It’s looking less and less likely that Kyle Orton will suit up against the San Diego Chargers Sunday. While Josh McDaniels said he is “very hopeful” Orton will play, the signal-caller continues to be held out of practice with a severely sprained left ankle.

Orton missed Thursday’s practice, reports the Denver Post’s Mike Klis, the second consecutive session that saw backup Chris Simms receive the starting quarterback reps.

Running backs Correll Buckhalter and Lamont Jordan continue to miss time as well. Back at practice were Brandon Marshall and S Josh Barrett, who both served integral roles in the Broncos’ Week 6 win against San Diego.

It looks like Chris Simms might be getting his first career start since 2006, and the stakes couldn’t be higher.

Orton out again; Marshall returns [Denver Post]

You can’t blame a certain Denver columnist for sticking to his guns.

In his latest mailbag, the Post’s venerable wordsmith maintains that Chris Simms should have started instead of Kyle Orton, citing “thoughtful research” (read: Simms was better in one week of the preseason) and “observation” (read: Woody attended training camp twice) in concluding Simms “might provide” a lift. That’s fine, Woody, have your opinion, and stick with it.

But then, presumably after Paige read our piece pointing out the holes in his logic, he throws a pointed barb our way. Take a look [sic, emphasis added]:

I give my opinion, which is based on sound information, thoughtful research and observation, unlike some kid in Arizona who is a Broncos fan and writes a blog, without proper grammar or punctuation or understanding, from his mom’s laundry room and think he knows what he’s talking about, and people actually pay attention.

How did Woody know I write from my mom’s laundry room? Creepy… Click here to read the rest of this entry »

• We now know Kyle Orton has torn ligaments in his ankle. He sat out Wednesday’s practice, but still hopes to play Sunday.  [Yahoo Sports]
• The Broncos aren’t planning on changing the game plan at all if Chris Simms starts.  That includes not moving Ryan Clady from LT to RT.  [CS Gazette]
• A good article based around the Buffalo Bills outlining why your left tackle is the second most important position on the team.  Thanks Ryan!  [ESPN Hashmarks]
• The Broncos maintain that Mitch Berger’s net average is what’s important.  Elvis Dumervil now has 12 1/2 sacks on the year.  [DPO]
• Jeff Legwold’s Q&A tells us why Brandon Stokley isn’t the only slot receiver on 3rd down.  [DPO]
• Chris Tanaka predicts the Broncos will overwhelm the Chargers with Orton but the game will be ugly if Simms goes.  [kdvr.com]
• The team is focusing on bucking the trend of declining late in the season.  [DPO]
• Denver is very much aware of San Diego’s ability to surge late in the season.  [SignOnSanDiego.com]
• Jim Armstrong tells Mike Shanahan to refuse the Buffalo coaching job.  [All Things Broncos Blog – DPO]
• The rush defense is allowing 153 yards per game in each of its losses.  [Salt Lake Tribune]
• John Elway is very loosely tied to a company being investigated for running a Ponzi sheme.  [Philly.com]
• Why the Broncos are still a contender at this point in the season.  [Predominantly Orange]

Brandon Marshall celebrates with teammates. (REUTERS/Andrew Cameron)

Wednesday quotes from Josh McDaniels, Kyle Orton and Brian Dawkins.

HEAD COACH JOSH McDANIELS

On QB Kyle Orton’s status

“I don’t know. We’ll see. He’s going to do everything he can to get better every day. We’ll make that decision at the end of the week.”

On adjusting an offensive line to a left-handed quarterback vs. a right-handed quarterback

“We’re not going to really change our system, so it’s not that the plays are going to be different. If we feel like we need to do something different on the backside of a player, whether he be left handed or right handed, than that is up to us as a staff to do that, but I don’t think the preparation for the linemen, in general, is going to be much different. Click here to read the rest of this entry »

Wednesday Injury Report for the Week 11 NFL game between the Denver Broncos and San Diego Chargers on Sunday, November 22, 2009.

