Broncos Friday practice, Henry out, Young limited, Walker knee swelling

[HEAV]

As snow flurries fell upon Dove Valley throughout the Broncos’ 90-minute practice on Friday, running back Selvin Young saw his first on-field of the week after suffering a knee strain against the Tennessee Titans.

But Young’s work was limited, as was the case for fullback Paul Smith, who also returned to the field after missing the previous two days, leaving both questionable for Sunday’s game in Chicago.

“We’ll get a chance to work them out before the game and we’ll see where we’re at there,” Head Coach Mike Shanahan said.

There is no such uncertainty regarding running back Travis Henry, who missed Friday’s practice and was ruled out for Sunday’s game.

“Travis is definitely out,” Shanahan said.

Henry has been in recovery from a partially torn posterior cruciate ligament, but on Friday a touch of the flu was added to his list of infirmities.

“I think he’ll be able to go again next week,” Shanahan said.

Wide receiver Javon Walker practiced Friday, but was limited for the first time this week. Even though there was some swelling in the surgically repaired right knee following the Thursday practice, he expects to play Sunday, although his status is questionable.

“Unless there’s any setback there, he should be able to play,” Shanahan said.


http://blog.denverbroncos.com/mason/2007/11/23/young-walker-questionable-henry-out/

[theAPAOps5]

Swelling again. Man I really hope he doesn't make matters worse.

[broncosteven]

So what ever happened with Henry's lawsuit? I thought they were going to decide to ban him on 11/20?

[HEAV]

Javon just keeps pushing that knee...

I think the team needs to shut him down. Is it worth risking Micro-facture?

[HEAV]

So what ever happened with Henry's lawsuit? I thought they were going to decide to ban him on 11/20?

Lat Friday was the hearing, and still nothing.

Maybe the NFL is wrong, or working out a deal with Henry...

[DenverBrit]

So what ever happened with Henry's lawsuit? I thought they were going to decide to ban him on 11/20?


Nah, they have to decide if he's guilty first. ;D

[Bronx33]

Swelling again. Man I really hope he doesn't make matters worse.


I had my knee scoped a few years back and the only time it would swell up was when i over did it in rehab, iam going to guess walker is not going to play.

[TheDave]

Some swelling after surgery isn't a sure sign that there are further problems... BUT, considering this keeps happening it is worrisome.

[Ray Finkle]

Javon just keeps pushing that knee...

I think the team needs to shut him down. Is it worth risking Micro-facture?

pushing the knee is the only way to see if he needs surgery....

[broncofan2438]

Wow, it is so back and forth with Javon. Hopefully Selvin can play. Henry is such a bust

[Bronx33]

pushing the knee is the only way to see if he needs surgery....


It also lets you know if your ready to go full speed or not the swelling is a indicator but it remains to be said (how much swelling) does he have.

[Don Flamenco]

SO I'm thinking Javon will play on Sunday.

I got both Javon and Brandon Marshall on my FF team. Who would you guys start?

[bpc]

Good point Dave. I would say the same thing. I played ball after three knee surgeries... swelling is natural, especially when you do it in season and are rushing back. Basically the body is trying to protect itself by cushioning the sensitive area.

I played through it... I think you have to, to a point. Any time there is some sort of structural change, the body will have to adapt. The fact that he is a having a lot of problems this year with his knee and the fact that WR's have to be so precise with their cuts is concerning.

I'm sort of at a loss for what to do... rest him even though it would be great to see him out on the field. Don't want to risk his future playing. Its just frustrating though... he reports he is fine, doesn't need microfracture but there is a whole lot of smoke coming up from behind the scenes with his injury.

[broncofan2438]

SO I'm thinking Javon will play on Sunday.

I got both Javon and Brandon Marshall on my FF team. Who would you guys start?

I have the same situation, and I would say start B Marshall. EVen if Javon goes he probably will not get as much action as Marshall

[Don Flamenco]

TO make things worse, I have Andre Hall and Selvin Young as well.

I am the ultimate Broncos Homer

[Bronx33]

Mike keeps the inside info (under lock and key) as we all know FF peeps hate that,so who knows if he will play or not guess we will see come game time.

