Wednesday's Broncos report

Jeff Legwold, Rocky Mountain News

Thursday, October 4, 2007

Unhappy returns

With a seven-time Pro Bowl cornerback already playing on kickoff coverage for the Broncos in Champ Bailey, another Pro Bowl cornerback wants to join the fray.

Dré Bly, who has been named to two Pro Bowls in his career and also returned punts for two previous teams, is hoping for another chance.

"I always go out there before the game and catch punts so if I get the nod, it's no big deal to me," Bly said. "I've done it since high school and I can catch the ball. You try to give the offense some room, make good decisions and go from there. . . . If I do it, I'll be ready to go."

The Broncos have openings in both of their return spots - kickoff and punt - since the team waived Domenik Hixon on Tuesday. Hixon was the only player to be used as a returner in the Broncos' first four games. Despite a history as a quality returner in his career at Akron, he struggled to consistently handle the ball or find his rhythm.

He averaged 22.8 yards on his 12 kickoff returns and 4.6 on his seven punt returns. The Broncos are last in the league in average drive starts after receiving kickoffs - the 21.5-yard line.

Bly has returned 21 punts in his NFL career - for Detroit and St. Louis - to go with 18 kickoffs. But with one starting cornerback already playing on special teams, the prospect of another might not be all that attractive to the Broncos, even in their current situation.

"I was already the backup; if Hixon went down in the game, I was going to be guy in there," Bly said.

Receiver Glenn Martinez and receiver Brian Clark, who was re-signed after Hixon's release, also have fielded punts in practice.

Clark and running back Andre Hall are among those who could return kickoffs as well.

"I would love to take a swing at that, have the responsibility," Hall said. "I would go out and give my all for them. I'll try to make it happen if I get the chance, whatever I have to do to stay around here."

Uncomfortably numb

Broncos kicker Jason Elam is taking medication this week in an attempt to get all of the feeling back in his right (kicking) leg.

Elam said his leg first tingled and "then I could hit it and didn't feel anything," after a first-quarter extra-point attempt Sunday in Indianapolis that gave the Broncos a 10-0 lead.

"I don't think it's a big deal, but the doctor thought there was a chance it was a nerve-related deal," Elam said. "They gave me some medicine to calm that nerve. My whole right leg - I couldn't feel it; I could hit it and I couldn't feel it."

Elam went on to kick a 22-yard field goal and another extra point in the game, but he spent some time in the training room after the loss and has been getting treatment as well at the Broncos complex this week.

He said the team's medical staff indicated it might an issue with his obturator nerve, which runs near the pelvis.

"I'm very optimistic about the whole thing," Elam said. "I feel like I should be ready."

Feeling better

Broncos safety John Lynch, who was held out of the loss at Indianapolis because of a groin injury, took part in most of Wednesday's practice and hopes he will be able to play against the Chargers.

"I felt great," Lynch said. "I didn't have a setback. I'm just excited to get back in there."

Lynch had plenty of treatment last week - "I've been living here," he said - and will continue the regimen this week.

Injury report

• Running back Travis Henry (right knee, right ankle) was held out of practice and could also be held out today if he doesn't improve. The Broncos are hoping he can test the leg in this afternoon's workout.

Henry had magnetic resonance imaging exams on the knee and ankle earlier this week, and Broncos coach Mike Shanahan said they were negative.

"He's sore," Shanahan said. "We'll see how he is as we go through the week."

• Receiver Javon Walker, who has had some fluid buildup on the back of his right knee, also was held out of practice.

• As has been customary, defensive tackle Sam Adams was held out of Wednesday's practice.

Etc.

• The Broncos were planning to sign Hixon to their practice squad, but he had to clear waivers first. He did not as the New York Giants claimed him and added him to their 53-man roster. The Giants were the only team to put in a claim for Hixon.

• The Broncos did sign receiver Marquay McDaniel to the practice squad. The team had released McDaniel in training camp. With the Giants having claimed Hixon, the Broncos still have a spot open on their eight-man practice squad, which would allow them to move an eligible player there later this week if they want to activate defensive end/tackle Kenny Peterson for Sunday's game. Peterson just returned from a four-game suspension and the Broncos have a roster exemption for him this week, but they must move him to the roster if they wish to put him in the lineup against the Chargers.

• Former Broncos defensive tackle Jimmy Kennedy worked out for the Cincinnati Bengals.

He said it

"We have to trust each other and just do what we're supposed to do instead of trying to do somebody else's job."

D.J. Williams, Broncos linebacker, on how the team can improve its play on defense.

Marty-ball

Broncos coach Mike Shanahan has had slightly better results against the Chargers in his Broncos tenure when Marty Schottenheimer isn't the coach. Norv Turner is in his first season in San Diego as Schottenheimer's replacement.

With Schottenheimer

Date   Result

Oct. 6, 2002   Broncos 26-9

Dec. 1, 2002   Chargers 30-27

Sept. 14, 2003   Broncos 37-13

Nov. 16, 2003   Broncos 37-8

Sept. 26, 2004   Broncos 23-13

Dec. 5, 2004   Chargers 20-17

Sept. 18, 2005   Broncos 20-17

Dec. 31, 2005   Broncos 23-7

Nov. 19, 2006   Chargers 35-27

Dec. 10, 2006   Chargers 48-20

Record   6-4 (.600)

Without Schottenheimer

Date   Result

Sept. 24, 1995   Chargers 17-6

Nov. 19, 1995   Broncos 30-27

Oct. 6, 1996   Broncos 28-17

Dec. 22, 1996   Chargers 16-10

Nov. 30, 1997   Broncos 38-28

Dec. 21, 1997   Broncos 38-3

Nov. 8, 1998   Broncos 27-10

Nov. 29, 1998   Broncos 31-16

Nov. 7, 1999   Broncos 33-17

Jan. 2, 2000   Chargers 12-6

Oct. 8, 2000   Broncos 21-7

Nov. 19, 2000   Broncos 38-37

Oct. 21, 2001   Chargers 27-10

Nov. 11, 201   Broncos 26-16

Record   10-4 (.714)