Just because Travis Henry has been freed legally, mentally and emotionally doesn’t mean he has escaped from the last of his football problems.
Next up is proving he can run the football as well as the Broncos ran it without him.
“Travis is our guy,” Broncos receiver Brandon Marshall said. “He’s been our guy from Day One. There’s definitely no controversy back there.”
No, but there is depth. A tailback position that began this season with Henry left, Henry right and Henry up the middle has since become an interchangeable three-man unit of Henry, Selvin Young and Andre Hall.
All surpassed the 100-yard rushing mark in a game. All have missed games with injuries. None is completely healthy entering the Broncos’ game Sunday against the Kansas City Chiefs at Invesco Field at Mile High.
Trying to salvage their disappointing 5-7 season, the Broncos received a jolt Wednesday when all three tailbacks participated fully in practice. It’s the first time in five weeks the Broncos had all three tailbacks sharing reps.
“It’s a nice problem to have,” Broncos coach Mike Shanahan said. “Whenever you have three healthy guys back, you’re excited. Travis will get in better football shape. Andre Hall just got a week off to heal, so he’s close. And Selvin came back from having a week off to injury, so we’ll get a chance to evaluate them all this week.”
A slightly torn knee ligament prevented Henry from playing in three of the Broncos’ past five games. In his absence, Young and Hall helped the Broncos average an NFL-high 148.3 yards rushing.
Young had 109 yards last month against the Chiefs, but then suffered a knee injury the next week against Tennessee. Hall had 104 yards early in the fourth quarter two weeks ago against the Chicago Bears, although an ill-advised option pitch play dropped him back to 98 yards by game’s end. He missed last week’s game at Oakland with a high ankle sprain.
Henry hasn’t had a big game since a Week 4 loss at Indianapolis, when he rushed for his third 100-yard game of the season. In the past three games he’s played, however, Henry has averaged a mere 44 yards on 14 carries.
His legal matter, which has hounded him all season, was resolved Tuesday when the NFL cleared him of an alleged positive marijuana test. Henry’s next step is to reestablish himself as a premier running back.
“That’s it. That’s what I have to do next, show people what kind of back they have here,” said Henry, who signed a five-year deal with $12 million in guarantees in April. “We’ve got four games left and it’s a chance to finish strong. Unfortunately, I have this knee that I have to deal with, but I’ve got to suck it up and get back out there and finish strong.”
He said his knee remains only 80 percent recovered, but that’s 80 percent more of Henry the Broncos wouldn’t have had if NFL commissioner Roger Goodell ruled differently.
“I wasn’t even worried about it,” Hall said. “Travis has never lied to me. He’s never lied to Selvin. He’s not going to lie to the rest of us. Now he can run without worries. He doesn’t have to worry about getting hassled by the NFL. We need him.”
Had Henry been suspended 16 games, no one likely would have benefited more than Young, who would have become the Broncos’ starting running back. Starts mean playing time, which means more yards, which leads to more money.
Yet Young, like Hall, was pulling for Henry to keep leading the tailback competition.
“It would have been no different than him getting hurt and missing an extended period of time,” Young said. “Nobody wants that to happen. We’ve spent our whole life dedicated to playing this sport. And to have it taken away from you by any means, it’s something you don’t wish upon anybody.”
Mike Klis: 303-954-1055 or mklis@denverpost.com
