Hamilton out rest of season

Jeff Legwold, Rocky Mountain News

Saturday, September 29, 2007

With guard Ben Hamilton still experiencing symptoms from a concussion he suffered in training camp, the Broncos have decided to move the seven-year veteran to injured reserve, ending his season.

Hamilton has been unable to play or work out after suffering a concussion during training camp that has left him still experiencing dizziness. He has not been at the team's complex day to day since the opening week of the season.

"I talked to Ben and talked to his wife, Jeanne, and after talking to both of them a while, we came to the conclusion that Ben was going to go on IR . . . ," Broncos coach Mike Shanahan said. "We thought it was in his best interest. He really didn't want to, but he's been struggling here for the last six, seven weeks and his condition right now, there's a big question mark if he'd be ready for the remainder of the season."

Shanahan said he believed Hamilton would be ready to return for the 2008 season. Hamilton suffered the injury during an Aug. 3 practice and tried to return the next week but lasted only a few plays. He has continued to suffer dizziness since.

Hamilton visited specialists at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center's sports medicine concussion program last month and the Broncos had consulted with other doctors in recent weeks.

Before this season, Hamilton had not missed a game during the past five years. Chris Myers, who has been playing in Hamilton's left guard spot, said he had been approaching things as if Hamilton were coming back this year and "that I was just in Ben's spot until he was ready."

"We think it's in best interest to stay away and just get better . . . ," Shanahan said. "I just felt if it were my son and he was Ben, there is no way I'd want him to play with what he's been going through. . . . I think he was putting undue pressure on himself to get back too quickly."

The Broncos now will have a roster spot available. One option would be to promote one of the two offensive linemen from the team's practice squad for the weekend - tackle Cliff Washburn or center/guard Mark Fenton - or bring tackle Chad Mustard back as they have twice this year.

Also, because safety John Lynch is a question mark for the game and safety Hamza Abdullah already is out because of a hip injury, they also could elevate safety Steve Cargile or safety Roderick Rogers from the practice squad.

Also in the mix is defensive tackle Kenny Peterson, who is eligible to return to the team Monday after serving a four- game suspension for violating the league's policy on steroids and other banned substances.

Crank it up

Broncos kick returner Domenik Hixon would like to pop a big return just as much as everybody else.

"Oh, yeah," Hixon said. "I think we're right there; the guys up front work their butts off. This last game, we had some opportunities where if a guy doesn't trip me up, we're to the house twice."

After three games, Hixon, who returned a punt and kickoff for touchdowns at Akron in 2005, still is looking for that elusive big play in what is his first stint as the team's kick returner.

Hixon spent the 2006 season - that was his rookie year - on injured reserve, recovering from a fractured foot he suffered in a pre-draft workout, and the Broncos used a variety of kickoff and punt returners in his place. But when Scott O'Brien was hired as the team's special teams coordinator, one of the first players he said he wanted to see in action was Hixon.

Thus far, his longest punt return is 14 yards and his longest kickoff return is 33 yards. His 23.5-yard return average on kickoffs is slightly better than the 22 yards a return the Broncos finished with last season, but Denver still is last in the AFC, 31st in the league, in average drive start after a kickoff, at the 21.3-yard line.

"We're going to get better and better," Hixon said. "Throughout practice, we've got a lot of pressure put on us, making it how it is in games. Dré Bly yelling and screaming at me during punt returns, getting right up on me, and we do the same for kickoffs, because that's what's going to happen in the game.

"Watching what we've done on film, it's a game of inches, game of steps. You wonder about if I set him up a little better, step here or there. But you see a shoestring tackle and if it isn't made, you're out of the gate."

Numbers game

9-10 record by Colts quarterback Peyton Manning as a starter when he is sacked at least three times in a game.

He said it

"He's probably the finest route runner in the league and has been for years and years. Some of it is the timing element of it, working with the same quarterback, but a lot of it is he knows how to run routes, sinking his hips, changing directions, got the little nuances to make you think he's going one way and go the other. He's got it all. Hands, quickness, doesn't matter what you do."

Bob Slowik, Broncos defensive coordinator, on Colts receiver Marvin Harrison.

Wait and see

Safety John Lynch (groin) and receiver Javon Walker (right knee) had some limited participation in practice Friday and both formally were listed as questionable for the game.

At this point, Walker, who said he felt "pretty good about my chances," would be more likely to play against the Colts than Lynch.

"I felt good out there. I was pleasantly surprised," Lynch said. "It could be a game-time thing where I go out there Sunday and test it and see how it goes."

Cornerback Domonique Foxworth, also coming back from an ankle injury, has been working some in Lynch's free safety spot during practice this week.

Injury report

• Broncos running back Mike Bell (concussion) and Hamza Abdullah (hip) are out for Sunday; tight end Stephen Alexander (calf) was listed as questionable.

• Quarterback Jay Cutler (ankle) got treatment on his sprained left ankle through the week but did not miss any practice time.

• For the Colts, starting left guard Ryan Lilja (knee) and starting left tackle Tony Ugoh (ankle) were among those held out of practice early in the week, but they did take part in work Friday. Tight end Dallas Clark (thigh) did not practice Friday.