ENGLEWOOD, Colo.—The Denver Broncos wrapped up the heavy lifting of training camp Thursday and not a moment too soon.
The Broncos suffered the league’s worst injury epidemic during preparations for the upcoming season, losing their top two tailbacks on the first day and players at every position by the time it ended, including rookie quarterback Tim Tebow to bruised ribs.
The most devastating injury was to the NFL’s top sackmaster, Elvis Dumervil, who underwent surgery to repair a torn chest muscle that’s expected to keep in out most, if not all, of the season.
The Broncos, however, are holding out hope he’ll return before the season is over and are holding off on putting him on season-ending injured reserve.
Linebacker Jarvis Moss broke his left hand shortly after replacing Dumervil, and newly signed LenDale White sprained an ankle shortly after he was signed following injuries on Day One to Knowshon Moreno (hamstring) and Correll Buckhalter (back).
Rookie receivers Demaryius Thomas, the team’s top draft pick, and Eric Decker both suffered setbacks in a scrimmage last week after missing most of the offseason workouts while recovering from foot surgeries.
And Tebow missed workouts this week with bruised ribs he suffered in his NFL debut and which might sideline him Saturday night against the Detroit Lions.
Coach Josh McDaniels canceled or scaled back more than a half dozen of the 24 scheduled practices at camp, turning much of his two-a-day schedule into one-a-day or one practice plus a light walkthrough or special teams workout.
Besides Tebow, other injured offensive players who missed practice Thursday included wide receivers Thomas and Brandon Stokley and tight ends Daniel Graham and Richard Quinn.
If Tebow can’t go, Kyle Orton will likely play the first half Saturday night against the Lions and Brady Quinn the second.
“More snaps are always good. It doesn’t matter where they come or wherever they’re at,” said Quinn, who went 6-for-16 with a pick-6 against Cincinnati in his first game action for Denver, which acquired him from Cleveland in the offseason.
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HAPPY CAMPING: Although Thursday marked the end of training camp, it really only marked the last day the players had to be cooped up in a hotel and the last time fans got to come watch practices.
“We look forward to things, like being able to sleep at home and getting some rest, I know that much,” backup quarterback Brady Quinn said.
But the grind is hardly in their rearview mirrors.
“Well, it’s not really over for us,” outside linebacker Jarvis Moss said. “We’ve still got a long way to go, even though we’re breaking camp here today or tomorrow. Until this preseason is over, we’ve still got to consider it like we’re at camp and keep working and keep improving because honestly we have a long way to go, guys.”
Right tackle Ryan Harris was excited about getting to check out of his hotel room.
“I get to go see my dogs and spend some time at home,” he said. “As much as I love these guys, I’ll be around them a lot so get some time away from them and sleep in my own bed again.”
He said it would miss the thousands of fans who cheered their every move.
“It’s a good thing especially in camp because we’re not as excited every day coming out here and when we see people excited to come watch us play, it makes us feel better about what’s going on,” Harris said. “And it gives us a perspective of who we’re doing this for and who’s watching us.”
Moss said it’s also good to get back into the regular rhythm of things and close off practice to outsiders.
“Maybe that will have us more focused because like I said we’ve got lots of strides to make,” he said.
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MOSS RETURNS: So what did Jarvis Moss think when he broke his left hand one day after Elvis Dumervil went down with a torn chest muscle that might cost him his entire season?
“If it ain’t one thing, it’s another,” Moss recounted Thursday.
Moss returned to practice this week with a cast over his surgically repaired hand and said he hopes to play Saturday night although he still has some trepidation about his injury.
“I’ve just got to get used to it,” he said. “I know it’s more mental than anything. I know it’s strong and the doctor say it’s fine and it’s well to go. But it’s kind of mental, just sticking it out there and having the courage to put it on somebody. I did it a few times. I’ve just got to keep training my mind that it’s fine, that you can go do what you normally do.”
Moss said he felt fortunate he was able to get back on the field relatively quickly and also is relieved that he has a cast with his fingers free instead of a cumbersome club covering his entire hand.
“It would stink,” he said. “Couldn’t engage, couldn’t grab people. So, yeah, I guess this is why we made it this way, so really not a big deal.”
