Foot injury appears to hamper Scheffler

Tight end sidelined at quarterback camp

By Lee Rasizer, Rocky Mountain News (Contact)

Wednesday, May 21, 2008

Scheffler, center, was injured nearly a year ago.

Perhaps those reservations to Atlanta early next offseason for workouts need to be canceled.

Turns out, it's just bad luck.

Quarterback Jay Cutler discovered he has Type 1 diabetes after conditioning sessions there in February and early March with two prominent Broncos teammates. Receiver Brandon Marshall went on to slash his forearm on a subsequent vacation.

And now, tight end Tony Scheffler is sidelined indefinitely because of an apparent issue with the same left foot he had surgically repaired last May.

Scheffler has been conspicuous in his absence the past two days of quarterback camp, failing to appear during either the open-media period at the beginning of practice or the post- workout availability time.

Coach Mike Shanahan didn't address the media the past two days, but he will today.

Scheffler and his agent, Bus Cook, didn't return phone messages.

Scheffler's inactivity comes almost a year to the day after he was first injured during a seven-on-seven drill, breaking the fifth metatarsal, which runs from the midfoot to the base of the little toe, in passing camp. A screw was surgically inserted to stabilize the area.

But while Scheffler returned during training camp, he had issues with the foot throughout the early season, affecting his ability to push off and gain separation from defenders and giving him problems cutting.

He finished strong, with all five of his touchdowns coming from mid-October on. In late March, Scheffler spoke about the importance of building on that fast finish, given full health.

"I've been continuing to keep maintenance on the foot," Scheffler said at the time. "It's still in a little bit of pain, but it's something that's going to be gone by the time the season rolls around."

Scheffler added then he anticipated the full recovery period to feel 100 percent was about a year and a half, according to the information he had gleaned from teammate Patrick Ramsey, who had endured a similar injury.

In addition to Scheffler, the Broncos already were missing running back Travis Henry this week with a hamstring strain, though he's expected to return Tuesday, and Marshall.

The only other absentee from Wednesday's workout was defensive tackle Dewayne Robertson for unspecified reasons.

COLLISION COURSE: Selvin Young is out to change perceptions.

Though a valuable cog at running back last season and a part-time starter in 2007 in Travis Henry's absence, Young was dubbed early this offseason by coach Mike Shanahan not as a workhorse option but more of a change-of-pace option who can touch the ball 15 to 20 times.

Those words were ringing in Young's head as he went through his preparation for organized team activities.

"Of course, that's motivating," said Young, who has been taking the first- team carries this week with Henry nursing a hamstring strain. "That's been motivating me ever since I played football. I've always been one of those guys where, at the beginning, they'd pick me last until I took off running, and then people started to want me out there."

Young's workouts the past several months, which emphasized shoulders and legs, have resulted in an added 5 pounds of muscle. He said he has also been running "with a little more urgency" to prove he can ultimately be a fourth-quarter weapon.

The second-year player noted he took Shanahan's words more as a nudge to become a better between-the-tackles performer and to "push myself to carry the load" without limitations.

"I feel I have the ability, common sense and strength to do every single thing a running back is asked to do on the football field," Young said.

EARLY LINE: The Broncos are aligning Erik Pears at left tackle this week with rookie first-round pick Ryan Clady.

Pears was the full-time starter on the right side last season but filled in for 10 games for Matt Lepsis in 2006 to protect the quarterback's blind side.

"I feel like I'm pretty comfortable there. It's always a little rough when you first get back over there, but a day in and you feel right back at home," he said.

That leaves Ryan Harris and Chris Kuper, a converted guard, as the primary combatants at this early juncture at right tackle. Pears also easily could slide back there, if needed, in the long run.

"There's a ton of good guys and competition for the tackle spots and wherever I am, I'm trying to fit in," he said.

WOUNDED ARE WALKING: Defensive ends Ebenezer Ekuban (ruptured right Achilles' tendon) and Jarvis Moss (broken right ankle) have been full participants after rigorous rehabilitations during the past several months.

