DENVER—If Jarvis Moss is on his way out of Denver, he’ll at least be leaving with a bang.
The Broncos’ 2007 first-round pick is in danger of being released Saturday in the mandatory cutdown to 53 players.
Yet on Thursday night, in his team’s preseason-ending 19-0 victory over the Arizona Cardinals, Moss flashed many of the skills Denver had hoped it would consistently get from the ex-University of Florida star when it moved up in the draft to pick him with the 17th overall selection 2 1/2 years ago.
Moss registered a sack for an 11-yard loss, forcing a fumble that Arizona recovered. He had a tackle for loss in the third quarter for one of his three solo tackles. He knifed into the backfield and deflected a shovel pass and dropped into coverage to break up another throw into the flat.
The only problem was it came against Arizona’s third-stringers, led by quarterback Tyler Palko—not Kurt Warner or even Matt Leinart, who’s had his slings and arrows, too, as a former first-round selection.
“I knew they were going to let me play more than I have in previous preseason games,” Moss said. “I just wanted to take advantage of the plays I had.”
Whatever happens, it ends an eventful six weeks for Moss, who left training camp during the first week to ponder retirement only to return three days later.
The perspective he gained from that brief absence has seemingly steeled him for Denver’s next move, or the Broncos holding steady.
“The one thing I reflected upon on in my little time off was to just stop worrying myself and listening to stuff that I can’t control,” he explained. “That’s my approach right now, just trying to keep getting better, keep my head on straight and move forward.”
And if that future doesn’t include the Broncos, so be it. Denver has to cut 22 player to reach the roster limit, then another when it reactivates suspended wide receiver Brandon Marshall.
“I’m not worried about one thing. I’m good. I’m blessed. I can’t control it, so there’s no sense worrying about it,” Moss said. “I refuse to. I’m happy where I am, and that’s it.”
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LATE AUDITION: Darius Walker carried the load for Broncos offense in their preseason finale.
Now if the reserve running back can only rid himself of the weight on his shoulders that accompanies the coaches deciding his fate, he’ll be fine.
Walker made a strong case for a roster spot with 21 carries for 68 yards and a touchdown.
“I laid it all out on the table,” Walker said.
But like the five other times he’s been cut in his two NFL years, there’s a significant roadblock ahead.
Walker’s primary competition for a roster spot is LaMont Jordan, who returned from a leg injury that kept him out of the lineup the previous game. Jordan played sparingly (one carry, zero yards).
Knowshon Moreno, Peyton Hillis and Correll Buckhalter are backfield locks for Denver’s season opener in Cincinnati on Sept. 13, with Hillis also contributing at fullback and Spencer Larsen likely the other blocking back. That leaves one likely vacancy.
Jordan does have a history with Broncos coach Josh McDaniels in New England. Still, the ninth-year pro’s lack of availability has opened the door for Walker to lead Denver in preseason carries (46) and yards (173).
“Darius is a good player,” McDaniels said. “He plays well in the passing game and did some nice things that probably didn’t get noticed in terms of his blitz pickup. He ran and made some tough yards for us. We are glad we have Darius. He’s a good addition to our backfield.”
Walker’s 11-yard run off a screen pass against the Cardinals demonstrated his pass-catching ability. But his biggest edge over Jordan could hinge on special teams. Walker’s short touchdown run in the first quarter didn’t hurt either, given that’s a primary selling point in keeping Jordan around. But Jordan has a hefty experience edge.
“I definitely would have liked to have gotten in and gotten more carries but I understand the most important thing isn’t this game, it’s the next game,” Jordan said. “These count, but next week is when they really start to count.”
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FIRST DOWNS: Denver averted its first winless preseason since its inaugural season in 1960. … The Broncos—one week after opening with Hillis on kickoff returns—went back to rookie Alphonso Smith in that role to open the game. Denver had been unhappy with Smith’s ball security but gave him a late audition for what still appears an open position. Smith’s one return went 30 yards. He also handled punt returns in place of Eddie Royal and had a fair catch. … Denver’s Brian Dawkins dressed but was held out of the starting lineup in favor of rookie Darcel McBath. Dawkins played in the Broncos third preseason game but coming off surgery on his right hand, the coaching staff took the precautionary route.
