Broncos have been remarkably healthy

Vonnie Holliday congratulates Eddie Royal after his punt return touchdown against the Chargers. (REUTERS/Fred Greaves)

We knocked on wood about twelve times during the construction of this article, and recommend you do the same while reading it. But it’s worth noting — these 2009, 6-0 Denver Broncos have been remarkably, remarkably healthy.

(Knock on wood).

The team’s health is remarkable particularly in light of the flight of injuries that plagued the 2008 Broncos. Aside from the seven running backs on the team’s Reserve/Injured list by season’s end, the Broncos’ IR was entering double-digits by about this time last year.

The 2009 Broncos have yet to endure a season-ending injury to a single starter or projected starter. No defensive starter has missed a game due to injury, and no offensive starter has missed more than one game.

(Knock on wood).
Consider the team’s Week 6 Injury Report. Only two players were listed — LB/FB Spencer Larsen (out) and RB Correll Buckhalter (probable).

Indeed, between all the high-flying tackles and hard hits on the football field, the worst injury this team has suffered in 2009 actually took place off it. Larsen’s slip-and-fall in Cincinnati remains the Broncos’ most devastating loss to date. What’s more — many speculate that Larsen could return to action after the team’s Week 7 bye to face the Baltimore Ravens.

Is it possible the Broncos will have a completely empty Injury Report for Week 8?

(Knock on wood).

As a result, the Broncos haven’t executed an NFL transaction since September 10, 2009, when CB Josh Bell and G Matt McChesney were technically released with injury settlements.

Note that September 10th was three days before the start of the regular season at Cincy. No other team in the NFL is yet to execute a transaction since the 2009’s kickoff, and most have undergone several.

What does it mean? 1. Josh McDaniels did a solid job of selecting his 53-man roster (Brett Kern rumors notwithstanding). 2. The Broncos, whether due to improved conditioning, a whole lot of luck (NOTE: this), or a little of both, are fairly immune to the injury bug.

(Knock on wood).

So as the Broncos pause during the bye week, we wonder aloud how this 2009 team — particularly the surprisingly dominant defense — would survive a sudden rash of injuries. The 2006 Denver Broncos also started the season with a dominant defense (leading them to a 7-2 record) that ultimately fell apart after injuries to LB Al Wilson, S John Lynch, and DT Gerard Warren left them vulnerable (among other causes).

Would the 2009 Broncos be able to survive an injury that knocked out defensive captain/stalwart/playmaker/superhero Brian Dawkins for three weeks?

(Knock on wood. Knock on wood. Knock on wood.)

While teams will never use injuries as an excuse, and the Broncos’ start is certainly attributable to a lot more than just the team’s health, one wonders how Broncos squads past would have performed if they had this same phenomenal run of good luck.

We’ve always found this relationship between a team’s health and overall performance fascinating, and one of the lesser-talked about aspects of this game we love. Hopefully injuries will continue to be a non-issue for the 2009 Broncos as they look toward football in January.

(Knock on wood.)