Denver Broncos running back Knowshon Moreno will participate in practice Thursday, CBSSports.com reports. Moreno missed practice Wednesday and said he didn’t know his availability for Sunday.

“I’ve been doing some things to test it out here and there but nothing full-go yet, so we’ll see,” Moreno said.

Outside of the five players already ruled out, wide receiver Demaryius Thomas was the only player to sit out Thursday, Andrew Mason of MaxDenver.com reports. Thomas missed Wednesday’s practice as well.

Curiously, NT Jamal Williams was at practice Thursday. Usually he gets the day off. Lee Rasizer of CBS Sports surmises this may be a result of the Ravens‘ 233-yard rushing performance Sunday. No rest for the weary… or the run-on.

The real key to Moreno being ready Sunday might be whether he feels good enough to practice tomorrow. Stay tuned…

Former Denver Broncos running back Tatum Bell in 2008 (Doug Pennsinger/Getty Images)

Former Denver Broncos running back Tatum Bell voiced his disapproval of the Broncos’ running game on Twitter recently. Today, the free agent wants to do something about it.

Bell reached out to BroncoTalk via Twitter, saying (in tweet-speak), “They (the Broncos) just need to give me a workout and let me take over.”

Bell then confirmed he’s still in the Denver area and ready to roll. “They don’t have to pay for anything,” Bell said.

Now, before you go writing this all off, consider: the last time Bell came off the street to run for the Broncos, in the running back injury-plagued season of 2008, he started in three games and averaged a whopping 5.7 yards per carry. Broncos rushers in 2010 are averaging half that. Is that all the running backs’ fault? No, it’s much more due to the run blocking, but anyone who isn’t voicing frustration with Laurence Maroney‘s stutter-stepping in the backfield isn’t paying attention.

Yes, the scheme has changed, but Bell knows how to “run downhill,” and he’s a guy — in Denver — who’s proclaimed himself ready to play.

Is he? Who knows? All we’re saying is: give the guy a workout.

Tatum Bell @tspeedtx [Twitter]

• Analyzing the Broncos‘ decisions to trade Alphonso Smith and not extend Champ Bailey‘s contract.
• Perrish Cox is relishing his opportunity, even if it means an obscene amount of targets.
• Jets tight end Dustin Keller looks to the be the shorthanded Broncos’ toughest challenge.
• Even guys that are “healthy” — like Mario Haggan and David Bruton — aren’t 100%.
• Broncos aren’t crying over their injury woes.
• Will proper execution follow?
• Tim Tebow and the Jets’ Mark Sanchez enjoy a “good relationship.”
• Jets at Broncos: NFL.com’s Week 6 Gamecenter.
• Rex Ryan allows his players to be responsible for when they’re healthy enough to play.  Was that a mistake with Darrelle Revis Monday?
• On a hunch, Woody Paige is picking the Broncos this weekend.
• That concussion that knocked Jay Cutler out was actually his fifth.

Tim Tebow ran twice for two yards in his NFL debut in Jacksonville (Sam Greenwood/Getty Images)

Kris Burke covers the Denver Broncos for Bleacher Report and NFLTouchdown.com.  This is his first piece for BroncoTalk — let him know what you think in the comments. Follow Kris on twitter at @KBurkeNFL.

Desperate times call for desperate measures.

Knowshown Moreno, Laurence Maroney, and Correll Buckhalter all could not get the Denver Broncos running game going. The team ranks 32nd in the rush while ranking No. 1 in the pass.  Kyle Orton is on pace to smash Dan Marino’s single season passing mark, but coach Josh McDaniels knows that moving the ball through the air alone will not get the team very far come winter time.

So what can the Broncos do?  They tried bringing in Maroney, McDaniels’ old back from his days in New England, and had no success.  It seems like Moreno gets hurt too often to do any good and Buckhalter hasn’t done much either.

Could the answer be…Tim Tebow, running back?  Click here to read the rest of this entry »

Shawne Merriman (Reuters photo)

Shawne Merriman‘s career as a San Diego Charger is over.

On Wednesday, the Chargers placed Merriman on Injured Reserve (calf) with a minor-injury designation.

Unlike typical placements on Injured Reserve, this doesn’t end Merriman’s season, and it doesn’t preserve Merriman’s rights with the team for the year.  Quite the opposite, in fact — once healthy, the Chargers must release Merriman, and Merriman is free to sign with any team, even this season.

So, for all intents and purposes, the Chargers just released Shawne Merriman; he just needs to be healthy before he can sign with another team.

A three-time Pro Bowler and All Pro, Merriman’s production has tapered since suffering a knee injury in 2008.  He’s been hindered by knee, foot, and calf injuries since, only registering four sacks in the past two seasons.

Elvis Dumervil is out for the season. Robert Ayers is out for six weeks. One’s knee-jerk reaction is to bring in the once-pass rush specialist to aid the Broncos’ defense. But he comes with baggage: the looming threat of suspension (for both PEDs and personal conduct), his injury history, his decision to holdout this summer, and his recent lack of production. What say ye, Broncos fans — is Merriman worth the risk?

Our weekly perusal around the Interwebz for water cooler fodder. (Number in parenthesis represents last week’s ranking).

ESPN: 23rd (21)
Kyle Orton’s passing can’t offset the Broncos’ lack of pass rush and run game.

