On the final day of August, Knowshon Moreno returned to practice.
Moreno, the Broncos’ starting running back and 2009 first-round draft pick, had not practiced since Aug. 1, when he suffered a serious hamstring injury in the first practice of training camp.
Moreno wore an orange “non-contact” jersey during practice. Before practice, Moreno told reporters he felt he was around 80 percent recovered from the injury.
It remains unlikely that Moreno will play in Thursday’s final preseason game at Minnesota.
“I’m not really sure, it’s whatever the coach wants to do,” Moreno said. “I’m just trying to get healthy and get better and get back.”
Moreno also missed the bulk of training camp in 2009 because of a holdout and then a knee injury. He took only three carries in the 2009 preseason opener and did not play again until the first game of the regular season.
“I think he’s handled it the best he could and I hope he’s eager to get out there,” coach Josh McDaniels said. “I think that’s where he’s at mentally and I think he’ll be ready to go as soon as he is capable of playing.”
Running back Correll Buckhalter, cornerback Champ Bailey, right guard Chris Kuper, safety Brian Dawkins and tight end Richard Quinn also returned to practice Tuesday. All were among the players held out of Sunday’s preseason game against Pittsburgh.
Several starters, though, did not practice, including tight end Daniel Graham (ribs) and cornerback Andre Goodman. Goodman left in the third quarter of Sunday’s game and had his head examined by team doctors on the sideline.
Lindsay H. Jones: 303-954-1262 or ljones@denverpost.com
