HOUSTON — It’s all about the future in the closing stretch of a wrecked 2007 season for the 6-8 Broncos.
And, once again, Brandon Marshall showed he is the future.
“It’s hard to feel good about things when you lose,” Marshall said after Denver’s 31-13 loss to Houston on Thursday night. “I’m just doing what I’m supposed to be doing.”
In a game in which wide receiver Javon Walker returned to the starting lineup, Marshall once again was the story of the Denver offense. Walker said Wednesday he doesn’t deserve to have his pay cut after his injury-marred season. Walker’s start in the loss, which all but ended Denver’s playoffs hopes, was his first since Sept. 16 against Oakland. He missed eight games this season with a knee injury. Brandon Stokley, who had started in Walker’s absence, didn’t play against Houston because of a knee injury.
“It’s a work in progress,” Walker said. “It’s getting better. I just got to make the plays when the ball is thrown to me. I think I’ve shown when the ball hits my hands, I’m going to catch it.”
Walker had two catches for 20 yards in Thursday’s game against the Texans. Marshall flourished, making a strong Pro Bowl push in his final outing before voting ends. He made a game-high 11 catches for 107 yards, outdoing Texans star Andre Johnson. The 11 catches marked a career high for Marshall, a fourth-round pick in the 2006 draft. He became the first player in Denver history to have back-to-back games with 10 or more catches. Marshall made 10 catches for 115 yards on Sunday in a 41-7 victory over the Kansas City Chiefs.
For the season, Marshall has caught 86 passes for 1,136 yards.
In the first half Thursday, Marshall caught nine passes for 83 yards. This week, Broncos cornerback Champ Bailey said Marshall needed a big game against the Texans under the spotlight of the NFL Network to sway votes since this is his first push at a Pro Bowl berth. Perhaps this big night was enough.
“Right now, I’m upset that we’re losing,” Marshall said. “But I have goals, as all players do, and making the Pro Bowl is one of them. I don’t know if I’ve done enough. But I’d like to make it.”
While things are going well for Marshall, Walker clearly is not the same player he was before his injury. He caught 17 passes in the first two games of the season, but then had to sit out because of swelling in his right knee. Walker underwent surgery on that knee in September 2005 because of a torn anterior cruciate ligament. The Broncos acquired Walker from Green Bay on draft day 2006 for a second-round pick.
If Walker’s knee worsens, he could face microfracture surgery. He has maintained he will fully recover during the offseason. The Broncos likely will consider trying to restructure his contract in the offseason. Walker is set to make $5.4 million in option bonuses in 2008. All but $1 million of the it is due to him before the start of the season.
Despite all that, Walker said he is not pressing.
“That’s the farthest thing from my mind,” Walker said after the game Thursday. “That would mean I’m losing confidence, and I’m never going to do that. It’s all about wins and losses. We will get this turned around, and I want to be a part of it.”
Walker said he is thrilled that Marshall is flourishing.
“The wideouts are going good,” Walker said. “We need that. Brandon’s done a great job while I’ve been out.”
Bill Williamson: 303-954-1262 or bwilliamson@denverpost.com
