While there are no guarantees, it appears Travis Henry will be available to play for the Broncos, if healthy, for at least another week.
The NFL said Tuesday there would not yet be an announcement of a decision on Henry’s appeal of a pending one year league-imposed suspension for marijuana usage. It was widely thought Henry would hear about his future Tuesday. But the league continues to consider a ruling, which could be perceived as a positive sign for Henry and the Broncos.
During a long appeal hearing Friday in Phoenix, Henry’s attorney, Harvey Steinberg of Denver, presented a list of evidence in an attempt to prove Henry’s innocence. Before the hearing, Broncos coach Mike Shanahan said the running back passed hair sample and lie detector tests after testing positive for a small amount of marijuana in August.
“I continue to be optimistic about this case,” Steinberg said Tuesday.
While the NFL could decide to suspend a player at any time, it has been league protocol to inform players and teams of suspensions before the work week begins in earnest on Wednesdays.
Henry also has a federal lawsuit filed against the NFL in New York.
Regardless of his playing status, it still is not clear whether Henry will be healthy enough to play Sunday against Chicago. Henry has missed the past two games with a partially torn posterior cruciate ligament in his knee. At this point, the team is not sure if Henry, although improving, will be able to practice much this week. If he doesn’t, Shanahan likely would be hesitant to use him against the Bears.
Rookie Selvin Young has been starting in Henry’s place. Young left Monday’s win over Tennessee with a strained knee, but returned. Denver officials are confident he will be ready to play against the Bears.
