Cutler expects to practice despite sprained ankle

Jeff Legwold, Rocky Mountain News

Tuesday, September 25, 2007

ENGLEWOOD — Broncos quarterback Jay Cutler’s left ankle is sore, but he said he didn’t expect the injury to cause him to miss much, if any, practice time this week.

"I’ve got a lot of time left; I’m going to take it easy next couple of days," Cutler said Monday afternoon. "I should be back, maybe a little bit sore, but I’m ... going to get a full week in."

Cutler was injured when sacked by former Broncos defensive end Reggie Hayward with just more than five minutes remaining in a 23-14 loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars.

He underwent a magnetic resonance imaging exam Monday, which confirmed a sprain.

Safety John Lynch (groin) also underwent an MRI exam. Lynch also had extensive treatment at the team’s complex, saying he was sore.

Lynch left the game in the first half and did not return. The Broncos are uncertain how much he will be able to practice this week.

Fullback Paul Smith, who suffered a pinched nerve on the left side of his neck during the game, also will be evaluated through the week.

Broncos coach Mike Shanahan, sporting sunglasses to cover a swollen left eye, was not spared from the injury report, either. But his injury was because of his allergy to cats.

"Just touching a cat did it to me," Shanahan said.

And after a few seconds, he added: "Not a Jaguar."

SAY WHAT? The Broncos took two timeouts in the third quarter because the coach-to-quarterback communication device malfunctioned, with only static coming over the earpiece in Cutler’s helmet. Cutler said they have had some troubles with the technology.

"Can’t say anything bad about the earpieces," Cutler said. "They’re not the finest contraptions. ... I don’t know, it gets really loud in some stadiums and it cuts in and out and some stadiums you hear concession people. You never know what’s going to happen."