[SportinOne]

Definitly Marshall. Even if Javon does play, Marshall should have the better day.

[TheDave]

I'm sort of at a loss for what to do... rest him even though it would be great to see him out on the field. Don't want to risk his future playing. Its just frustrating though... he reports he is fine, doesn't need microfracture but there is a whole lot of smoke coming up from behind the scenes with his injury.

I'm in the same boat... Seems that his body is telling him to shut it down. But we just don't know how much swelling there is. Some slight swelling and/or tenderness seems acceptable. Major swelling and possibly the need to be drained prior to the game is a different story. All we can do is hope for the best.

[broncofan2438]

TO make things worse, I have Andre Hall and Selvin Young as well.

I am the ultimate Broncos Homer

I am the same way, thats why i suck at Fantasy Football. I have Cutler and Elam tooo

[MechanicalBull]

I would guess that Javon is not playing and if he does it is very limited. It sounds like he his not fully healthy and I wouldn't want to risk further injury.

[BroncoMan4ever]

Javon just keeps pushing that knee...

I think the team needs to shut him down. Is it worth risking Micro-facture?

i don't think he is risking the possibility of having microfracture surgery. i think it is a foregone conclusion he will have to have it done if not now soon.

[DB_champ24]

i don't think he is risking the possibility of having microfracture surgery. i think it is a foregone conclusion he will have to have it done if not now soon.

I dunnoo but dont u remember the article that said he said he never said anything about microfracture surgery and had no idea where that came from...

[phillybroncosnut]

I see no downside to Walker playing. The are not reporting any instability in the knee. Swelling is normal. I've had 3 knee reconstructions and swelling is normal. Let him go for a bit on Sunday and see how he comes out. If he is reporting discomfort, then they have to think about shutting him down.
We all know the Broncos don't have that good of a chance to go deep in the playoffs. No need to make matters worse for Javon. The only way to know if he is in need of being shutdown is to dress him.
If there was instability, they have to shut him down. Swelling is nothing major.

As far as Henry, IR the baby's father. I'd like you see what Hall and Young can do the last 6 games. We need to know if we need a RB in the early part of the draft.

[NYBronco]

Let Walker rest another week. We don't need him vs da bears.

[Cito Pelon]

Swelling again. Man I really hope he doesn't make matters worse.

Swelling is a bad sign, eh? Six weeks I think since he played, a surgery in the middle of that, and still swelling? That's not good. The guy's a warrior and wants to play, but where there's swelling, there's trouble.

[Chris]

rest him. he is a big part of our team's future.

[Sodak]

I remember seeing the very same type of injury reports regarding Terrell Davis when he was rehabbing his knee. "swelling, maybe next week, we'll see how he looks, blah, blah, blah..." It doesn't look good for Javon.

[cutthemdown]

Javon just keeps pushing that knee...

I think the team needs to shut him down. Is it worth risking Micro-facture?

If the knee has so little cartlilidge left that he needs microfracture how long he shuts it down for won't matter. Walker will have to try and play and see if the knee has enough cartilidge left to keep knee from swelling.

If he plays and he can't deal with the swelling then he will have to try microfracture. Having him wait a few more weeks or even until next year won't make a bit a difference IMO.

[Natedogg]

I remember seeing the very same type of injury reports regarding Terrell Davis when he was rehabbing his knee. "swelling, maybe next week, we'll see how he looks, blah, blah, blah..." It doesn't look good for Javon.

scary and right.

[bpc]

I remember seeing the very same type of injury reports regarding Terrell Davis when he was rehabbing his knee. "swelling, maybe next week, we'll see how he looks, blah, blah, blah..." It doesn't look good for Javon.

Wow, good memory. I had forgot about that when we were all going through it... "well, all he needs is one more surgery, and then we'll have our old player back"... "just a little bit more rest and he'll be good...", "oh, it sometimes takes a year or two to come back from ACL surgery, he'll be fine in the longrun."