DNP – Did Not Participate; LP – Limited Participation; FP – Full Participation; NL – Not Listed

Chargers report after the jump. Click here to read the rest of this entry »

Former Denver Broncos head coach Mike Shanahan (Getty Images)

Former Denver Broncos head coach Mike Shanahan continues to be the hottest name in the midseason coaching carousel. A month after being pursued by the Washington Redskins, who still employ a “permanent” head coach, Shanahan has been contacted by a team that doesn’t. The Buffalo Bills, who fired Dick Jauron Tuesday, have contacted Shanahan, reports ESPN’s Adam Schefter —

Buffalo has contacted and is in the process of arranging a meeting with former Denver Broncos coach Mike Shanahan, according to two NFL sources.

Shanahan, a two-time Super Bowl winner with the Broncos, is said to be willing to listen to the Bills. He has said in the past that he is determined to return to the NFL next season.

For now, Buffalo has appointed defensive coordinator Perry Fewell as interim head coach, but Shanahan appears to be atop their list of permanent coaching solutions.

Sources: Bills contact Shanahan [ESPN]
Shanahan to ‘Skins: Thanks, but no thanks [BroncoTalk]

Record: 6-3
Streak: Won 4
Series vs. Denver: Broncos, 54-44-1
Last time: Broncos, 34-23, 2009
The Line: Chargers by 3

Who’s hot: RB Ladainian Tomlinson. We could easily go with Philip Rivers, since he’s been a large reason for the Chargers’ 4-game upswing, but he got the vote last time, and something about designating that AFC West rival “hot” twice in the same season doesn’t sit well with us. So, Tomlinson gets the nod, for having a two-touchdown performance and getting blessed baby news on the same day. Click here to read the rest of this entry »

Taking a look back at how the Broncos and Chargers fared heading into their pivotal Week 11 matchup.

Click here to read the rest of this entry »

• Frank Schwab looks at why Peyton Hillis isn’t seeing the field and his healthy scratch Sunday.  [CS Gazette]
• Show some love people!  We’re 6-3 not 3-6.  [In Denver Times]
• The NY Giants have filed a formal complaint about having to travel to Denver on Thanksgiving making it a short week.  [DPO]
• I hate it when Phillip Rivers is right.  The Chargers are most definetely back in the race for the AFC West.  [Boulder Daily Camera]
• How the Broncos can bring back their mojo.  Brett Kern, striped socks, and Ryan McBean.  [DPO]
• Josh McDaniels calls Renaldo Hill, one of the most prepared players he’s ever coached.  [Longmont Times]
• Point that other finger, Denver’s rush defense needs to improve.  Especially with a rejuvenated new father in Ladanian Tomlinson coming to town.  [Longmont Times] [Yahoo Sports] [KSK]
• Brian Dawkins isn’t fretting about the mid-season adversity.  [DPO]
• Audio of Eddie Royal on KOA’s The Ride Home.  [850 KOA]
• The organization expects Knowshon Moreno to contiune his NFL learning curve.  [DPO]

AFC West News

• This is huge with the Broncos traveling to play the Chiefs in three weeks.  Dwayne Bowe has been suspended four games for using performance enhancing drugs.  [KansasCity.com]
• Tila Tequila has begun the process of suing Chargers LB Shawn Merriman.  [DPO]

Kyle Orton, in D.C. to speak on Health Care.

Note to the crazies: This was written on my bus ride back to NYC from Washington’s FedEx Field. I was of course engulfed by irrational thought and fully primed with $8 Coors Lights. I have since calmed down, thanks to my father, who wisely told me that these were our “growing pains”. This coming from a lifelong Browns fan who could only wish to see “growing pains”, rather than the 40 years of death rattles. It has been my experience that certain fans like to jump on fellow fans for expressing their frustrations. Now, it’s one thing to be frustrated, and another to be down right negative, don’t get me wrong, but how about, instead of putting down our already low Broncos family members, showing a little support to lift them back to their feet. Thanks Dad. That being said, here’s some downright negative thoughts. Enjoy!

There is no “I” in team, but there is an “I” in, “I don’t think were going to make the playoffs”. Click here to read the rest of this entry »