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Healthy Carswell certain he's not done

Lee Rasizer, Rocky Mountain News

Published August 15, 2006 at midnight

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ENGLEWOOD - A brush with death has given Dwayne Carswell a new perspective on life.

So much so, he's actually enjoying two-a-days for the first time in his 13 NFL seasons.

"You know what? I guess you can say that," Carswell said with a chuckle. "I like mixing it up and getting back to the contact of football, so it's been real good for me."

Carswell appears to have fully recovered from a serious auto accident last October during which he incurred massive internal injuries. He reported to Denver Broncos training camp at 292 pounds, four below his set weight, and has been participating in all drills.

The player's next, more mundane, battle involves keeping his roster spot as a reserve offensive lineman.

One teammate warned against counting him out.

"I don't know if there's anything that can stop him," right tackle George Foster said. "He may live to be 160, just the way he's looking."

No matter what happens in regards to Carswell's status on the Broncos roster, his performance to date has at least convinced him he again can play football at a high level.

"I am 34 years old, so we'll have to see, but I'm not done playing football by any means, that's for sure," Carswell said.

He has run with the third unit at right tackle but moved up after a hamstring injury sidelined Adam Meadows. This week, he has swung from right tackle to left tackle, where he played early in camp. In past years, Carswell lined up at guard and, of course, made his living as a tight end. So his versatility should help come decision time.

"It always helps," offensive coordinator Rick Dennison said. "With 53 guys, it sounds like a lot, but on game day, it really isn't."

Though Dennison called the comeback "remarkable," he isn't surprised by Carswell's progress.

"It's what he loves, to play," Dennison said. "And you can tell by the way he plays. It might not be perfect, but he'll give you everything he's got."

Carswell said making the Broncos roster after going through the trauma of his accident, recovery and rehabilitation process would be among his career highlights.

But he's prepared to play elsewhere if things don't work out with the Broncos.

"I'm optimistic about it," Carswell said. "It's not like I haven't been in this position before, where I haven't done nothing during the minicamps and coming into training camp I got to start basically where I've started from. I think if I would have gone through the minicamps and done the things everyone else did I'd be in better shape, but I just have to push through."

Should Carswell make the roster, he'll join Barney Chavous (1973-85), Paul Howard (1973-86), Ken Lanier (1981-92, '94) and Billy Thompson (1969-81) as the only players in franchise history to have played 13 years for the organization.

Only John Elway, Tom Jackson, Dennis Smith and Jason Elam - the former almost certainly is headed for his 14th service year - will have worn the uniform longer.

"There's no question, 'House' has been a warrior," coach Mike Shanahan said. "He doesn't miss (time). He plays the game extremely hard and has been in the game a long time. And you do appreciate those type of players."

Carswell's plan is to continue practicing, perform in games in a do-it-all role that includes special teams and wait it out to see if he's included on the 53-man roster.

"I expect to," he said.

If it doesn't work out, he'll hope someone noticed that he's at least close to being back to his old self.

"All I know is blue and orange. It's one of those things I don't want to think about," he said of the possibility of starting anew elsewhere.

He'd even switch back to tight end if it meant prolonging his career. Carswell actually caught two touchdown passes as a tackle in a game at Jacksonville last season only a couple of weeks before being involved in the life-altering accident while he traveled to the Broncos' Dove Valley training facility.

"I may not be as small as earlier years, but I know I can play there," he said. "It's natural for me."