ENGLEWOOD, Colo.—Spencer Larsen vaguely remembers when Kordell Stewart’s versatility earned him the nickname slash. The one-time Pittsburgh Steeler was asked to play quarterback, wide receiver and sometimes lined up in the back field.
Now, Larsen, the Denver Broncos rookie linebacker, is being asked to display his wide range of skills. The team’s sixth round draft choice lined up at fullback Thursday.
“I’ve only heard of Kordell, but this is something I was asked to do,” said Larsen, who last played fullback in high school in Gilbert, Arizona. “We have some injuries and I did some scout team work.”
Larsen is listed third on the depth chart at middle linebacker behind Nate Webster and Niko Koutouvides. The Broncos have only two healthy fullbacks, Cecil Sapp and Michael Pittman and Larsen said Pittman is nursing a minor hamstring injury.
Second string fullback, Peyton Hillis, missed his third day with an injured left hamstring.
“We have a couple of guys banged up,” said coach Mike Shanahan. “So we have been working Spencer at fullback.”
Shanahan, spoke with Larsen about playing fullback on draft day. On Thursday he hinted Larsen could see some playing time with the offense in Saturday’s preseason game with Houston.
“It could be,” Shanahan said.
Larsen said he will continue to attend meetings with the defense. He will also keep wearing No. 54.
“I’ll spend two days studying the offense and hopefully be ready to go by Saturday,” Larsen said. “I think I will play the fourth quarter at linebacker.”
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HOMECOMING: The Broncos game in Houston will be a homecoming of sorts for rookie running back Anthony Alridge.
“I can’t wait to get there,” Alridge said. “I am going home or close to it.”
The free agent back is from Denton, several hours north of Houston. He played collegially at the University of Houston.
“I just want to get out there for one play,” Alridge said. “That’s all it will take for me to feel like I’ve been in the NFL.”
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NO PRACTICE: The Denver Broncos did not practice in the afternoon on Thursday. The team didn’t give a reason for canceling what would have been only a special-teams practice.
The Broncos have a light workout set for Friday before departing for Houston.
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FIRST DOWNS: Wide receiver Brandon Marshall and defensive end Elvis Dumervil handed out ice cream bars and T-shirts to a visiting youth organization. … Houston coach Gary Kubiak has two sons on the Colorado State football team, Klint and Klay.
