Injury Report for the Week 3 NFL game between the Denver Broncos and Indianapolis Colts on Sunday, September 26, 2010.

DNP – Did Not Participate; LP – Limited Participation; FP – Full Participation; None* – Non-Injury Related

Changes from Thursday’s practice status in bold. Colts report after the jump. Click here to read the rest of this entry »

Knowshon Moreno has sustained an injury in practice this week that will keep him out against the Indianapolis Colts on Sunday, Denver Broncos head coach Josh McDaniels just announced.  Moreno was previously unlisted on Wednesday or Thursday’s injury reports.

McDaniels said he expects recently acquired running backs Laurence Maroney and Andre Brown to aid Correll Buckhalter and contribute in the running game.

This is a big blow to a running game that was looking to finally get going against Indy in Week 3.  The Broncos should be able to churn out yards with this tandem, but there’s no telling how McDaniels will split the load. For fantasy owners our recommendation is to stay away from Broncos RBs this week. If you’re desperate, Buckhalter is a shaky start.

• Colts DE Dwight Freeney‘s signature spin move puts him in the class of some of the all-time great pass rushers.
• Even Ryan Clady probably won’t be enough to handle Freeney — it may limit options in the passing game, but the Broncos need to spare a tight end or chip blocker to ensure Kyle Orton stays upright.
• Josh McDaniels on the Colts defense: “The fastest team we’ll play, no question.”
• Wink is relishing his opportunity to face Peyton Manning.
• Champ Bailey hopes he’s healthy enough to say the same.
• The return of Darcel McBath, while unheralded, is significant to the coverage game.
• RB Lance Ball is back on the practice squad.

As fans of Football Outsiders, every week we’ll hit up the smarter stats for some perspective on what the Broncos can expect from that week’s opponent. Recall that negative percentages are good on defense, bad on offense and special teams.

Pass Offense: 61.4% (2nd)
Rush Offense: -0.4% (13th)

Analysis: We’ve discussed the exploits of Peyton Manning and Reggie Wayne at length over the years here, but, while we’ve always been sure to give tight end Dallas Clark a solid mention, we’ve never given him the attention he deserves. Consider this highlight reel of his accomplishments last season a step in recompensing that oversight: Click here to read the rest of this entry »

From Mike Klis of the Denver Post —

The comeback of starting right tackle Ryan Harris was put on hold after one practice.

…Zane Beadles, a rookie drafted in the second round, is expected to get his third start at right tackle against the Colts.

Meanwhile, Champ and Goodman missed their second straight practice.

Beadles has played fairly well, but Colts DE’s Dwight Freeney and Robert Mathis, who already combine for six sacks on the year, are licking their chops.

Ryan Harris out [All Things Broncos]

Record: 1-1
Streak: Won 1
Series vs. Denver: 7-11
Last time: Colts, 28-16, 2009
The Line: Colts by 5.5

The Houston Texans shocked the Colts in Week One, but the New York Giants failed (miserably) in their bid to repeat the feat. The Colts dominated the G-Men and showed the NFL that either their first week was a fluke, or the Texans are really stinking good.

Who’s hot: QB Peyton Manning. Click here to read the rest of this entry »

Running back Matt Forte #22 and Jay Cutler #6 of the Chicago Bears celebrate a touchdown against the Dallas Cowboys in the fourth quarter at Cowboys Stadium on September 19, 2010 in Arlington, Texas. (Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)

Once upon a time — 2008 — the Mike Shanahan-led Denver Broncos were 8-5, boasted Pro Bowlers Jay Cutler and Brandon Marshall, and were apparently playoff-bound. The future was bright. Then, in three horrific weeks, the wheels fell off. Shanahan was fired. Cutler was traded. And Marshall pretended to be a punter.

For better or worse, this series of posts is intended to keep tabs on those who, at the time, looked to be key cogs in the Broncos’ future. Our goal isn’t to stir the pot; it’s to assess these franchise-shaking moves week-to-week in 2010 as objectively as possible, draw some conclusions, then let you draw your own. This is a look at a Broncos team in an alternate reality — The Alt Broncos.

Mike Shanahan
Record: 1-1
Streak: Lost 1
Stat Line: Offense: 335.5 ypg. Defense: 453 ypg

Shanahan and his star pupil, Gary Kubiak, put on a show in Week 2, with the student out-coaching the teacher for the second competitive meeting in a row. Kubiak’s icing of Redskins kicker Graham Gano came straight from Shanahan’s playbook, while his Texans offense had a field day with the Skins’ supposed much-improved defense. As a result, Shanahan’s Skins are now ranked 32nd defensively in the league.

Reality Check: Josh McDaniels — McDaniels is 1-1 after his Broncos posted an impressive bounce-back win against the Seattle Seahawks at home. Click here to read the rest of this entry »

• Please donate to the Kenny McKinley trust fund on behalf of young Keon.
• Understanding why Kenny took his own life isn’t nearly as important as recognizing the warning signs.  Great column from Woody Paige.
• Former teammate D.J. Johnson doesn’t have all the facts, and his emotions could easily be clouding his judgment.  But Johnson discusses the players’ lifestyle in Denver, says “there’s something fishy,” and doesn’t believe McKinley took his own life.
• With heavy hearts, the Broncos look to Indianapolis Sunday.
• McDaniels found a creative way to mimic the Colts’ speed on the defensive line.
• Kyle Orton is finally getting some love in Mile High.
• Fantasy footballers are dying to know: who’s the Broncos top receiver? “We’d like them to all be No. 1,” McDaniels said.
• Vincent Jackson says the Chargers‘ dealings with his holdout and refusing to trade him “feels unethical.”
• Jackson’s agent calls Chargers GM A.J. Smith “The Lord of No Rings.”

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

ESPN: 22nd (25)
Visit from Indianapolis will be a big gauge of status

FOX: 15th (28)
Kyle Orton is quickly becoming the NFL’s most underrated passer. You have to wonder if the team will involve rookie QB Tim Tebow into the offense going forward with Orton playing so well. With the offense starting to take off, the defense has to find a way to muster up a consistent pass rush.

Click here to read the rest of this entry »

Facing Peyton Manning is tough. Facing Peyton Manning without either of your starting cornerbacks is tougher.

The Denver Broncos may face that proposition when the Indianapolis Colts come to town this Sunday as defensive backs Champ Bailey and Andre Goodman missed practice Wednesday with right heel and thigh injuries, respectively.

Goodman left last Sunday’s victory against the Seattle Seahawks in the second half. Bailey finished the game but was seen in crutches afterward.

Several Broncos returned to practice Wednesday, however, including starting offensive linemen Ryan Harris and Chris Kuper. Harris has yet to play this season; Kuper missed Week Two.

Also returning to practice was safety Darcel McBath. Running back Laurence Maroney made his Broncos practice debut. Wesley Woodyard did not participate.

Kuper, Harris, McBath and Maroney were designated as limited in practice in their returns.