Cornerback Aqib Talib returned to the Broncos’ facility Wednesday, as coach Gary Kubiak anticipated, to meet with the team’s medical staff after he suffered a gunshot wound in his lower right leg early Sunday in Dallas.
Talib was treated at a Dallas hospital after the incident, which left two other men with gunshot wounds, but he is likely to make a full recovery.
Kubiak told local media Wednesday that he saw Talib briefly before the team’s morning meeting and that Talib met with the Broncos’ head athletic trainer Steve Antonopulos.
Antonopulos had been in contact with Talib’s primary physician in Dallas since Sunday to stay apprised of his condition before his return to Colorado.
It’s unlikely that Talib will return to the field for the rest of the Broncos’ organized team activities, which are scheduled to end June 16. But Kubiak said Talib will “definitely” have to stay in Colorado once OTAs end to continue to his rehabilitation.
“I know ‘Greek’ (Antonopulos) looked at him briefly this morning,” Kubiak said. “We sent him to our doctors today, and then they will meet sometime this afternoon and try to gather a plan and see where we’re at and where we’ll go.”
On Tuesday, Kubiak said the Broncos have discussed a timetable for his return, but he declined to offer further details about a timeframe.
Dallas police are investigating what happened early Sunday when they responded to two reports of shooting victims. According to WFAA-TV’s Rebecca Lopez, a bullet entered the back of Talib’s right thigh and exited his right calf. According to Lopez, Talib told police he was shot while with a large group in a park in Dallas, around 3:40 a.m. The Dallas police’s incident report, however, places the shooting — as well as that of the two others who were wounded — at the V Live strip club at 1311 Empire Central Drive, about 2:45 a.m. The offenses were labeled aggravated assaults with the suspect listed as unknown.
Talib’s involvement — if he was carrying a handgun and, if so, whether he was licensed to carry one in Texas; if he fired a handgun; if he was intoxicated; if someone else shot him — will weigh heavily in any legal ramifications he could face.
The NFL was in touch with the Broncos on Sunday and is actively investigating the matter. In addition to any from the law, Talib could face a penalty from the NFL.
“Until I’ve gathered all the information and know wholly and confident that I know exactly everything that took place and what’s going on and what’s happening, I don’t want to go there right now,” Kubiak said. “I want to get him healthy. I want to check his frame of mind. I want to keep this football team going and keep them focused on what we need to do.”
Talib signed a six-year, $57 million contract with the Broncos in 2014 that includes $25.5 million in guarantees. His $8.5 million base salary for this season was guaranteed March 11, the third day of the league year, and he has a salary cap hit of about $10 million. Next season, Talib is due $11 million in base salary and will count $12 million against the Broncos’ cap, but his “dead money” value is only $2 million.
