Long wait nearly over for Broncos' Torain

Rookie back hopes to bring 'big plays, excitement' to team

By Jeff Legwold, Rocky Mountain News (Contact)

Published October 28, 2008 at 6:25 p.m.

Text size  

• 16 Comments
• Email
• Print

Ken Papaleo / The Rocky/Ken Papaleo / The Rocky

Broncos rookie running back Ryan Torain has not played in a football game since Oct. 13, 2007, when he was with Arizona State against Washington. He injured his left foot in that game, then, before the preseason this year with the Broncos, he suffered a left elbow injury that required surgery. Torain is expected to play Sunday against the Miami Dolphins at Invesco Field at Mile High.

Broncos quick links

Drew on the NFL

Scores and statistics

• Broncos statistics
• Broncos schedule
• Broncos roster
• Broncos depth chart
• NFL scoreboard
• AFC standings
• NFC standings

Broncos inbox

• Submit a question for Jeff Legwold's inbox and look for the answer each Wednesday morning in the Broncos 24/7 blog.

Time marches on. Not run, not jog, lope or skip.

March.

"I know, I know, it feels like forever," Broncos rookie running back Ryan Torain said. "It hasn't gone fast. I've thought about it every day. If you play football you want to play. It's no fun to wait to play."

If Torain gets the first game action of his NFL career Sunday against the Miami Dolphins (2:05 p.m., CBS 4), it will have been 386 days since he left the field of Arizona State's Sun Devil Stadium in the first quarter of a game against Washington because "somebody just stepped on my foot."

That was the last time Torain carried a football in a game.

And when all the tests were done, Torain was told he had suffered a Lisfranc injury to his left foot - an injury to the arch where the small bones at midfoot can be dislocated or fractured. For a senior running back hoping for an NFL career, it can be devastating news.

"I didn't think it was that big a thing at first," Torain said. "But a lot's happened since then."

He opted for a relatively new surgical procedure, performed by an orthopedist affiliated with the Phoenix Suns. It required only one surgery, instead of the usual two for Torain's type of injury, and buttons were used instead of screws to repair the ligaments in his foot.

It all meant Torain healed quickly enough to participate in the scouting combine in February. And when the Broncos started training camp, he was on the field and steadily moving up the depth chart - coach Mike Shanahan publicly had compared some of his work to Terrell Davis' - when misfortune intervened again.

During a run-game drill, he was flipped at the end of a run, suffering a fracture near his left elbow as he tried to break his fall as well as some ligament damage.

But the Broncos kept him on the 53-man roster because they believed, despite the need for surgery, he could return with a little more than half a season remaining and have some impact.

After practicing full time in the week leading to the Patriots game, Torain believes he finally is poised to play at least some against the Dolphins.

"I thought about coming back every day," Torain said. "I'm ready to get back out there. I'm ready to play a game. I haven't played one in the National Football League, and I'm excited to see what happens. It was my motivation: Nobody wants to sit on the sidelines; that's what I used to push myself."

At 6-foot-1, 225 pounds and having run the 40-yard dash in 4.51 seconds in his on-campus workout in the spring, Torain is the best power/speed option in the Broncos backfield.

Quarterback Jay Cutler said it would be difficult for defenses to adjust quickly because they have no video of Torain in the team's offense because he did not play even in the preseason.

"He's going to bring some excitement," Cutler said.

"He's a load," Broncos defensive end Ebenezer Ekuban said. "People can expect brute force and speed. He looks big and you think he's just a north-south guy, but he has elusiveness, too, and I think he's coming in at a good time."

Selvin Young, the Broncos' leading rusher last season, has missed the past two games because of a groin injury, while Michael Pittman, who started the past two games, is working through neck and rib injuries.

The Broncos haven't scored a rushing touchdown in the past four games and currently are 12th in the league in rushing; they haven't finished out of the top 10 since 1999.

