ENGLEWOOD, Colo.—Broncos receiver Rod Smith ran pass routes Wednesday at a slower pace and with a slight limp.
Not that any of his teammates even noticed.
The Broncos just enjoyed having the team’s all-time receiving leader back on the field. Smith has been on the physically unable to perform list all season as he recovered from offseason surgery on his left hip.
Now, though, it’s decision time for Denver. The team has until Nov. 14 to either place Smith on the 53-man roster or put him on the reserve/physically unable to perform list, ending his season.
“It’s great to have him back,” coach Mike Shanahan said. “Hopefully, there are no setbacks and we will get a chance to see what he can do.”
Shanahan said Smith, 37, could play as early as Monday night against Green Bay, if the hip can withstand the contact.
However, Shanahan isn’t going to rush Smith along.
“We have three weeks,” Shanahan said.
The Broncos could use him with Javon Walker out until at least December after undergoing arthroscopic knee surgery last Friday. Brandon Marshall and Brandon Stokley have filled in nicely, leading the team in touchdown catches with two apiece.
“When somebody goes down, everybody has to come in and play better,” Stokley said.
With every pass Smith caught in warmups, the chants of “We love Rod” from the defensive backs grew louder. They were standing on the other practice field, watching him haul in passes from Jay Cutler.
As the team stretched, Smith was called up in front of the group to perform a skit. He did a little dance, but nothing too outrageous, not wanting to aggravate his hip.
“He’s just one of the great teammates I’ve been around,” safety John Lynch said. “He’s the pulse of this team, the heart and soul, whatever you want to call it. It’s just a comforting feeling when he’s around.”
Smith walked off the field without talking to the media.
However, Shanahan said Smith, “took a few reps. He’s doing all right.”
Smith wasn’t the only familiar face back at practice Wednesday. Cornerback Champ Bailey returned on a limited basis after missing Denver’s 31-28 win over Pittsburgh on Sunday night with a thigh injury. It was only the third game he’s missed in his career.
“I’m getting there,” Bailey said as he trotted off the field.
When asked if he could play against Green Bay, Bailey answered, “Getting there.”
Tight end Tony Scheffler (right knee) went through a full workout. He hurt his knee on a late catch against Pittsburgh.
“I feel pretty good,” he said. “It’s a little stiff, but it has healed up pretty good.”
However, running back Travis Henry (bruised ribs) didn’t practice Wednesday. Henry said he’s confident he’ll play against the Packers. He’ll also wear extra padding around the ribs.
“That’s the plan,” Henry said. “The ribs are sore, just got to let it settle down.”
Smith’s return to the field energized the Broncos. He’s their leader. The respect is so great that at the beginning of the season when captains were announced, and Smith wasn’t among the names, Lynch and others went to Shanahan and lobbied that he add Smith.
“He doesn’t need a ‘C’ on his chest to be a leader on this team,” safety Nick Ferguson said. “It’s great having him back.”
Smith had just 52 catches for 512 yards and three touchdowns in 2006, his worst season since becoming a starter in 1997.
He never let on that he was injured, keeping his hip ailment a secret until the offseason.
Smith’s hip was in such disarray—torn labrum, frayed cartilage, bone spurs, floating fragments—that his surgeon could hardly believe he had played at all last season.
“I feel I’m tougher than most people,” Smith said earlier this year. “Pain to me is secondary. ”
Smith is the NFL’s all-time leader in receptions (849), receiving yards (11,389) and receiving touchdowns (68) among undrafted players. There were 222 players taken ahead of Smith—including 29 receivers—in the 1994 NFL draft.
“It’s important to us (to get him back),” cornerback Dre’ Bly said. “We saw how hard he worked to get back to this point where he can participate in practice, run routes. I hope he can get back on the field soon.”
