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Broncos report: D.J. Williams satisfied with his return

The Rocky

Published December 14, 2008 at 11:16 p.m.

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Linebacker D.J. Williams, right, joins teammates, from left, Dewayne Robertson (63), Nate Webster (58), Marcus Thomas (79) and Marquand Manuel (33) to bring down Panthers running back Jonathan Stewart in the third quarter Sunday in Charlotte, N.C.

Photo by Joe Mahoney / The Rocky

Linebacker D.J. Williams, right, joins teammates, from left, Dewayne Robertson (63), Nate Webster (58), Marcus Thomas (79) and Marquand Manuel (33) to bring down Panthers running back Jonathan Stewart in the third quarter Sunday in Charlotte, N.C.

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Amid Kansas City's collapse Sunday and Denver's less-than-stellar effort, there was a thin silver lining.

The Broncos got back one of their captains, D.J. Williams, after a five-game absence because of a sprained knee. Williams shuttled in on base downs but did not play in nickel pass coverage, with Jamie Winborn and Wesley Woodyard handling those responsibilities.

"I felt I did all right for the first game back," said Williams, who finished with three solo tackles. "You're always going to be a little rusty, that's just how it is."

Williams had not missed a game in four-plus seasons before he was injured Nov. 2 against Miami.

"It's been very tough," he said. "I was lucky we have talented guys on the team - Wesley Woodyard, Jamie Winborn - they came in and stepped up when I was out and played really well."

Williams added the biggest challenge for him now is to regain full health, which he admitted hasn't occurred yet, and work back into football shape.

"The timing just comes natural," he said.

Close, but . . .

Cornerback Champ Bailey missed his seventh game because of a groin injury he suffered Oct. 20 at New England.

Bailey has practiced on a limited basis in recent weeks and said he was confident he would be able to come back against Kansas City on Dec. 7 but was not deemed ready.

After watching him work out, the Broncos made the same decision Sunday.

"I could kind of tell (Saturday) how it was going to be before the game," Bailey said. "And that's how it turned out. I always try to be optimistic right up until kickoff, but I knew I was going to need some improvement to go. I didn't get it."

The Broncos are 4-3 in the games Bailey has missed.

Carolina's Steve Smith - with 165 yards on nine catches - became the third receiver in those seven games to finish with at least 100 yards. Miami's Greg Camarillo and Atlanta's Roddy White were the others.

No, not again

Broncos right guard Chris Kuper fractured the first metacarpal in his left hand when it got trapped inside the jersey of a Panthers player, but he wasn't sure of the severity of the injury.

Kuper played through training camp this summer with a balky cast on his right hand but isn't sure that gives him any kind of advantage.

"We'll just see what the doctor says," he said.

Kory Lichtensteiger replaced him and yielded one of three Broncos sacks. The Broncos had gone three straight games without one and had entered Sunday having given up only eight sacks all season.

Injury report

* Receiver Brandon Stokley who had been limited last week because of a heel injury, played and caught two passes for 20 yards. It was his 100th pro game.

* Linebacker/fullback Spencer Larsen (groin/hip) was held out of the game.

Switcheroo

The Broncos shook up the safety position.

They started with Woodyard playing strong safety on the opening series. With Williams back, it's a creative way to keep the Broncos' leading tackler during the past month in the lineup.

"We'll use him at that position," coach Mike Shanahan said. "I'm not going to say how many times. But he's got great speed, probably faster than most strong safeties in the National Football League. And we're starting to feel better about coverage from that scheme as well."

At free safety, rookie Josh Barrett made his first pro start. Barrett shadowed Kansas City's Tony Gonzalez the previous week but was used more in a one-high look, where he often was the last line of defense.

"It was a different week for me than last week, but I do feel I'm progressing," he said.

Barrett had his first NFL interception in the third quarter, but no points resulted from the turnover.

No news

Shanahan said he knew about the Chargers' 22-21 victory against the Chiefs after the start of the Broncos game, but his players did not.

The Chargers-Chiefs game didn't end until the Broncos were well into the first quarter of their game.

"I didn't pay attention to all of that," Winborn said.

"Can't worry about something you can't control," Shanahan said. "Play our best football in December, we didn't do that (Sunday)."

The Broncos will clinch the AFC West title with one more win - against Buffalo on Sunday or against the Chargers in the final week of the regular season - or a Chargers loss. San Diego is at Tampa Bay next week.

Another miss

Matt Prater reached 100 points this season with a 43-yard field goal in the first quarter. He's the ninth Broncos player to reach triple-figure scoring in a season.

But Prater missed a 47-yard attempt in the third quarter and is only 4-for-10 from 40 to 49 yards. Worse, he has missed at least one field-goal attempt in six of the past seven games.

"I'm good at keeping it out," Prater said of his mind-set, given the slump. "It won't last forever, missing one a game. So, hopefully, I get another week to get back on track."

Marshall plan

Broncos receiver Brandon Marshall has been limited to five catches or fewer in three of the past four games.

Opponent No. Yds TD

Oakland 4 84 0

N.Y. Jets 5 55 0

Kansas City 11 91 2

Carolina 5 48 0

Etc.

* Shanahan won his first challenge in his past nine tries dating to Sept. 21 when Jay Cutler's apparent fumble on the first series was ruled an incomplete pass. The Broncos completed the drive with a touchdown pass to P.J. Pope.

* Pope's scoring catch was his first NFL reception and touchdown.

* One sign of the Broncos' issues Sunday: Their top three tacklers played in the secondary. Josh Bell (nine), Barrett (five) and Dre Bly (five) combined for 19 of the credited 47 stops.

* Broncos rookie left tackle Ryan Clady held Julius Peppers, a three-time Pro Bowl selection, without a sack. Clady, who had some help from tight end Daniel Graham on only a few plays, did grab Peppers once to try to keep him away from Cutler, but was not flagged. Clady has surrendered only half a sack this season.

But Cutler was sacked three times in the game, the first time this season he was sacked more than twice in a game.

* Carolina team owner Jerry Richardson attended the game, his first public appearance since being told last week he needs a heart transplant.

Numbers game

5times this season Cutler has thrown for 204 yards or fewer. The Broncos have lost four of those games.

He said it

"Luckily for us, we have another chance. But we need to play well at home next week. . . . It's a must win for us. . . . Time is running out and we don't want to go into the last game with the Chargers or waiting on those guys to lose."

Dre Bly, Broncos cornerback, on Sunday's game against Buffalo.

He said it II

"One of those fluke plays. It happens. We really killed it front side, he just made a play. A fast guy, it's hard to catch a guy like that."

Winborn, on DeAngelo Williams' 56-yard touchdown run.

Young guns

Josh Barrett became the eighth Broncos rookie to start a game this season.

Player, position Draft pick

Ryan Clady, OT First round

Eddie Royal, WR Second round

Wesley Woodyard, LB Free agent

Peyton Hillis, FB Seventh round

Josh Bell, CB Free agent

Spencer Larsen, FB/LB Sixth round

Josh Barrett, S Seventh round

Ryan Torain, RB Fifth round

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