"He's still a rookie, still has some learning to do," Ekuban said. "It might be four games in before he feels comfortable all the way, gets his durability right. But the sky's the limit for him."

"Hopefully, I bring some big plays, excitement," Torain said. "I just want to have a good time out there. Football is all about having fun and winning, so that's what I want to bring to the team. I don't feel pressure.

"You just got to come in there and play, play my game, and when it comes, I know I'm going to have a lot of adrenaline, a lot of excitement."

ETC.: Tight end Shannon Sharpe was one of seven former Broncos on the preliminary list of 133 players to be considered for enshrinement in the Pro Football Hall of Fame's Class of 2009. Also on the ballot are Terrell Davis, who twice has been among the final 25 players considered, cornerback Louis Wright, linebacker Karl Mecklenburg, safety Steve Atwater, linebacker Tom Jackson and former coach Dan Reeves. . . . The Broncos worked out six defensive players Tuesday at their Dove Valley complex, including five linebackers. Linebacker Mario Haggan, who spent five years with the Buffalo Bills, and linebacker Teddy Lehman, a second-round pick by the Detroit Lions in 2004, were among the group. Also in were linebackers Marcus Riley, Tyson Smith and Rod Wilson. Defensive tackle Matthias Askew, a fourth- round pick by the Cincinnati Bengals in 2004, was worked out.

Click here to read more about Ryan Torain in the Broncos 24/7 blog.

• October 28, 2008

  8:52 p.m.

  Suggest removal

  Hillandale writes:

  Like Boss Bailey, one of the chief concerns with Torain was his durability. Hopefully, Torain will fare better than Boss.

• October 28, 2008

  10:05 p.m.

  Suggest removal

  Dynamicdave writes:

  Hillandale, agreed. I will hope that he is and I always look to the positive. I never wish injury on any player so I hope he has a productive career from here on out. I saw him play at ASU and he was very good. With Denvers offense, he would be perfect.

• October 28, 2008

  10:11 p.m.

  Suggest removal

  aragornzxl writes:

  let's hope he can live up to the hype this year or else Im gonna be bummed about the dozens of article I've read about him in the last week.

• October 29, 2008

  7:51 a.m.

  Suggest removal

  bronc4evah writes:

  Let's give the guy a few games before we start the critique on him. No preseason or regular games along with recovering from a serious injury means we really won't know what he is capable of until December. His attitude is great and I am pulling for him to do well initially to get his confidence secure.

• October 29, 2008

  8:29 a.m.

  Suggest removal

  dehag24 writes:

  I'm just hoping that he can become a feature back that our Offense is missing (either this year or next)our other RB's are for the most part roll players....Pittman great short yardage back, Young perfect change of pace guy. Hall is still in the doghouse with me!!!

  I did see him play in a couple of games and he is a gamer...runs extremely hard, and like TD he punishes people at the end of a run and falls forward.

• October 29, 2008

  9:05 a.m.

  Suggest removal

  kmeissner writes:

  I can't wait to hear the reaction from the home crowd if he plays this week! I'd like to see him get a big play to get his confidence up early... As soon as he's back in form, they need to cut Hall. Or move him to FB. Everytime he touches the ball he fumbles lately.

• October 29, 2008

  11:09 a.m.

  Suggest removal

  FatTony writes:

  I'm looking forward to his presence in the backfield. Eventhough we came in with a "high-powered" offense, what we excel at is the running game & controlling the clock. If we control the clock, we minimize the amount of time our defense is out on the field...therefore increase our chances of winning the ball game. Yes, I understand we've had to pass more to mix it up and not let teams stack the front line, but this is the time to shove it down their throats...and Torain is hopefully the back to do it.

  Send Andre Hall to the showers. Those 2 fumbles last game were killers...

• October 29, 2008

  11:23 a.m.

  Suggest removal

  Broncody writes:

  Get out there young fella and show your stuff. Make Broncoland proud. I think he will do great in the future and if he doesn't play well on sunday its because of rust. I really believe that given the chance he is gonna get, though, he is going to be very good.

