The Broncos held veteran running back Correll Buckhalter (right ankle) out of practice Wednesday and he is not expected to play Sunday in Denver against the Raiders.
Rookie running back Knowshon Moreno was limited in practice because of an ankle injury.
Those developments mean Peyton Hillis could see some playing time at running back.
Hillis, who led the Broncos in rushing last season before heading to injured reserve with a hamstring injury, has only 12 carries this year — seven of those coming in the Broncos’ final drive at Kansas City.
“I think Coach (Josh) McDaniels knows what he’s doing,” Hillis said. “I’m just out there trying to do the best I can for the team, play the role that they give me.”
Hillis said he is ready for more action if it comes his way this weekend.
“Right now that’s not my role. If it is my role this week, then I’ll take full advantage of it,” Hillis said.
Raiders’ role.
Oakland defensive end Richard Seymour doesn’t want to be considered a spoiler in the Broncos’ pursuit of a playoff berth. Seymour says the Raiders just want another win.
“We all have a job to do and our job is going out and trying to get a win on Sunday,” Seymour said. “And if someone else wants to call it a spoiler or whatever, that’s what they call it. We just see it as trying to go out and getting a win.”
Seymour, who was traded to the Raiders by the Patriots this season, has never played for a team that has won fewer than nine games in a season. The Raiders are 4-9.
Footnotes.
In addition to Buckhalter, the Broncos held safety Renaldo Hill (ankle), outside linebacker Elvis Dumervil (toe) and cornerback Ty Law (hamstring) out of practice Wednesday. Rookie safety David Bruton, who did not make the trip to Indianapolis last weekend because of a thigh injury, worked with the starters at times. Rookie Alphonso Smith worked in Law’s nickel corner spot and rookie Robert Ayers did some work in Dumervil’s spot. . . . Wide receiver Brandon Lloyd was held out of practice, and the Broncos said it was not injury related. . . . One of the original Broncos, Al Carmichael, was at the team’s complex Wednesday. Carmichael, a member of the Green Bay Packers’ Hall of Fame, played for Denver in 1960 and 1961. He scored the first touchdown in Broncos history, against the Patriots in the 1960 season opener. Former Broncos Gene Mingo and Charles Gavin, who had not seen Carmichael since they played together, also stopped by.
