Broncos coach Mike Shanahan today said an MRI test on quarterback Jay Cutler’s injured left leg did not reveal any serious damage.
“There’s no stress fracture,” Shanahan said. “He’s a little sore.”
Shanahan would not speculate whether Cutler would be able to practice this week or play Sunday at Kansas City.
“We’ll see how sore it is,” Shanahan said. “We’ll see how he feels on Wednesday.”
Cutler suffered a bruised lower left leg in the Broncos 44-7 loss at Detroit on Sunday when he was sacked in the second quarter. Cutler was helped off the field, then taken to the locker room on a cart. He watched the second half from the field.
Patrick Ramsey took over at quarterback for the Broncos with the Lions leading 6-0 early in the second quarter. The Lions converted two Ramsey turnovers into touchdowns.
The Broncos may have to make a move if Cutler isn’t ready to practice this week or play at Kansas City. Because Ramsey is the only backup quarterback on the roster and emergency QB Rod Smith is out for the season with a hip injury, long snapper Mike Leach would have gone into the game had Ramsey been injured. Leach was warming up on the sideline during the game.
If Cutler can’t play, Denver could promote practice squad quarterback Darrell Hackney. A weak list of available backups includes ex-Broncos quarterbacks Bradlee Van Pelt, Preston Parsons and Matt Mauck.
