sorely missed offensively as the Broncos have only scored six touchdowns in four games so far this season.
“We’ve got a quarterback that’s confident,” wide receiver Brandon Marshall said. “He’s throwing the ball into two and three deep coverage. Just believing in us. Our running backs are running like maniacs. We’ve got receivers making big plays, when we get J. Walk back it’s going to be even more crazy.”
———
RUNNING ON EMPTY:@ It’s not as though the Broncos don’t know what they’re doing wrong. They just can’t fix it.
The defense is allowing 181 yards-per-game on the ground, second-worst in the league. And they gave up 226 against the Colts on Sunday.
“I really couldn’t tell you what’s wrong,” defensive tackle Amon Gordon said. “We’re getting it done in practice. Even coaches with decades of experience, we’re all still in this together and working to find a solution to the things we’ve been plagued by a little bit here early on.”
Gordon and fellow tackle Sam Adams were inactive against the Colts on Sunday. It wasn’t because they were injured, but it was because Shanahan is trying different combinations to find a solution to ground game woes.
At one point against the Colts, the Broncos lined up four defensive ends on their four-man front. Rookies Jarvis Moss and Tim Crowder played the inside, while Elvis Dumervil and Simeon Rice played in their natural positions.
“We’re just going to keep on working on it,” Shanahan said. “It’s something that we’ve been pretty inconsistent all through preseason. It’s very similar to what Indy went through last year.”
And they were able to cure it long enough to win a Super Bowl.
———
GUT CHECK:@ Brandon Marshall knows how important Sunday’s game against San Diego is.
The AFC West was supposed to be one of the league’s best divisions, but slow starts by the Broncos and the Chargers have led to a 2-2 record being good enough for first place.
For the time being, anyway.
“We know what’s at stake,” Marshall said. “We definitely know we have to come out playing. We have to hit on all cylinders. Special teams, defense and offense. it’s a group effort.”
The Chargers may be 1-3 and at the bottom of the division standings, but still boast reigning MVP LaDanian Tomlinson.
Even the Oakland Raiders, who won only one game last year, have looked like a more dominant team.
So nothing will come easy, Marshall said.
“Whenever you have a team like us, you want to be able to be hitting on all cylinders,” Marshall said. “The good thing about this is that it’s early in the season and you want to peak at the right time.”
———
HOOK ‘EM!:@ Selvin Young has been turning heads with his stellar play since he arrived at Broncos training camp over the summer.
The former Texas Longhorn donned a Broncos’ uniform as an undrafted free agent hoping to make the team. Now he’s the team’s second-leading rusher and averaging more than 9 yards per-carry.
“It’s great man,” Young said. “I’m living the dream. I could be out there holding snaps for the kicker and I’d be happy just because I’m playing football, you know?”
He won’t be called on to do that, but Shanahan said he likes what he sees from the rookie.
“I can’t say it surprises me, but he’s been doing a good job for us,” Shanahan said. “He made some big plays.”
Just don’t mention the Longhorns’ loss to Kansas State on Saturday.
“Aw man, we’ll be all right,” Young said.
———
EXTRA POINTS:@ The Broncos have caught Rockies fever. Marshall and WR Domenik Hixon showed up at the Broncos’ training facility Friday sporting Rockies caps. Young said he planned to attend Monday night’s one-game playoff against the San Diego Padres. … Shanahan said the Broncos will decide what to do with DE Kenny Peterson this week. He’s been inactive for the team’s first four games, but must play by week six to stick with the team.
