Greek did it again, this time for another young player.
Broncos’ rookie running back Juwan Thompson had a knee so sore Wednesday, he didn’t participate in the team’s full-padded practice Wednesday.
But after a couple days with Broncos’ head trainer Steve “Greek” Antonopulos, Thompson was pronounced probable on the team’s final injury report. He will play Sunday against the New York Jets at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, N.J.
“We’re counting on him for the game versus the Jets,” said Broncos coach John Fox.
Thompson will play special teams and join C.J. Anderson as one of the backup running backs to starter Ronnie Hillman. Those three have moved on the depth chart after starting running back Montee Ball went down with a strained groin last week against Arizona. Ball is expected to miss about a month.
Whoever(?) gets the handoff fromPeyton Manning on Sunday, it won’t be easy to gain yards. The Jets’ defense ranks 6th against the rush, while the Broncos’ offense ranks 29th (third in passing).
“I’m still a rookie so every team is going to be a top 5 defense to me because I’m still getting used to the speed of the game and those guys up front,” Thompson said.
Meanwhile, rookie offensive tackle Michael Schofield returned to the team Friday after missing the previous two days to attend the wake and funeral of his aunt Jane Caliendo, a highly popular water polo and swimming coach at Carl Sandburg High School in the Chicago area who died of cancer at 46.
An estimated 1,500 people were part of the funeral procession that went by the high school.
“We’re the Sandburg Eagles and during the process, an eagle happened to fly overhead,” Schofield said. “Not planned or anything. What are the odds of that?”
