Out from the training room came the hobbling hero.
The Broncos didn’t mark the return of Rod Smith to practice Wednesday by imitating Jack Buck’s memorable line “I don’t BELIEVE what I just saw!” or by playing the “Rocky” theme song, “Gonna Fly Now.”
But Smith did receive loud applause with every catch he made during the warm-up passing drills from the defensive backs, who were watching from the nearby field. The secondary then shouted repeatedly in unison, “We love you, Rod!”
“Everybody got a chuckle out of it,” Broncos tight end Tony Scheffler said. “He definitely lifted the mood in practice.”
Rarely has an NFL team received such inspiration from a Wednesday practice in Week 8. The team’s all-time leader in nearly every receiving category, Smith put on his helmet and No. 80 jersey for the first time since the final week of the 2006 season. He has been on the physically unable to perform list while recovering from major surgery performed on his left hip in February.
Smith, 37, seemed to be slightly favoring the hip as he ran Wednesday, so his comeback is far from complete. He did not participate in the team drills, at least not early in the workout. The Broncos would have to activate Smith by Nov. 14 or place him on the PUP injured reserved list that would end his season and possibly his career.
Broncos coach Mike Shanahan did not rule out the possibility of Smith’s return before the deadline.
“I think he’s a little apprehensive coming back for his first practice,” Shanahan said before the workout. “Hopefully, there’s no setbacks and we’ll get a chance to see what he can do.”
Smith ranks 11th on the NFL’s all-time list with 849 catches, two behind Irving Fryar for 10th place and 13 behind Jimmy Smith for ninth.
Rod Smith declined comment after his debut workout, saying he would address the media today. Words weren’t needed, though, to communicate what the next step in Smith’s return meant to a team that in two previous weeks lost Tom Nalen, Javon Walker, Stephen Alexander and Nate Jackson to injuries.
“As many guys as we’ve been losing, it’s nice to bring one back,” said Matt Lepsis, the Broncos’ left tackle. “Rod’s unquestionably among the team leaders. It’s definitely going to help. It can’t hurt us. Just his presence out there helps.”
Mike Klis: 303-954-1055 or mklis@denverpost.com
