Broncos report

By Lee Rasizer, Rocky Mountain News (Contact)

Published November 23, 2007 at 12:45 a.m.

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Photo by David Zalubowski © Associated Press

Brandon Stokley was worried his body couldn't take a beating this year, but he says he's fine.

Brian Urlacher and the Bears have been surprisingly inconsistent on defense.

Photo by David Zalubowski © Associated Press

Brandon Stokley was worried his body couldn't take a beating this year, but he says he's fine.

Bell works on patience

Mike Bell has learned more than just a new position this year at fullback.

He has discovered patience.

Bell, the surprise starter at tailback last year as an undrafted free agent, mostly has been missing in action through the first 10 games in Year 2.

Six straight inactives finally were followed by a stint on special teams for the Broncos on Monday.

The reduced role has been a considerable adjustment.

"I try not to think negative, because the coaching staff has been good to me in the past," said Bell, who scored eight touchdowns as a rookie but has only five offensive touches this season. "And I don't think they necessarily feel negative about me. Right now, I just think it's not the right time. And I'm not saying there never will be a right time for me. I'm hoping it's soon."

Bell could get an opportunity to reappear in the backfield as soon as Sunday in Chicago.

Selvin Young and Travis Henry both have missed two straight days of practice because of knee issues, setting up the possibility that Bell could get carries as Andre Hall's backup.

Bell described his season to date as "tough" and his summer position switch "a shock."

But he also feels he has grown professionally since he now knows two positions.

And the experience has helped personally, too.

"It's making me a stronger person knowing that just because things don't roll in your direction doesn't mean you have to be down in the dumps," he said.

New old face

The uncertainty in Denver's backfield prompted the return of a familiar face Thursday to Dove Valley - fullback Kyle Johnson.

The Broncos might need an extra blocker and special-teams contributor behind Cecil Sapp, given fullback Paul Smith's uncertain status with a calf problem and the potential of Bell switching to tailback this weekend. Johnson replaced guard Isaac Snell on the roster.

He started 24 games for the Broncos during the past three seasons before his release Sept. 1.

Johnson has been working out near his New Jersey home but will need at least a couple of days to reacclimate to NFL life if he figures to contribute Sunday.

"What I would have to do is study the playbook throughout the week and feel like I have a certain understanding of it to be able to function in a high-speed, high-stress environment," Johnson said after the team practiced indoors at the Family Fun Center in Centennial.

"I'm not there now, but I would hope to be there by Saturday evening."

Succeeding at first

Brandon Stokley has become a chain smoker.

A whopping 87.1 of the Broncos receiver's 31 catches have resulted in first downs.

"I take pride in that, especially since early in the year a lot of times I was just in on third downs," he said.

Stokley has started the past seven games because of Javon Walker's knee troubles.

He said this week that he was unsure if he could physically take the increased pounding. He entered the season coming off a surgical repair of his ruptured right Achilles' that he suffered last December. He had been fine in his usual role in the slot before Walker's situation pressed the issue.

"I didn't know if my body could take that," said Stokley, whose 17 catches for a 16.8 average on third down rank tied for seventh in the NFL. "But I'm feeling good and having a lot of fun. No problems at all."

Super Bowl hangover

One of the biggest reasons for the Bears' downturn so far has been the maddening inconsistency of their defense.

The group ranked fifth overall last season on its way to a Super Bowl but has dipped to 22nd this year after giving up 425 yards last week against Seattle.

Chicago allowed 30 points or more only three times in the past two years but has yielded totals of 34, 37, 34 and 30 this season.

"We haven't played as well, and that's a simple statement," Bears coach Lovie Smith said. "We play defense based on being able to get takeaways, and that sets up a lot of things for us. We haven't been able to take the football away a lot. We've given up a couple big rushing days. We just haven't played good overall defense."

Chicago had 44 takeaways last season but has only 17 through 10 games this season. The Bears only have one interception in the past five games, while allowing three 300-yard individual passing performances overall, including Matt Hasselbeck's on Sunday.

Minnesota's Adrian Peterson (224), Detroit's Kevin Jones (105) and Dallas' Marion Barber (102) all have reached triple-digit yardage on the ground against Chicago, which lost safety Mike Brown, defensive tackle Dusty Dvoracek and cornerback Nathan Vasher.

Those absences left a leadership void.

"We haven't really recovered," Smith said.

Injury report

* Young sat out practice a second straight day because of a bone bruise in his right leg. He'll try to practice today.

* Coach Mike Shanahan described Henry as "still sore," adding that the running back did some light jogging. Henry is recovering from a partially torn left posterior cruciate ligament.

* After two days of full workouts, Walker (right knee surgery) appears ready to rejoin the active roster after seven straight games off.

* Wide receiver/punt returner Glenn Martinez returned to practice after missing Wednesday because of an ankle sprain.

* Chicago receiver Bernard Berrian (toe) and cornerback Nathan Vasher (groin) both missed their second straight practices, and defensive tackle Tommie Harris (knee) was a limited participant.

He said it

"I've seen a lot of kicks. And that other stuff, to me, that's playing scared. Kicking the ball out of bounds 30 yards, I think that's just stupid. . . . My whole game plan is to get as much air under it as a I can, of course. But we're going to play."

Todd Sauerbrun, Broncos punter/kickoff specialist, on the varied approaches taken by opponents when facing dangerous Bears returner Devin Hester.

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