Broncos' Moss, Smith out for season

Lee Rasizer, Rocky Mountain News

Thursday, November 1, 2007

ENGLEWOOD — Injuries in the NFL always are an X-factor. Right now, all the Broncos can do is ask why.

Rookie first-round pick Jarvis Moss broke his right fibula and tore ligaments in his right ankle in a practice mishap, ending the defensive end's season Thursday.

Veteran receiver Rod Smith, whose potential return from serious left hip surgery was an inspiration to teammates, also will be shut down, cutting short his comeback bid. His future is officially in doubt.

The double dose of bad news comes on the heels of other season-ending tales: guard Ben Hamilton, end Ebenezer Ekuban, center Tom Nalen and tight end Stephen Alexander, along with receiver Javon Walker's potential six-week absence because of right knee surgery.

"I don't know if it's bad karma coming around to everybody or what," safety Nick Ferguson said. "But it's sad that this is happening."

Among starters on the preseason depth chart, the Broncos collectively have missed 25 games. And with Walker the only possibility to return before season's end, that number will swell to at least 61, more than any other season in the past five years. That total includes Smith's expected contribution but not Moss, who started once but mainly played a key reserve role.

Moss apparently went down after engaging with a blocker, then tripping and getting his foot caught in the grass during a nine-on-seven drill. His recovery time is expected to be three to four months.

Last week, he had talked about his first pro season not going as anticipated but spoke of confidence in his growth during the next couple of months. The Broncos could look at former linemen Kenny Peterson, who worked out in Oakland this week, or Kenard Lang as replacements because they know the system.

"It's a huge loss to the team," middle linebacker D.J. Williams said. "We were able to use his athletic ability in a number of different packages. . . . Hopefully, he'll come back soon."

Moss also has endured a painful pelvic injury that nearly derailed his college career.

"He's building. He's growing. He'll be a bright player in this league," defensive end Simeon Rice said. "It's just unfortunate."

Smith returned to practice last week and the team had three weeks to decide whether to promote him to the active roster. But persistent soreness prompted a doctor's visit and it was apparent he wouldn't be back to full speed by the Nov. 14 decision date.

Smith declined comment.

The club will continue to gauge Smith's progress and "see where it's at at the end of the season," coach Mike Shanahan said.

"He's a warrior," Shanahan added. "If he can't get it back, that means there's something seriously wrong."

Broncos reportTurnover watch

The game within the game Sunday figures to be playing keep-away.

Broncos quarterback Jay Cutler is coming off only his second pro game without an interception.

He'll need to be on point again against a Detroit Lions defense that leads the NFL in takeaways (20) and interceptions (13).

"They have a pretty active front seven," Broncos tight end Daniel Graham said. "And they cause a lot of destruction for offenses."

The Broncos are plus-2 in takeaway-giveaway margin in its three wins; minus-7 in their four losses.

"Obviously, they've happened," Cutler said of ball security issues and his interceptions in particular this season. "I didn't throw one this past Monday, which was good, and I'll try (not to throw one) again. But I'm still learning. I'm still getting confused out there by some defenses. They're tricking me, making me throw into some coverages. It's a learning process."

The Lions defensive line has aided Detroit's secondary by forcing opposing quarterbacks to get rid of the ball early and its back seven is fast and aggressive with a penchant for stripping the ball.

Nine Lions defenders have interceptions. And seven players have caused fumbles.

Starting in his first full season, Cutler has eight interceptions and eight touchdowns passes.

"But overall, he's going to the right places," assistant head coach/offense Mike Heimerdinger said. "He's handled pressure good, slid in the pocket well when he's had a chance to slide or pulled it down and run. Sometimes you forget that he's only played 12 games now. I'll get upset and have to remind myself . . . that that's going to happen."

Henry ready

Running back Travis Henry went full bore at practice Thursday and his injured rib cage has calmed down to the point where he has pronounced himself fit for his return after a one-game absence.

"It's calming down," he said. "I took the majority of the reps. They really wanted to work me to get back into the groove because I was rusty. It's amazing you can lose something like that so fast. But I did really well with my reads, everything. I'll be going Sunday, no doubt."

On the upswing?

The sample size is small, two games to be exact.

But maybe the Broncos special teams are beginning to turn the corner and finally adjust to Scott O'Brien's schemes.

The past two weeks have provided encouragement where the first five games decidedly were subpar.

"I think confidence comes from being able to react," long snapper Mike Leach said. "You're able to cut it loose when you're not thinking about things. It frees you up mentally to just make plays. And I think you're seeing more of that."

Linebacker Jamie Winborn set the tone with a big hit on Pittsburgh's Allen Rossum on Oct. 21 and the kickoff coverage since has stabilized, with the roster addition of special- teams ace Jordan Beck providing an impact, too.

Andre Hall added a spark against Green Bay in coverage and returning kicks. And Glenn Martinez had a season-best 26-yard punt return against the Packers.

Add in the reliability of kicker Jason Elam in the clutch and Todd Sauerbrun's 48.1-yard gross punting average since the bye, and an argument could be made special teams have been the most consistent group the past two games over the offense and defense.

"I just think it's the experience," said O'Brien, in his first year with the Broncos. "Looking at the mistakes, going out and correcting them and doing better on technique, things like that. I think they've always bought in. It's been more wait and see what happens instead of making it happen."

'Uplifting' word

John Lynch's head is back in the game.

A magnetic resonance imaging exam on Lynch's neck showed no structural damage for the Broncos safety, who left Monday's game with a stinger. The results, interpreted by specialist Dr. Robert Watkins in Los Angeles and apparently confirmed by team physicians, evidently eased fears that his immediate and long-term future might be in doubt.

"It's uplifting," he said.

Lynch had neck surgery after the 2003 season.

"It didn't look good because my neck's not a pretty picture," Lynch said about the MRI results. "But from where it was after my surgery, nothing's changed there. It's a matter of the symptoms getting better. And they are. So everything's positive. More than anything, everybody can put their mind at ease as far as anything being wrong with my neck. It's a stinger, which happens in football sometimes."

The inflammation of Lynch's nerves has subsided and strength is returning, he added.

Lynch had limited participation in practice after sitting out the first workout for the Lions game. He was "very hopeful" he'd be in uniform Sunday.

He said it

"I'm trying to handle that. I've had a lot of contact with some people I haven't heard from in a while on tickets."

Tony Scheffler, Broncos tight end, who attended Chelsea (Mich.) High School and Western Michigan, on his homecoming this weekend.