FOX: 26th (14)
Believe it or not, QB Kyle Orton is on an MVP pace. It’s the defense which is preventing this team from becoming a consistent winner. Losing OLB Elvis Dumervil is proving to be very hard to overcome. And Denver’s most recent injuries on defense could prove to be even more problematic going forward.

Click here to read the rest of this entry »

• Darrelle Revis is 25.  Champ Bailey is 32. Age notwithstanding, they’re the game’s best.
• The Ravens took advantage of defensive lineups where Jamal Williams and Justin Bannan weren’t on the field.
• The Jets will try to exploit the Broncos‘ young o-line with exotic blitz packages.
• Eerie similarities exist between Josh McDaniels‘ second Broncos unit and Mike Shanahan‘s last.
• A number of offensive players have yet to be ruled out, but are still being closely monitored.
• The NFL hand-picked Marisa Miller to promote the Broncos-49ers game in London in a few weeks.  Yes, that Marisa Miller.
• Former NFL agent Josh Luchs takes no prisoners in this must-read.
• The state of the league: on Favre, the potential lockout, and 18-game seasons.
• Patriots owner Bob Kraft sees a light at the end of the CBA tunnel… and says it’s closer than you think.
• Just cause we can’t get enough of it.
• John Elway: swindled.

Denver Broncos quarterback Kyle Orton (R) gets off his pass as Baltimore Ravens linebacker Terrell Suggs (55) closes in during the fourth quarter of their NFL football game in Baltimore, Maryland October 10, 2010. (REUTERS/Joe Giza)

Analyzing player performances from the Denver Broncos‘ 17-31 loss to the Baltimore Ravens Sunday, highlighting the good and the bad.

Stud: Kyle Orton

Had the man been able to reign supreme over the offense the Broncos would have come away with a win. It is pathetic that Denver was even attempting to run on the Baltimore Ravens. Run should have been no part of the Broncos game plan. Orton orchestrated the two minute offense, not once, but twice to perfection…

Teams like the Indianapolis Colts run their two minute offense the entire game…

It’s time for Denver to do that. -Ian Henson

Dud: Coaching Staff

The Broncos were beaten in every phase of the game. Special teams turned it over. Defense allowed 5 70 yard drives. Offense couldn’t run the ball (even if they did better than last week, but the bar is so low that it doesn’t matter), and without a run game couldn’t succeed enough in the passing game to consistently score. The offense couldn’t stay on the field to keep the defense fresh.

There was only one point in the game where the Broncos even looked like they were competitive and that was late in the second quarter. but they couldn’t keep that momentum in the second half. Honestly the score makes the game look closer than it really was. The coaching staff failed to have the team ready for this game, and has failed to find a way to address the problems on the team. -E. Halsey Miles Click here to read the rest of this entry »

• While it’s not a sure-thing, safety David Bruton figures to get the start in Brian Dawkins‘ and Darcel McBath‘s absence.  Eddie Royal‘s return duties will increase.
• The defense may require shuffling all over to handle the plethora of injuries.
• Josh McDaniels wanted to see how his players handle adversity. He’s about to find out.
• Klis’ mailbag: Kyle Orton is the undeniable starter (really? They’re still getting these emails? Wake up Broncos fans!), and McDaniels should just sling it around, abandoning the run if necessary.
• Wait, abandon the run? With this offensive line? “The best way to help the pass protection is to run the ball,” Orton reminds us.
• The Jets took out Favre and company on Monday Night Football last night.
• Favre isn’t happy.
• Darrelle Revis described his hamstring as “very sore and very swollen” and is uncertain for Sunday at Denver.
• Andre Mason takes us to stat-heaven examining the Ravens game.

Robert Ayers #56 of the Denver Broncos celebrates a sack during the NFL season opener game against the Jacksonville Jaguars at EverBank Field on September 12, 2010 in Jacksonville, Florida. (Sam Greenwood/Getty Images)

The toll the Broncos took against the Baltimore Ravens Sunday continues to rise. Shortly after it was announced that five defensive players would miss the Broncos’ upcoming game versus the New York Jets, the details surrounding two of the injuries have filed in.

The details aren’t good.

First, starting outside linebacker Robert Ayers has suffered a broken foot and will miss two to three months. (UPDATE: The prognosis is now around six weeks.) Ayers is the Broncos’ top pass rusher, tied for the team sack lead with 1.5 sacks.

Curiously, Ayers remained on the field throughout the entire Ravens game, even up through Baltimore’s final kneel-down. (In other words, he’s one tough S.O.B.)

His absence will compound the Broncos’ pass rush struggles they’ve felt since they lost 2009 league sack champion Elvis Dumervil in training camp.

Second, safety Brian Dawkins has suffered a strained knee ligament and will miss two to three weeks. The team captain, who turns 37 on Wednesday, has continued to play at a high level and set the tone for the entire defensive unit; his presence will be sorely missed.

Can the Broncos trade bye weeks? In all likelihood Dawkins won’t be seen until after Denver’s bye in Week 8, while the best bet for Ayers is early December. The worst case? Injured Reserve. We’ll keep you posted.

Broncos’ Ayers out 2-3 months; Dawkins down 2-3 weeks [Denver Post]