ENGLEWOOD, Colo.—Brandon Stokley’s first 100-yard receiving game in nearly two years almost didn’t happen.
He strained his left knee in the second quarter against Oakland on Sunday, and thought about calling it a game. But Stokley tuned out the pain and had three second-half catches, finishing with 102 yards in a 34-20 loss to the Raiders.
It’s his first 100-yard game since he gained 122 yards at Seattle on Dec. 24, 2005, while with Indianapolis.
Not that he was in any mood to discuss the accomplishment.
“When you lose, it doesn’t mean too much,” Stokley said. “You want to win those games when you play well.”
Stokley didn’t practice Wednesday due to the knee, and doesn’t know if he’ll be ready for the game Sunday against Kansas City.
“It’s too early for me to say one way or the other,” Stokley said. “If there’s any way possible, I’m going to play.”
Safety Nick Ferguson also sat out practice with a knee injury. Ferguson declined to talk about the injury Wednesday.
The Broncos had all three tailbacks—Travis Henry, Selvin Young and Andre Hall—back at practice for the first time in weeks, an encouraging sign for Broncos coach Mike Shanahan.
“All three running backs should be ready to go,” Shanahan said.
However, they’re still banged up:
— Henry returned to the backfield against Oakland after missing three straight weeks with a partially torn posterior cruciate ligament in his left knee. He said the knee is about 80 percent.
“It’s something I just got to get through,” He said.
— Young left the Oakland game with a bruised right forearm and is also battling a knee ailment. Shanahan said Young’s knee is still sore.
— Hall sat out the game Sunday with a high ankle sprain, but vowed to be back against Kansas City, no matter how much pain he’s experiencing.
“I’ve got play,” said Hall, who injured his left ankle on his first carry against Chicago, but remained in the game, rushing for 98 yards. “I feel my guys could use me out there. I have to step up. I’m going to give it a go.”
Stokley said he suffered his knee injury when he got kicked on the inside of his leg and then whipped around. He’s not sure who kicked him, only that it bothered him in the second half.
“But I had to play through it,” he said.
Stokley is going to try jogging Thursday at practice.
“We’ll see how it does,” Stokley said.
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NEW FACES:@ The Broncos signed safety Marviel Underwood and defensive tackle Steven Harris to the active roster Wednesday, and added defensive tackle Michael Bozeman to the practice squad.
The moves come a day after the Broncos cut defensive lineman Sam Adams and safety Jeff Shoate.
Denver defensive boss Jim Bates said the team released Adams, a 14-year veteran, to give the younger linemen more opportunities.
“It’s nothing against Sam,” Bates said. “Sam gave it all he had. We just felt it was best to go in another direction.”
The Broncos plan to rotate Kenny Peterson into Adams’ spot.
“We’re moving some guys around, but we’ll keep our rotation going,” Bates said.
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PLUMMER BACK SOMEDAY?:@ Broncos quarterback Jay Cutler said he wouldn’t be surprised if Jake Plummer came out of retirement down the road.
Denver traded Plummer to Tampa Bay for a conditional 2008 draft pick last March after Cutler supplanted Plummer as the starter.
“I think toward the end Jake was a little fed up with everything,” Cutler said. “I’m sure he misses it. He’s having fun right now. I know that for sure.”
Cutler stays updated on Plummer from former teammate Preston Parsons.
“I think he (Parsons) is one of the few people that Jake keeps in touch with on a regular basis,” Cutler said. “Jake, he’s doing his thing.”
Asked if Plummer missed dealing with the media, Cutler laughed and said, “I bet he does.”
QUICK HITS:@ With a win Sunday against Kansas City, Cutler would join Craig Morton has the only quarterbacks in team history to beat the Chiefs in their first two starts. … Denver has won six in a row at home against the Chiefs. … K Jason Elam has scored more points (212) against the Chiefs than any other player in NFL history.
