Most forest fires are followed by fear of mudslides.
Financial problems inevitably lead to car trouble.
The Broncos lose 41-3 on Sunday, then learn Monday that stalwart center Tom Nalen is finished for the season with torn right biceps.
“There’s nothing you can do about it,” Nalen said. “I can’t help the team. It is what it is. I’ll be fine.”
The Broncos may be another story. They are 2-3 with a three-game losing streak entering their bye week. Their most recent defeat was the drubbing administered by the San Diego Chargers.
Just when it appeared there was no way a team’s situation could get worse than 41-3, Monday brought a way. Besides Nalen, the Broncos also lost their receiving tight end, Nate Jackson, to a season-ending injury.
Jackson suffered a torn groin while covering the second-half kickoff.
“For him to be out of that game, I knew it had to be serious because he would play hurt,” Broncos coach Mike Shanahan said of Jackson.
Nalen displayed even greater machismo. The 14-year center, whose 188 career starts are surpassed only by John Elway in Broncos history, suffered his injury in the first quarter, yet finished the game.
But an MRI exam Monday confirmed the biceps tear that is to be repaired by surgery today.
The team is expected to replace Nalen by moving left guard Chris Myers to center and inserting versatile reserve lineman Chris Kuper at left guard. The Broncos also could promote center Greg Eslinger or guard Mark Fenton from the practice squad. Acquiring a veteran center from outside the organization appears unlikely, because it’s not easy finding experience with the Broncos’ unusual zone- blocking system.
Because Nalen, 36, spoke about possibly retiring after the 2005 season, there was question about whether he would go through his four- month rehabilitation and return for 2008.
He will. Nalen has one year left on his contract and plans to fulfill his commitment.
“That’s the plan,” he said. “I hate (rehab), but at least it’s something where I don’t have to spend a couple months on crutches, so it won’t be that bad.”
The injury report wasn’t all gloomy Monday. An MRI revealed no tear on cornerback Champ Bailey’s strained quadriceps. Shanahan said if the Broncos were to play this Sunday, Bailey probably wouldn’t dress. But with the bye week to rest and heal, the Broncos believe Bailey might be able to play in their next game, Oct. 21 against Pittsburgh.
Already, the big question for that game against the Steelers is: Who will be snapping to Broncos quarterback Jay Cutler? Jackson, who caught three passes for 34 yards this year, can be replaced by Tony Scheffler and Stephen Alexander, who is close to returning from a lower leg injury.
It won’t be so easy replacing Nalen, a five-time Pro Bowl selection.
“Tom, I believe, is the best center to ever play the game,” Shanahan said. “That’s what I really believe. He played the whole game with a torn biceps, and not many guys will do that. We couldn’t run inside running plays, just outside running plays, because he didn’t have any strength in there.”
Nalen played on in part because he knew the Broncos dressed only six healthy blockers. “That gives you an idea of what kind of player he is,” Shanahan said.
With Nalen down and receiver Rod Smith yet to play this season with a hip injury, the Broncos’ last remaining healthy player from their Super Bowl teams in 1997-98 is kicker Jason Elam.
Nalen’s preferred replacement would have been Ben Hamilton, who started the previous five seasons at left guard. But Hamilton suffered a season-ending concussion early in training camp.
With two offensive line starters finished with injuries, running back Travis Henry facing a full-season suspension after a positive test for marijuana, and top receiver Javon Walker missing the past two games with a knee injury, the Broncos might need Cutler to develop quicker than most second-year quarterbacks if this season is to be salvaged.
“I’m encouraged about this football team and the chances that we have, even with our injuries,” Shanahan said.
Mike Klis: 303-954-1055 or mklis@denverpost.com