None of it ever happened but I remember getting so high to see him come back, and so down to see it not work out over and over. I hope thats not the case this time but i'm trying to temper my expectations for Walker coming back.

[wabbit]

I've seen Walker hobbling around. He just doesn't look ready, but then, at this time of year everyone is pretty bruised and abused.

Maybe he knows the team needs a spark down the stretch and is willing to take the bullet, as it were.

I remember long, long ago QB Craig Morton spent nearly the entire week leading up to the '78 Super Bowl (for the '77 season) in hospital treatments for a badly bruised hip.

I mean, he had bleeding into his abdominal cavity and needed two people to pull him up from a sitting position.

He sucked on game day, and maybe that's the point.

What's the use of risking yourself to just 'show up'??

At this point, I'm believing that Walker may actually suit up & play.

I only hope it's not for the last time.

[Ray Finkle]

I remember seeing the very same type of injury reports regarding Terrell Davis when he was rehabbing his knee. "swelling, maybe next week, we'll see how he looks, blah, blah, blah..." It doesn't look good for Javon.



all knee injuries are different. You can't compare TD's to Javon. If he really was at risk to damage his career, do you think the Broncos would really play him?

[BroncoStampede]

all knee injuries are different. You can't compare TD's to Javon. If he really was at risk to damage his career, do you think the Broncos would really play him?

mark Schlereth had like 20 surguries on his knees and he kept coming back. There are extremes on each side of knee surguries, those players that were able to come back from it multiple times and those that could not come back after one for whatever reason.

Hopefully Walker is able to come back from it, because WRs really need their knees in top shape to make all those cuts and moves. The Broncos wont force Javon to play 90% of the snaps if his knee isnt ready. If he is good enough to go in for 15-20 plays on offense this week let him do it and slowly work him back into the lineup. If hes not ready sit him and get him ready for next year.

[-Slap-]

Every player on the field is one snap away from being done for life. The concerns about this being a TD like injury become more valid all the time. It's entirely possible Javon's days as an elite receiver are already over at 29. That's the same age TD was when he hung 'em up for good.

The advancements they're making in orthopedic surgery are phenomenal, but every individual patient is different. Also, human beings were not designed to play pro football, especially our knees. It's a miracle when these guys last ten years in the League and the vast majority of players see their careers end sooner than that. Even when a player is released for performance based reasons, it's generally because he was unable to focus through the pain of minor injuries and still execute. Jerry Glanville called it right when he said the NFL means Not For Long.

Every player has different thresholds of pain they're able to withstand. Bo Jackson was far more athletic than Sammy Winder in every way measurable. Bo's NFL career lasted four truncated seasons and a measly 38 games. He also removed himself from several games in the pros and at Auburn for "injuries" such as "strained thighs" and "tight hamstrings". On the other hand, Sammy Winder had a nine year NFL career that spanned 127 games, most of them as a starter. Winder was the kind of guy who had athroscopic surgery on his knee and then took the field ten days later on the astroturf in Pittsburgh.

Who would you rather have in your foxhole?

Nowadays, with a salary cap, injury prone players are even less likely to stick for long periods of time. You simply can't devote the roster space and cap resources to a guy who misses too much time anymore.

[theAPAOps5]

I agree slap and when you throw in the fact that they recommended he undergo microfracture surgeory that really raises concerns.

[Ray Finkle]

I agree slap and when you throw in the fact that they recommended he undergo microfracture surgeory that really raises concerns.

no one has recommended MF surgery for Javon.....that is some rumor mill crap.....

[rugbythug]

Every player on the field is one snap away from being done for life. The concerns about this being a TD like injury become more valid all the time. It's entirely possible Javon's days as an elite receiver are already over at 29. That's the same age TD was when he hung 'em up for good.

The advancements they're making in orthopedic surgery are phenomenal, but every individual patient is different. Also, human beings were not designed to play pro football, especially our knees. It's a miracle when these guys last ten years in the League and the vast majority of players see their careers end sooner than that. Even when a player is released for performance based reasons, it's generally because he was unable to focus through the pain of minor injuries and still execute. Jerry Glanville called it right when he said the NFL means Not For Long.