• October 29, 2008

  11:48 a.m.

  Suggest removal

  TONE writes:

  If he lives up to the hype his name would be perfect...Torain(Tourane). It would be his land to run on...

  I'm excited and nervous at the same time, but I'm not too worry about the offense side of the deal. It's the D that still has me worry.

• October 29, 2008

  11:55 a.m.

  Suggest removal

  panthers528 writes:

  Watch out for this guy! He has the perfect combination of speed and power to be Denver's #1 back for years to come. Shanahan even compared him to Terrell Davis. I'm only expecting 7-10 carries in his first game with maybe a surprise touchdown, but after that he'll overtake the starting job. I watched him alot at Arizona State and trust me there is nothing this kid can't do on the field. HERE COMES THE TRAIN!!!!!

• October 29, 2008

  12:31 p.m.

  Suggest removal

  dilligaf writes:

  Every thing that I have read about this guy is that he "could" and again I just said could be another Terrell Davis. Boy would that be nice. He was slotted to start before he got hurt.

• October 29, 2008

  4:59 p.m.

  Suggest removal

  tonyfromjersey writes:

  Guys, take it easy. Lets see him play first. If Cutler has another bad game it wont matter. If the offense can get untracked they have a chance, but the defense is completely shot this year. The only way they win is score 30+ points.

  I say if Cutler cant move the offense we are toast

• October 29, 2008

  6:52 p.m.

  Suggest removal

  incognitoboy writes:

  TONE -

  don't you mean 'terrain' when speaking of 'land to run on'?

  from infoplease:
  ter•rain
  Pronunciation: (tu-rān'), [key]
  —n.
  1. a tract of land, esp. as considered with reference to its natural features, military advantages, etc.

  what exactly IS a 'tourane'?

  Tou•rane

  Pronunciation: (too-rän'), [key]
  —n.
  former name of Danang. (no other definitions found)

  either way, it'll be nice to see if he lives up to shanahan's faith in keeping him on the roster.....

• October 30, 2008

  1:22 a.m.

  Suggest removal

  Dynamicdave writes:

  Incognitoboy, come on now, play nice, ha, ha. Anyways, I think Torrain will be great. Don't know how much they'll use him in his 1st game, but I think he will be a huge help the rest of the season. Too bad we don't have Alridge, as well.

• October 30, 2008

  9:09 a.m.

  Suggest removal

  Brain writes:

  I put Torain on one of my fantasy teams; I have faith he will come through this game if he gets the carries; I think he will.
  GO BRONCOS!

• October 30, 2008

  3:50 p.m.

  Suggest removal

  Dynamicdave writes:

  Brain, hopefully he will get a lot of playing time. It's hard to think that they will over-do-it, though. He needs to get in "football condition", you would think, 1st? But, if he does well, would you want him out of the game? Probably not. I say, "have one helluva game, Ryan". I'm excited to see how our offense performs, now that they are healthy. Hope you do well, Brain, on your fantasy picks.

Featured

• DNC in Denver

  

  Complete coverage of the 2008 Democratic National Convention.

• The Crevasse

  

  A five-part series that examines one tragic day on Mount Rainier.

• Deadly denial

  

  Sick nuclear workers applied for government compensation but most haven't seen a dime.

• Final Salute

  

  The Rocky followed Maj. Steve Beck as he took on the most difficult duty of his career.

• 'Colorado's burning'

  

  Coverage of the state's worst wildfires.

• Columbine shootings

  

  Coverage of the April 20, 1999, shootings at Littleton's Columbine High School.

• The Crossing

  

  Colorado's deadliest traffic accident killed 20 children on Dec. 14, 1961.

• Osveli's journey

  

  Osveli Sales left Guatemala for a better life. Two months later, he came home in a box.

• Wake for an Indian warrior

  

  Oglala Sioux bestow a tribute to the first tribal fatality in Iraq.