ENGLEWOOD, Colo.—Eric Decker’s finicky left foot has been acting up again in practice.
It’s not enough to cause concern for the Denver Broncos wide receiver, but is enough to remind him that although the injury has mended Decker still needs to take it easy.
The second-year player is 22 months removed from a debilitating Lisfranc injury, which is a tear of the ligament that holds his first two toes in place. The ailment hampered Decker last training camp as he tried to play through the pain.
This time, he’s playing it cautious, even cutting his practice short Tuesday when it bothered him.
“It’s been a little sore. I think just the volume on it, it’s been a little tough,” said Decker, who suffered the injury while playing for the University of Minnesota in 2009. “Everybody has bumps and bruises and my bumps and bruises is my foot. It’s just something I’ve got to deal with and stay on top of.
“I’ll be back. I’ll be fine.”
The Broncos are counting on a productive season by the sure-handed receiver. He caught six passes for 106 yards last season and his role only figures to expand this fall, especially with the trade last month that sent Jabar Gaffney to Washington.
Decker will serve as a backup for Pro Bowler Brandon Lloyd and Eddie Royal, who’s coming back from offseason hip surgery. Matthew Willis has looked solid in camp as well, giving Kyle Orton a regiment of reliable targets.
“It’s going to be tough for teams to do what we saw late in the season last year where they’re devoting a lot of coverage to Brandon,” Orton said.
Decker felt a little overwhelmed at times last season, acclimating to life in the NFL, digesting an intricate system and contending with his foot injury.
This summer, he’s quickly absorbed the offense.
“It’s been like night and day for me,” Decker said. “I feel confident mentally. Physically, I’m back where I want to be.”
He even turned in a big play the other day in practice on perennial Pro Bowler Champ Bailey. That was definitely a boost.
“I know that he’s probably going to get my number again sometime. But it’s fun to go against a guy like that,” Decker said. “Last year was tough because I had a lot going on in my mind and I was thinking while I was out there.
“Now I’m just playing football again, just running around and having fun. I feel a lot faster.”
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RUNNING GAME: The Broncos spent a good portion of Tuesday’s morning practice working on their ground game. It was one hand-off after another as Willis McGahee and Knowshon Moreno were the workhorses.
“We want to be a multitask offense,” quarterback Kyle Orton said. “It’s good to get out here and establish the run.”
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FIRST DOWNS: TE Richard Quinn (knee), OL Stanley Daniels (ankle) and DB Syd’Quan Thompson (groin) didn’t practice Tuesday. … The Broncos will host Buffalo on Saturday and then play the Bills again in the regular season on Dec. 24. It’s the first time the Broncos have faced an opponent in the preseason and then the regular season since playing Arizona in 2006.
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AP Sports Writer Pat Graham can be reached at
