Wilson better, might practice this week

Tests on linebacker come back negative; Sapp out for season

Jeff Legwold, Rocky Mountain News

Published December 5, 2006 at midnight

Text size

More Denver Broncos

More stories »

ENGLEWOOD - Linebacker Al Wilson could return to the practice field this week, but not until he is symptom-free after suffering a neck injury Sunday night.

Wilson was injured when he collided with teammate Gerard Warren while both were trying to recover a fourth-quarter fumble by Broncos punt returner Darrent Williams.

Wilson was strapped to a backboard and taken by ambulance to Sky Ridge Medical Center but released later Sunday after a magnetic resonance imaging exam and X-rays came back negative, Broncos coach Mike Shanahan said Monday.

Wilson lost feeling in his arms and hands after the collision and felt what Shanahan said was a "tingling" sensation in the shoulders and triceps area.

Shanahan said Wilson still was having some symptoms, but he would practice when those symptoms had dissipated.

"If he still has that tingling on Wednesday, obviously, he wouldn't be able to practice," Shanahan said. "He's had some pinched nerves, neck and little bit sore, but he's never had that feeling in the shoulders before. He didn't want to be carried off on a stretcher, he wanted to be able to walk away.

"Obviously, the doctors know what they're doing and said, 'Hey, if you've got that numbness and that tingling sensation in the shoulders, you better lay down.' "

Broncos linebacker Keith Burns said he left Invesco Field at Mile High as soon as possible after the Broncos' 23-20 loss against the Seahawks to visit Wilson at the hospital.

"I got there and they were still running a couple tests," Burns said. "I just filled him in on what went on at the stadium after he left and just made sure he was all right. It can be a lonely feeling. Not just with your family seeing you at the game, but knowing the position that you're in, going to the hospital from the game.

"It can be frightening for some people, so the more people around you who you are familiar with the better, so I just went there to make sure he was doing OK."

Warren said he also went to the hospital to "sit down with (Wilson's) family, see how he was doing."

Several players and Shanahan said seeing Wilson taken from the field on the backboard and not knowing what would be discovered on exams was a shock to the team.

The Seahawks scored 16 points after the injury.

"I know it (had an effect), you could feel it on the sideline," Shanahan said. "I was affected by it. When a guy sits there and he can't feel his fingers and he's got something he's never felt before and the doctors know it and they're watching him there for about 10 minutes, whatever it took, yeah, you're concerned for a guy's health, you hope he's all right."

Added Burns: "It's all about him getting through it. To see him on the ground, to me, the game was secondary. My main focus was getting over there as fast as I could."

SAPP TO INJURED RESERVE: The Broncos placed fullback Cecil Sapp on injured reserve after he suffered a broken lower left leg during the fourth quarter.

Sapp, a special-teams regular who also rushed for 80 yards on 10 carries, is the fifth Broncos player put on injured reserve since the season started and the third in the past four weeks.

The Broncos have a roster spot open and were looking at available fullbacks and expected to sign one today.

The Broncos do not have a fullback on their practice squad, and Kyle Johnson is the only true fullback on the roster.

Two possibilities are the fullbacks the team worked out in October, Troy Fleming and Keith Belton.

A converted running back, Fleming was one of the fastest backs in the 2004 draft - 4.48 seconds for 40 yards - and played in 29 games for the Titans before being released during training camp. He also played special teams.

Belton has spent time with the Bears and Lions the previous two seasons.

Veterans Fred Beasley and Alan Ricard also are available, but the Broncos have not worked them out this season.

REVIEW: After looking at rookie quarterback Jay Cutler's first start again on video, Shanahan said he still believed he might have put too much in the game plan.

Shanahan said after the game he was a "little disappointed in myself" for asking Cutler to do so much.

"Yeah, probably," Shanahan said after being asked if he still felt that way. "You always go back and look at the things you did right, things you did poorly, you always question yourself if you could have done things to make it a little bit easier. But that's always hindsight. You are what you are and move on."

On Cutler's 10-of-21 passing for 143 yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions - one was returned for a touchdown - Shanahan simply said: "Welcome to the National Football League. This is reality, this is what happens in the National Football League. You learn by your experiences, you go out there and compete."

INJURY REPORT: Tight end Stephen Alexander sprained his right ankle Sunday, was sent for an MRI on Monday and will be evaluated through the week.

Kicker Jason Elam also had an MRI on his injured left hamstring, but Shanahan said there was no tear in the muscle, just a "little bit of strain."

Shanahan said he thought Elam could kick Sunday in San Diego.

Defensive tackle Demetrin Veal also suffered a sprained ankle and will be looked at through the week.

ETC.: Shanahan, on Elam's availability this week after the kicker was injured running a fake field- goal attempt: "Jason assured me he would not be hurt, so that's why he's probable this weekend." . . . The Chargers (10-2) are the AFC's No. 2 seed, behind Indianapolis (10-2), because both of their losses have come against AFC teams, while the Colts have lost to one AFC team (Tennessee) and one NFC team (Dallas).

Subscribe to the Rocky Mountain News