The fallout from Sunday’s 26-17 loss to Miami continued Monday when the Broncos placed running backs Michael Pittman and Andre Hall on the injured-reserve list.
The move left the Broncos with just two active tailbacks: Selvin Young and rookie Ryan Torain. The team is expected to sign P.J. Pope today from the practice squad with just one full day to prepare for Thursday’s game at Cleveland.
Young has been inactive for the past three games while recovering from a groin injury. Torain made his NFL debut against the Dolphins after spending the past three months rehabilitating a dislocated elbow.
“It’s crazy,” Torain said. “I got healthy just in time.”
Pittman, the starter in the past three games, aggravated a stinger in his neck during the Miami game and was in too much pain to play in the second half. Hall, who also has had wrist and ankle injuries this season, broke a bone in his left hand late in the game.
The long-term prognosis isn’t quite as dire for linebacker D.J. Williams, who injured the medial collateral ligament in his left knee in the fourth quarter. He is expected to miss at least a month.
“I think he’s going to fight through,” said linebacker Jamie Winborn, who spoke with Williams on Monday morning. “Hopefully he can come through it earlier than expected.”
Still, Williams’ injury is a major blow to a defense already without star cornerback Champ Bailey and linebacker Boss Bailey, both of whom were hurt during the loss to New England on Oct. 20.
“Obviously we’re very concerned,” coach Mike Shanahan said of the rash of injuries.
Of the litany of miserable sights Sunday afternoon at Invesco Field at Mile High — Jay Cutler’s three interceptions, an offensive pass interference call on Brandon Marshall, Miami running back Ronnie Brown picking up 18 yards on a third-down screen — perhaps nothing was scarier to the Broncos than the sight of Williams hobbling on one leg and a pair of crutches in the locker room after the game.
Williams was injured in the fourth quarter while trying to defend that Miami screen to Brown, perhaps the game’s key play. Williams made the tackle that stopped Brown 1 yard short of the first down, but he remained seated on the grass, surrounded by trainers and teammates for several minutes before being helped to the sideline.
It surely was an unfamiliar feeling for Williams and an unusual sight for his teammates and coaches. Williams has been one of the team’s most durable defenders and has played in every game for Denver since the Broncos drafted him in the first round in 2004. He has started at least 14 games in each of his first four seasons.
“D.J. is our warrior, you know?” linebacker Louis Green said. “I never expected D.J. to get hurt.”
Green and rookie Wesley Woodyard played in Williams’ absence in the fourth quarter. Coaches may now reshuffle their linebackers.
Winborn replaced Boss Bailey on the strong side after Bailey was placed on the injured-reserve list after the loss to New England. Wilborn also filled in for Bailey there in the preseason and the season opener. But Winborn is naturally a weakside linebacker, and he started the season as Williams’ backup.
Green is most comfortable on the strong side, while Woodyard is best on the weak side.
“I can play either/or, so it doesn’t matter,” Winborn said. “It just depends on how they want to shuffle us around.”
Free safety Marlon McCree also is out for Thursday’s game after spraining his ankle against Miami. There is concern his injury was worse than initially thought and he, too, could miss significant time.
Lindsay H. Jones: 303-954-1262 or ljones@denverpost.com
