HOUSTON — Here’s how the Broncos’ offense started the game: Two passes. Two receivers hurt. Jay Cutler opened with a short pass to tight end Daniel Graham, who suffered an injured left ankle. Next play, Cutler hit Brandon Marshall, who had to be helped off with an apparent neck/shoulder injury.
Marshall returned a few plays later, and Graham tried but was noticeably limping. He left for good in the second quarter and was replaced by Chad Mustard. Graham will have an MRI on his ankle today.
“Hopefully, it’s just sprained,” Graham said. “But we’ll see.
The Broncos also lost weakside linebacker Ian Gold with a knee injury suffered on the Texans’ second possession. Gold had started 45 of the past 46 games since re-joining the Broncos prior to the 2005 season. The extent of Gold’s injury was not revealed, but it may be serious.
Henry looking to next season.
Broncos running back Travis Henry is going to work hard in the final two games of the season. Yet he admitted after Thursday night’s game against Houston that he likely won’t be at full strength. He suffered a partially torn posterior cruciate ligament in his left knee Nov. 3 at Detroit.
Henry said he felt “OK” on Thursday.
“There’s just two weeks left. I don’t think I will be at full strength until next season,” Henry said. “I’ll go and work hard, though.”
Henry had 27 yards on 10 carries against Houston. Starter Selvin Young had eight carries for 34 yards.
Andre the Great.
The Broncos got their first extended look at Texans wide receiver Andre Johnson. Matched up mostly against Dre Bly, Johnson had six catches for 86 yards and a touchdown.
“We went at it,” Bly said. “He got a couple when I was blanketing him.”
Said Johnson: “I think Champ (Bailey) and Dre are the best cornerback tandem in the league.”
Big play for Texans.
The Broncos had just scored to narrow the score to 17-13. On the next possession, the Texans faced third-and-3 at their 33-yard line. Houston quarterback Sage Rosenfels hit the Texans’ other receiver, Kevin Walter, who beat Bailey for a 25-yard gain. The Texans went on to score a touchdown.
“He put a move on Champ and that’s saying something,” Rosenfels said. “I thought that was the play of the game.”
Henry backs Fairchild.
Henry praised Colorado State’s hiring of Steve Fairchild as head coach this week. Fairchild was Henry’s running backs coach when he was came into the league with Buffalo.
“I knew he was something special back then,” Henry said. “He’s a smart guy. He knows what he’s doing. Colorado State made a great hire.”
Stokley out.
Broncos wide receiver Brandon Stokley was inactive Thursday because of a knee injury. One of the reasons Stokley didn’t play was because of the short turnaround between games. He played Sunday against Kansas City despite the injury and said he expects to be ready for the rest of the season. Broncos safety Nick Ferguson also sat out because of a knee injury. He expects to be ready for San Diego on Dec. 24.
Seeing red.
For the first time, the Texans wore all-red uniforms for the nationally televised game. The day was billed as “Battle Red” day and the team encouraged Houston fans to come to the game at Reliant Stadium decked out in all red. Many fans obliged.
Winborn money.
The two-year extension Jamie Winborn signed Wednesday was filed with the NFL on Thursday. Winborn is scheduled to receive about $1.6 million in salary and about $1.4 million in roster bonuses the next two seasons. He played extensively at weakside linebacker Thursday after Ian Gold was hurt. Winborn, a special-teams ace, likely will get an opportunity to compete for a starting job in training camp in 2008.
Super Mario.
Mario Williams, the No. 1 pick in the 2006 draft, was credited with 3 1/2 sacks of Jay Cutler, the No. 11 overall pick in the same draft. Williams has 13 sacks for the Texans this season. He passed Broncos defensive end Elvis Dumervil, who didn’t have a sack to remain at 11.5 sacks this season.
“Good player. Obviously they drafted him first overall,” Cutler said of Williams. “So they are getting their money’s worth these days, aren’t they?”
Footnotes.
Former Broncos running back Ron Dayne of the Texans didn’t start because of an ankle injury, but still gained 67 yards on 11 carries, including a 6- yard touchdown in the third quarter. Darius Walker started in place of Dayne and gained 66 yards on 13 carries. The roof was open for the game at Reliant Stadium. The Broncos arranged tickets for some family members and friends of slain cornerback Darrent Williams. He was from Fort Worth, Texas. Cornerback Jeff Shoate, cut by Denver earlier this month, has been signed to the Ravens’ practice squad. Houston guard Kasey Studdard, the son of former Broncos lineman Dave Studdard, was inactive for the game.
Mike Klis and Bill Williamson
