Broncos cornerback Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie suffered an injury scare about 20 minutes into practice Thursday but later returned to the field for scrimmaging and is going to be “fine,” coach John Fox said.
Rodgers-Cromartie, who with Denver as a free agent in the offseason and is the team’s second-highest paid defensive player, was helped to the locker room with what appeared to be a back injury. When he returned he was asked by Fox about his injury and pointed to his back.
“He’s got a bump on his back but he’s fine,” Fox said.
This was the second injury scare for Rodgers-Cromartie. Early in training camp last month he was carted off the field with .
Meanwhile, slot receiver Wes Welker — another big free-agent signee — did not participate in 7-on-7 and 11-on-11 half-speed drills but would be available to play Saturday if it were a regular-season game, Fox said. Welker is recovering from and still might play Saturday against the visiting St. Louis Rams when the No. 1 offense will take its most snaps of the preseason.
Among those who didn’t practice Thursday were cornerback Champ Bailey; defensive linemen Robert Ayers and Derek Wolfe; center Ryan Lilja; tight end Joel Dreessen; and running back Jeremiah Johnson.
Dreessen and Johnson are considered close to returning from injuries, and Wolfe said he hopes to return from for the Sept. 5 season opener against Baltimore.
“Looked a lot worse than it was,” Wolfe said. ” It ended up just being a cervical strain, which is scary, but I’m just happy I can be back on the field.”
Mike Chambers: 303-954-1357, mchambers@denverpost.com or twitter.com/mchambersdp