Every player has different thresholds of pain they're able to withstand. Bo Jackson was far more athletic than Sammy Winder in every way measurable. Bo's NFL career lasted four truncated seasons and a measly 38 games. He also removed himself from several games in the pros and at Auburn for "injuries" such as "strained thighs" and "tight hamstrings". On the other hand, Sammy Winder had a nine year NFL career that spanned 127 games, most of them as a starter. Winder was the kind of guy who had athroscopic surgery on his knee and then took the field ten days later on the astroturf in Pittsburgh.

Who would you rather have in your foxhole?

Nowadays, with a salary cap, injury prone players are even less likely to stick for long periods of time. You simply can't devote the roster space and cap resources to a guy who misses too much time anymore.

You may be right about Jackson and Winder. But the Injury that took down bo jackson was not small. He had an entire hip replaced. Not a little deal.

[-Slap-]

You may be right about Jackson and Winder. But the Injury that took down bo jackson was not small. He had an entire hip replaced. Not a little deal.

That was the injury that ended his career. I was referring to his habit of pulling himself from games with very small injuries. A practice he got away with Auburn and one he continued while pursuing his NFL "hobby".

[Will Wayfarer]

When you have as much ability as Bo Jackson you obviously want to preserve it as long as possible. Sammy Winder was barely an NFL talent, he couldn't afford to give anyone an excuse to bench him.

[Broncoman13]

I agree slap and when you throw in the fact that they recommended he undergo microfracture surgeory that really raises concerns.

Good god, why won't that rumor die???

[-Slap-]

When you have as much talent as Bo Jackson, you're obviously used to everybody kissing your ass and letting you play whenever you feel like it.

Interesting that a guy like Sammy Winder, who was "barely an NFL talent", could rack up 5400 rushing yards, score 48 touchdowns and make a couple Pro Bowls. Especially considering he accomplished this on a team that only sent one offensive lineman to a Pro Bowl during his career.

[-Slap-]

Good god, why won't that rumor die???

Is his apparently chronic knee condition a rumor, too?

[Sodak]

all knee injuries are different. You can't compare TD's to Javon. If he really was at risk to damage his career, do you think the Broncos would really play him?

I think I can compare them. They both had blown ACL's. They both played off and on for a season or so with various complications associated with the knee and surgery. This really reminds me of TD's situation. I think Slappy might have a point also, in that these predicaments will become less common. Teams are much less likely to allow someone to stay on IR indefinitely in hopes that they might play at their former level. Rod Smith, TD, Priest Holmes in KC. Those guys were lucky they played in today's NFL where they might be allowed a bit of time to rehab and weren't cut in favor of another healthy player.

[TheDave]

I think I can compare them. They both had blown ACL's. They both played off and on for a season or so with various complications associated with the knee and surgery. This really reminds me of TD's situation.


Just a slight little problem with this comparison... TD's "bad" knee that kept swelling and eventually had microfracture surgery on was his left knee. He blew the ACL in his right..

[Will Wayfarer]

When you have as much talent as Bo Jackson, you're obviously used to everybody kissing your ass and letting you play whenever you feel like it.

Interesting that a guy like Sammy Winder, who was "barely an NFL talent", could rack up 5400 rushing yards, score 48 touchdowns and make a couple Pro Bowls. Especially considering he accomplished this on a team that only sent one offensive lineman to a Pro Bowl during his career.

Sammy Winder was a real trooper, and played his ass off every game he started. He had the will to be great, just not the ability. A career 3.7 y/a with one 1000 yd season over 9 years proves this.

But enough about Winder. I think Javon is probably done indefinitely if he suffers any kind of setback whatsoever in tomorrow's game. Helluva risk to take, but if the coaches think he's ready then let the guy play.

[Ray Finkle]

Is his apparently chronic knee condition a rumor, too?

chronic knee conditions and microfracture needs are two totally different things.

[tubbs]

If Walker wants to play, let him play.

Good Luck #84

[Doggcow]

Hope he can go, I'm starting Cutler over Garrard this week in those hopes.