Broncos running back Willis McGahee said Wednesday he wasn’t worried about his sore left hamstring.
Turns out he wasn’t lying.
McGahee started Thursday against the Jets, only four days after suffering the injury in the first quarter against Kansas City.
Not only was McGahee the team’s starter against the Jets, he proved his health with a 6-yard carry on third down on the Broncos’ opening series.
He lost a fumble later in the quarter. It was his second lost fumble of the season.
Returner change.
The Broncos made a change at both kickoff and punt returner when coaches decided to put Quan Cosby on the inactive list.
The move paid off with Cassius Vaughn’s 67-yard kickoff return in the second quarter. It was his third kickoff return of the season.
Eddie Royal got first shot at returning punts.
Jets lose a back.
Jets starting tailback Shonn Greene left the game with a rib injury early in the first quarter, leaving New York with Joe McKnight and Bilal Powell as the only available tailbacks.
Running back LaDanian Tomlinson did not travel to Denver because of a sprained knee.
Blockers preferred.
In their run- heavy offense, the Broncos had no spot on the active roster for their receiving tight end.
Rookie Julius Thomas was benched in favor of Daniel Fells, Virgil Green and Dante Rosario. Green and Rosario are better blockers and also among the team’s best special- teams players.
Military honor.
Broncos coach John Fox presented an official game ball to Army Sgt. Salvatore Guinta, the first living recipient of the Congressional Medal of Honor, the military’s highest honor. Guinta was honored for acts of bravery while serving in Afghanistan in 2007.
Guinta served as an honorary captain at the coin toss.
Lindsay H. Jones and Mike Klis, The Denver Post
