An MRI revealed no major damage in center Tom Nalen’s left knee, coach Mike Shanahan said today.
Nalen, 37, has not practiced with the team since Monday.
Though the results of MRI, performed on Thursday, were negative, Shanahan said there is no timetable for when Nalen will return.
“Tom is such a tough guy, so when he feels like he’s ready to go, he’ll go,” Shanahan said. “When will that be? I really don’t know.”
Veteran Casey Wiegmann, who started 111 straight games for Kansas City, has practiced with the first team in Nalen’s absence.
“We thought he was the nuts and bolts of the offensive line at Kansas City all these years,” Shanahan said of Wiegmann. “Having him on our football team and playing the way he has is a plus for us.”
Saturday afternoon reprieve
The team will hold only one practice Saturday, at 8:30 a.m. Shanahan has canceled the afternoon session.
While players will have the afternoon off, Shanahan and several other members of the staff will travel to Canton, Ohio to see former Bronco offensive lineman Gary Zimmerman enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
“We’ll be down there with nine or 10 coaches who were with Gary when he played,” Shanahan said. “We’re looking forward to it.”
Camp shorts
Linebacker Boss Bailey left practice after warm-ups with an inflamed knee. He was replaced at strong-side linebacker by Louis Green. Rookie fullback Peyton Hillis and veteran running back Michael Pittman also did not practice because of hamstring injuries. Hillis, who has not practiced since Sunday, said he plans to rejoin the team Saturday. Safety Hamza Abdullah did not play in the final portion of practice with a sore groin. He was replaced in the first-team defense by Marquand Manuel.
