Javon Walker has this message for any nervous Broncos fans about his injury status for the rest of the season:
“It is not long-term,” Walker said Monday. “I’ve done long-term before, and this is not it.”
Still, Walker said he is not sure whether he will be able to practice this week or play Sunday against San Diego, but he remains hopeful. Walker missed Sunday’s loss at Indianapolis and he probably will not practice until the fluid on his knee is reduced.
“I just have to wait for it to drain,” he said. “We have to milk it out of there. No one wants me to come back sooner than I do.”
Walker has maintained this injury has nothing to do with his surgically repaired torn ACL in 2005. While the Broncos wait to see if Walker returns to practice this week, they will keep watch on running back Travis Henry. The NFL’s leading rusher injured his right knee and aggravated an ankle injury on the Indianapolis turf Sunday. He returned to the game and said afterward that X-rays were negative, even though he had a noticeable limp. Henry suffered a knee injury in the preseason and had a sore ankle in the first two games of the season.
It wouldn’t be a surprise if Henry was limited during practice this week. Henry’s backup, undrafted rookie Selvin Young, said he will be prepared to play whether or not Henry is healthy.
“It’s the same week for me,” said Young, who rushed for 81 yards Sunday. “I’ll be ready to go.”
Meanwhile, safety John Lynch continues to make progress from a groin injury and will be re-evaluated later in the week. He missed the Colts game. Kicker Jason Elam (groin) and defensive end John Engelberger (shoulder) also will be evaluated later in the week.
Still needs work
After checking the film of the Broncos’ special-teams effort against the Colts, coach Mike Shanahan said it is clear the team must execute better on the kick coverage unit.
“We had poor field position and we’ve been working on it extremely hard, and obviously it hasn’t paid off yet,” Shanahan said. “We’ve had some great effort but not a whole lot of productivity. We’ve just got to keep on working at it. It’s a lot of different things.”
Peterson’s back
Defensive lineman Kenny Peterson returned to the team Monday after serving a four-game suspension for violating the league’s steroid policy. The team has one week to have Peterson practice with a roster exemption before keeping him and cutting another player, or releasing Peterson. The team likes Peterson because he can play both inside and outside, and his size. Peterson worked out daily locally during his suspension.
“I had to stay in the shape,” he said. “This league is not for slouches.”
Clark likely to return
The Broncos will bring back receiver Brian Clark as soon as today. The team cut him to make room for practice squad receiver Glenn Martinez on Saturday. If the Broncos don’t bring back Clark to the 53-man roster, he could take one of the two practice squad openings.
Footnotes
Running back Andre Hall was back with Domenik Hixon on kick returns Sunday and could be there again Sunday against the Chargers. … The Colts did not score a touchdown on their opening drive. The Broncos have not allowed an opponent an opening-drive touchdown in 22 consecutive games. It is the longest such streak in the NFL. … Several Broncos players attended the Rockies’ game Monday night.
Bill Williamson: 303-954-1262 or bwilliamson@denverpost.com
All Things Broncos. Find Bill Williamson’s insider entries on his blog.
