ENGLEWOOD, Colo.—With inconsistency and off-field problems plaguing the Denver Broncos this season, the bye week couldn’t have come at a better time as the team deals with injuries, too.
After missing two games with an ailing right knee, Javon Walker was back on the practice field Monday.
“It’s getting there,” Walker said of his health. “It’s football so it’s never going to be 100 percent, but I can get it healthy and monitored during the week of practice and get ready to go on Sunday. It’s a time where we need everybody out there.”
Walker’s injury put him on the shelf for two games. Travis Henry’s off-field troubles have his future in question. And two of the Broncos’ projected starters on the offensive line are out for the season.
The Broncos are certainly undermanned, but are they snakebitten? Coach Mike Shanahan doesn’t think so. The bye week gave some players time to heal.
“We did have a few guys hurt,” Shanahan said. “A couple of guys hopefully healed up. Get a chance to get a few extra days of practice in.”
Despite the seemingly constant loss of personnel, the offense is moving the ball—averaging 365.5 yards per game, good for fifth in the NFL—but they just aren’t scoring.
The Broncos are only 28th in total points.
“I know as an offense we just need to finish off drives better,” wide receiver Brandon Stokley said. “That just comes down to doing the little things right.”
Stokley received the starting nod against San Diego in Walker’s absence. But his numbers, like the team’s, began to dwindle with Walker on the sidelines.
“It’s always frustrating when your team is out there and everybody is playing hard as possible and you still come out with a loss,” Walker said. “Maybe you could have done something to be out there. I know I can make things happen when it comes to playing.”
Henry was certainly making things happen until San Diego bottled him up in the Broncos humiliating 41-3 loss at home Oct. 14. He’s still seventh in the league in rushing.
But leg injuries have kept him from playing at full strength. Now Henry is in legal limbo while he fights the league over a drug test result.
After a promising 2-0 start, the Broncos have lost their last three. But there is no sense of anxiousness among the players.
“There’s no need to panic,” Stokley said, noting the Broncos are a half game back of the division lead. “We’re still right there. We can regroup and get back to work and focus on some of the little things we were doing wrong.”
At least things couldn’t get much worse, up front anyway.
The Broncos signed two offensive lineman last week after center Tom Nalen was lost with torn biceps. Guard Chris Myers is shifting to take over at center, but his replacement will be untested. Chris Kuper is expected to move into the starting slot, but the second year player hasn’t played a snap on the line during the regular season.
Walker’s return could help. He had 17 catches and 220 yards during the team’s first two games of the regular season.
“Pittsburgh is a good team and we want to at least try to go in with a full arsenal of players,” Walker said. “I’m going to do whatever it takes, rehab, and try to get back on the field.”
His status isn’t clear for Sunday’s game against the Steelers, but Shanahan expected the most from his star receiver.
“Hopefully there’s no setback and he’s ready to practice Wednesday,” Shanahan said. “He did some good things today.”
