The Denver Broncos on Wednesday announced that offensive lineman Dustin Fry has been released. The fourth-year player out of Clemson had missed several practices since sustaining an unspecified injury early in camp.

Fry, 26, was a fifth-round draft pick of the St. Louis Rams in 2007.

Linebacker Jarvis Moss #94 of the Denver Bronocs takes part in practice during training camp at Dove Valley on August 5, 2010 in Englewood, Colorado. (Doug Pensinger/Getty Images)

Two Broncos who have missed at least all of practice last week due to injury returned to the practice field Wednesday.  Outside linebacker Jarvis Moss, who suffered a broken hand on August 6th, returned wearing a cast on his left hand, while wide receiver Eric Decker returned to the field in full pads for the first time since his August 7th foot injury.

It’s the second straight day of good news on the injury front; on Tuesday, guard Chris Kuper returned to the field while linebacker D.J. Williams practiced without his orange no-contact jersey for the first time.  Decker and fellow rookie Demaryius Thomas were seen briefly working in shorts aside from practice Tuesday.

Now it’s time to see how Moss handles this new obstacle; based on Sunday’s preseason game, the Broncos could use a difference-maker in the pass rush.

Denver Broncos linebacker D.J. Williams, head coach Josh McDaniels, and quarterbacks Kyle Orton and Brady Quinn discussed Broncos training camp after Tuesday’s morning session.

HEAD COACH JOSH McDANIELS

On the play of OL Zane Beadles and OL J.D. Walton

“They were, I thought, physical, they really did some good things in the running game. They also learned some lessons we figured they’d learn – Cincinnati moves their front a lot more than we do and they dropped their head a little bit and lost their man a couple times – and same thing in the protections, we got picked off a little bit a few times there in the second and third quarter that we need to work – we were out here working on today. Overall, I thought they played well. They played well, they held up early in the game against some different things (Cincinnati) did. They also got tired, which is why we wanted to go ahead and get that out of the way and let them play a bunch and they both stayed in there pretty much the entire game. We just were hopeful that when we go to Jacksonville, it’s not going to be the first time they’re going to play four quarters.”  Click here to read the rest of this entry »

• Unprofessional much? Two members of the media asked for — and received — autographs from Tim Tebow after the Bengals game. As a credentialed fan-blogger, it’s hard to invent a story that hits closer to home.
• Tebow didn’t just drive the football this weekend — he drove ratings, way up.
• Klis does his best to calm the maddening throng in his game tape review mailbag.
• The Broncos made changes to this week’s training camp practice schedule.  [Full schedule]
• 17 players missed practice Tuesday morning (some presumably resting).
• Josh McDaniels said he hoped Eddie Royal would have a big year; on Sunday he had only one catch, but made it count (for six).
• Brandon Marshall is back to his old practice punting ways.

Brady Quinn dives for a fumble recovery. (AP Photo/Tony Tribble)

• Kyle Orton put an end to any quarterback controversy with his strong performance last night. “I’m really excited about our offense,” Orton said. “We’re going to have a unit that can dominate a game.“
• But regarding the 2nd QB spot, McDaniels said, “That’s a competitive situation, I really do believe that.”
• Others believe it’s already time for Tim Tebow to be promoted over Brady Quinn.
• Tebow went 8 of 13 for 105 yards and a rushing touchdown, but most of the completions and yards came on “dump-offs during the closing drive against a soft defense.”
• An objective look leans to the conclusion that Tebow still has a lot of work to do.
• The Broncos‘ pass rush, sans Dumervil, didn’t get the job done.
• A nice summation piece traversing many layers of the Broncos’ depth chart.
• Correll Buckhalter could be ready by the Broncos’ 2nd preseason game.

Kyle Orton is pressured by Bengals defensive end Antwan Odom in the first quarter. (AP Photo/Al Behrman)

What we really saw: As many who have observed training camp have seen, the Denver Broncos are undeniably Kyle Orton’s team.

The Broncos won the toss and elected to receive the ball, rookie Perrish Cox was back to receive the kick. Cox has been a much hyped kick/punt returner in Dove Valley and this would be most fan’s first opportunity to see the young man return– and he didn’t disappoint.

Cox got the ball on the Broncos’ four yard line and got it out to the twenty-eight. An impressive return given that, had he made it past the tackle that got him, the play would have been an immediate touchdown for a special teams corps that must improve if the Broncos are going to see any type of run towards the playoffs this season.

