A fractured left rib, a bruised lip and an aching body, causing slow, deliberate movements were the lasting effects of Broncos defensive coordinator Wade Phillips’ scary sideline collision with San Diego Chargers running back Melvin Gordon during a game at Sports Authority Field at Mile High on Sunday. Phillips didn’t lose his sense of humor despite his pain.
“If I was going to go out, I’d want it to be on a pick-six,” Phillips joked, referring to Bradley Roby’s interception for a touchdown.
“They did a CAT scan on my head and they didn’t find anything,” he continued.
Phillips, 69, said he was shot up with painkillers before practice and he’s contemplating coaching from the coaches’ box Sunday night at Oakland when the Broncos play the Raiders.
“Just because I’m in some pain and I really don’t want to get hit again,” said Phillips, who said he is fortunate he didn’t suffer a more serious injury, especially because he hit his head hard on the ground when he was knocked down. “It’s clear up there. It’s obviously quiet. You can see well. I’d know what’s going on on the field anyway. You can’t communicate with the players as well, but now they’ve made it where you can communicate from the box to the signal caller. That makes it easier.”
Phillips said he coached from the box for one game in 2011 after he had a kidney and his gallbladder removed when he was the Houston Texans’ defensive coordinator under coach Gary Kubiak.
Broncos outside linebacker Von Miller said he does not anticipate any lasting effect on the defense if Phillips coaches from the box Sunday.
