ENGLEWOOD, Colo.—Broncos wide receiver DeMaryius Thomas can’t help feeling snakebit after suffering yet another injury.
“I feel like every time I get out there, something happens,” said Thomas, whose season debut is on hold for the second year in a row.
A first-round pick in 2010, Thomas missed six games last season with a concussion as well as a lingering foot injury sustained in a pre-draft workout. Earlier this month, Thomas shattered the little finger on his left hand in his first contact practice since being cleared to resume workouts after rupturing his right Achilles tendon in an offseason workout.
Thomas broke the finger during 1-on-1 drills when the ball smacked the top of his pinkie after being deflected slightly by a defender. Doctors stabilized the fracture by inserting screws and a plate during surgery on the finger. Thomas said doctors told him he could expect to be sidelined four to six weeks.
Despite the latest setback, Thomas said he has been able to continue running pass routes, maintain his conditioning program and attend team meetings. He also said he has not experienced any residual problems with his Achilles tendon.
When healthy, the fleet, 6-foot-3 Thomas has shown he can be a force, especially in the red zone where his size, speed and physical play work to his advantage in his matchups with defenders. He had 22 catches for 283 yards and two touchdowns in 10 games as a rookie, including two starts.
And though Thomas made it clear that he would like to return as soon as possible, he also wants to try to ensure that his next comeback is a lasting one.
“Basically, I’m just going to take my time and get out there when I can and once I do, just take it from there,” Thomas said.
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ON THE MEND: Broncos wide receiver Brandon Lloyd practiced without restrictions Thursday, an encouraging sign as he works his way back from a groin injury that kept him on the sideline last Sunday against Cincinnati.
Lloyd, coming off a Pro Bowl campaign, strained his groin during the team’s season-opening loss to the Raiders. He was among the team’s inactive players in last Sunday’s 24-22 win over the Bengals but expressed optimism he would be ready to play this Sunday at Tennessee.
“It’s frustrating,” Lloyd said. “But at the same time, it’s better to be cautious on the front end of an injury than to rush it back and reinjure it. I think we’re going about it the right way, and I should be ready for this weekend.”
The Broncos, whose receiving corps also has been depleted by injuries to Eddie Royal (groin) and Thomas (finger), certainly would welcome Lloyd’s return. The team was so thin at wide receiver last Sunday that at one point, backup quarterback Tim Tebow lined up as a wide receiver. The Broncos have since bolstered their depth by signing Quann Crosby, who could help out as a punt returner in addition to his reserve receiver role.
Defensive end Elvis Dumervil (shoulder), linebacker D.J. Williams (elbow) and running back Knowshon Moreno (hamstring) also were practicing, in limited fashion, this week and there’s a chance they could return for the Tennessee game.
“We’re still short a few, but it’s good to have those guys back out there,” Broncos coach John Fox said. “It’s nice to be able to get through a practice. The combination with the practice squad and just your 53-man roster, we’ve kind of struggled in the first couple weeks just getting enough guys to practice.”
Cornerback Champ Bailey (hamstring), defensive tackle Marcus Thomas (groin) and tight end Julius Thomas (ankle) have been held out of practice so far this week and remain questionable.
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COMBATIVE REMATCH: Heated play and heated words marked last year’s Broncos-Titans game, which was won by Denver 26-20.
Quarterback Kyle Orton lashed out at Titans cornerback Cortland Finnegan, calling him cheap for taking a swing at one of his offensive linemen during the game, among other things.
Heading into Sunday’s rematch, Orton declined to rehash the episode.
But he also didn’t back down from last year’s harsh assessment of Finnegan and what he considered the over-the-top play by the Titans.
“It was a physical football game and a few plays and some stuff got out of hand,” Orton said. “I don’t regret saying anything, I don’t take anything back. He is a good football player and they have a good defense and we respect them and hope to go out and beat them.”
Lloyd said the perception of Finnegan was a matter of perspective.
“Cortland is one of those players that if he’s your opponent, you hate his guts, but if you’re on his team, you probably love him to death,” Lloyd said. “It’s all part of the game, and that’s the style of play that they have. That’s the attitude that that defense sets, and you’ve got to respect that, because they’ll definitely get teams sidetracked and not focused on what’s necessary to win the game.”