Orton took over from there, hitting wide receiver Jabar Gaffney for a gain of 31 yards. Immediately following that up with a short pass to Lance Ball and an eight yard completion to tight end Marquez Branson. Ball started at running back and Branson at tight end. Fans also got to see a split back formation with Orton under center; which had both Branson and Ball lining up in the backfield. Don’t get too excited though, fullback Spencer Larsen remained in Denver and congratulations as he and his wife gave birth to their third child.

Following the Branson completion Orton went for gold throwing deep to Gaffney, but ultimately coming up just a little short on the connection. Another Orton incompletion to tight end Daniel Graham was negated by a Cincinnati Bengals penalty for roughing the passer. Wasting no time Orton connected to wide receiver Eddie Royal for a touchdown.

Click here to read the rest of this entry »

Bengals running back James Johnson is upended near the goaline by Joe Mays (96) and Chris Baker (75). (AP Photo/Ed Reinke)

Cincinnati Bengals 33, Denver Broncos 24.

Kyle Orton and the first-team offense lit it up, while the second and third-teamers didn’t leave fans quite as encouraged.

After starting with an impressive 14-0 lead on three offensive possessions, Orton proved that while he may not win gassers during training camp he still runs the Broncos. Orton finished the day 8 of 13 for 84 yards and two touchdowns.

Behind a very unproductive second team offense and defense the Broncos quickly lost their strong lead and allowed the Bengals to take over; leaving the third team to make up for a score of 33-17 in the Bengals favor. Broncos backup quarterback Brady Quinn contributed to that score throwing the team’s lone interception which lead to a David Jones interception and a fumble (which Quinn was able to recover).  Quinn on the day looked very much like most backup quarterbacks in Denver history.

As poor tackling and special teams mounted the Broncos team looked finished; you could hear the cries for rookie Tim Tebow from a mile away.

Tebow started strong, a spectacular pass to Matthew Willis would have been an early seven and could have created an actual controversy in Denver (at least for the backup role) had Willis been able to pull it in.

In the fourth quarter amidst more poor tackling and what appeared to be a severe lack of protection Tebow orchestrated a drive with less than a minute remaining that was nearly topped off by a pass to Marquez Branson (who started the game at tight end and even lined up in the backfield once or twice) in the end zone. After review it was ruled that Branson had dropped the pass which lead to a fantastic Tebow scramble for a touchdown on the following play.

The play of the second and third teams ultimately leaves more questions that answers:

What do the Broncos do about Brady Quinn? How can the Broncos address their already thin depth? Can the defense and special teams remember what a tackle feels like by the season opener?

We’ll have much more on the game later tonight and tomorrow; for now, dish it out in the comments.

Denver Broncos @ Cincinnati Bengals

5:00 p.m. MT

Live Blog begins at 4:45 Recall the live blog rules: be respectful, no insulting other commenters, and no f-bombs. Let’s have fun talking Broncos tonight.

FOOTBALL IS HERE! GO BRONCOS!!

• Two days after being carted off the field with what looked like a potentially serious injury, tight end Marquez Branson was back at Broncos practice Friday.
• Orton on Tebowmania and the state of the fans: “I don’t need love. I just need wins.”
• College football analyst Lee Corso thinks Tebow will be starting by week six.
• Brandon Stokley has shined in Gaffney, Thomas, and Decker‘s absences.
• Brian Dawkins had an interception and a number of pass breakups in Thursday’s session
• Focus on rookie and starting center J.D. Walton.
• The Broncos started game prep for the Bengals.
• Mike Klis breaks down the Broncos’ training camp and offseason for Fox Sports [video].
• Shawne Merriman signs, ending his holdout.

An NFL lockout would propel Miami Dolphins wide receiver Brandon Marshall into the NBA, the former Bronco said Thursday. (AP Photo/J Pat Carter)

A 2011 NFL player lockout would propel Miami Dolphins wide receiver Brandon Marshall back to Denver, Marshall told ESPN’s Adam Schefter.

The catch? Marshall wouldn’t be a Bronco; he’d be playing basketball, and trying out for the NBA’s Denver Nuggets.

“My first team will be the Nuggets and my second team will be the Heat — I’m serious,” Marshall said.

“There’s not going to be any football. If there’s a lockout, I have to find a job. I figure the Nuggets will be a better choice because of the welcome home cheer I’ll get — a couple of boos at first. I’m gonna get with a basketball coach and get to work, prepare for the lockout.”

Marshall played high school basketball, so it’d be an uphill battle, but we wouldn’t put it past the 6’4″ Pro Bowler.

But… Denver? Doesn’t he hate this ****ing town?

Miami Dolphins’ Brandon Marshall says he’ll play in the NBA if there’s NFL lockout in 2011 [ESPN]