ENGLEWOOD, Colo.—Chris Kuper is fighting for a starting spot, and he’s doing it with one hand.
The guard is trying to establish himself on the Denver Broncos’ offensive line, but his task has been made tougher because he broke his right hand early in training camp. Kuper’s hand is heavily wrapped, and he acknowledges it makes it harder to fend off defensive linemen.
“There are definitely things I’ve had to work on a little bit more because I don’t have the safety net anymore,” the third-year player out of North Dakota said. “I never knew it was a safety net before, but now when you don’t have it you kind of deal with it. There’s stuff I’m working on to get into better position, but it inhibits my play.”
Kuper started the last 11 games at left guard last year, so the coaching staff knows what he can do on the field. Still, he doesn’t want his injury to force him to take a step back in his career, so he is playing through with a big cast on his hand.
“It makes it tougher, but everybody’s got to play hurt,” he said. “It’s part of the game and I’m no different than anyone else. I would expect any of my teammates to do the same.”
Because he is unable to wrap up defenders with his right hand, Kuper said he is working on his positioning and footwork. He said developing those elements into his game will be a benefit when the cast finally comes off.
“As long as I can incorporate the hand back when I get this thing off,” he said.
That could be as long as six weeks.
“Tentatively, the cast could come off in three weeks, but it takes six weeks to fully heal, so I could have it on for six weeks,” Kuper said.
Kuper is playing on the right side this year at both tackle and guard.
When he’s back to full strength, Kuper said he’ll play any position on the offensive line, as long as he is in the lineup.
“Like I’ve said before, as long as I’m on the field, it doesn’t matter where I play,” he said.
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EKUBAN HEALTHY:@ Defensive end Ebenezer Ekuban hated sitting out in 2007. He didn’t like being on the sidelines watching his Denver teammates, but after tearing the Achilles’ tendon in his right leg during a preseason game, Ekuban was a spectator for the regular season.
“It was very tough. I think it would be tough on anybody, just to know that if you’re in there you can at least help somewhat,” he said. “Anybody you talk to who’s on IR, it (stinks) to be in the training room all year having to rehab yourself.”
Now the 10-year veteran is happy to be taking part in training camp, and he feels healthy again.
“No pain,” he said. “Everything’s feeling good. It’s more fun being on the football field.”
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PETERSON IMPRESSIVE:@ Kenny Peterson has steadily put himself in a strong position to start for the Broncos. The defensive tackle, who played in seven games last season, has impressed coach Mike Shanahan.
“At the end of the OTA days Kenny earned a chance to be our starter,” Shanahan said after Sunday’s morning session. “We’ve got a lot of competition, we evaluate this day by day. He’s done a good job.”
Peterson, 29, had 13 tackles and one sack for the Broncos last season.