Both joined the offseason conditioning program fully in late March after a lag of several weeks.

" 'Greek' told me a long time ago I'm OK and just go," Moss said, referring to head athletic trainer Steve Antonopulos. "He was right. I trusted him, and it's real strong."

• May 21, 2008

  9:13 p.m.

  Suggest removal

  ES writes:

  Maybe its time the Broncos look at changing their physical trainers and physical therapy regiment. The doctors are not getting the players healthy again. This has been going on for 4 years. Some accountability should be made on those contractors.

  I really was not surprised that Travis Henry is out. I'm not sure he has the character for the game. He may just be a quitter.

• May 22, 2008

  2:38 a.m.

  Suggest removal

  ManginoTorreta writes:

  Agreed that it might be time to make changes in the workout regimens and schedules. While incidents like Marshall's and Cutler's are either dumb luck or bad luck, respectively, the number of injuries the team has had the last few years is disturbing, and it's wreaked havoc with the quality of performance on the field. Watching their health more closely isn't going to work--professional athletes are scrutinized for health issues like rats in a lab experiment.

• May 22, 2008

  7:44 a.m.

  Suggest removal

  rockiefan888 writes:

  I'm no health science wizard, but I wonder if this off-season conditioning is double edge sword for the league. First of all the players are way to strong and big for their frames. They are running so fast and cutting so quickly something has to give. Furthermore, the faster they run the harder they stop when they meet the other guy. Secondly, I'm not sure that they are giving their bodies enough time to heal and recover from the previous season. As soon as they are able to run, they are out pushing their bodies at the ultimate level. All of this leads to more and more injuries.

  However, I have no sympathy for them. They have chosen to sacrifice their personal well-being for the game and are compensated very well for their troubles. They get hurt and are just discarded for the next guy that is willing to knock skulls.

• May 22, 2008

  8 a.m.

  Suggest removal

  myerda00 writes:

  All teams have injury issues, we just look at ours as being worse.
  If Greek had Tony resting foot until OTA, then why work out in Atlanta (dumb).
  Here is our luck; a child accident, another hammy, a diabetic, and a degenerative foot. GREAT.
  Lets pray the walking wounded come back strong.

• May 22, 2008

  9:01 a.m.

  Suggest removal

  ham writes:

  I think Selvin is the real deal, but we'll see.
  How far down the depth chart is Mike Bell, the one-time heir apparent to the Denver Running Back factory?

• May 22, 2008

  10:17 a.m.

  Suggest removal

  Ashley writes:

  Not a great way to begin the year, is it? That's an interesting suggestion about changing up the training staff, but I think rockiefan's comment is probably more relevant: these guys are just expecting too much out of their bodies.

• May 22, 2008

  10:18 a.m.

  Suggest removal

  markregan writes:

  "First of all the players are way to strong and big for their frames."

  This describes Scheffler exactly. I had high hopes for him initially, but after watching him play he appears to be a pumped up 200-220 pounder with straight-line speed and too much weight for his frame. He is fast, but not all that agile or athletic.

  I'm afraid injuries may be his regular companion...

• May 22, 2008

  11:16 a.m.

  Suggest removal

  Coltgm writes:

  Injuries are part of the game always will be. Preparation and conditioning help prevent these injuries. Can you imagine what would happen if everyone reported out of shape and unprepared?

• May 22, 2008

  11:28 a.m.

  Suggest removal

  wellthen writes:

  Are you sure it's the same left foot that he injured last year?

• May 22, 2008

  5:25 p.m.

  Suggest removal

  AKuser writes:

  Good to see Pears back on left side he was far more effective over there than on the right. Should be a good backup for the rook and Kuper and Harris cannot be any worse than Pears was on the right. If one of them can reach the status of average right tackle the o-line will be greatly improved.
  Injuries are a concern but too early to be real worried about them. Hopefully they get healed up. Keep in mind this time last year Al Wilson's Denver career was officially finished and Darrent had been murdered. I'll take this years batch over last years so far.