Torain wants to stay off the IR

[SoDak Bronco]

http://www2.gazette.com/broncos/display.php?id=1333573

ENGLEWOOD • Rookie running back Ryan Torain thinks he can return this season and contribute if the Denver Broncos don’t place him on injured reserve.

Torain, wearing a large cast on his elbow, will be out for about three months. If the team decides to put him on injured reserve, that ends his season.

Torain said he “definitely” thinks he can make an impact this season.

“About three months tops and I’ll be good to go,” he said.

If Torain stays on the active roster, it will be because coaches believe he can add a power dimension to the running game late in the season. Coach Mike Shanahan said he thought Torain could have competed to be a starter.

Torain has been lying down with his arm elevated to reduce the swelling since suffering the injury eight days ago. He broke a bone near his elbow and also had surgery for ligament damage.

He said he can start cardiovascular workouts once his arm feels a little bit better, and he will continue to learn the offense while he waits.

“I’ll get back in the playbook and stay on top of things so I can be a factor when I come back,” he said.

Phillips returns

Cowboys coach Wade Phillips wasn’t too nostalgic about coming back to Denver, where he was the head coach in 1993 and 1994.

“I was looking forward to it, but if I looked forward to every team I’ve been with, I’d be looking forward to every place I go,” the welltraveled Phillips said.

Although Phillips didn’t have a great run with the Broncos, he was the coach when all-time leading receiver Rod Smith signed as an undrafted free agent. Smith was on the practice squad during Phillips’ last season in Denver.

“Every time he was on the other team, before every game, I walked and found him,” Smith said. “It’s an appreciation, and I don’t know how to give it back to him.”

Odds and ends

The Broncos signed cornerback Tyrone Poole, who is in his 13th NFL season. Poole played for the Broncos in 2002. Denver released cornerback Christian Morton to make room for Poole. … The Boston Globe reported that safety John Lynch, who was released by the Broncos earlier this month, will work out for the Patriots. Lynch requested his release because he wasn’t happy with his role.

[SoDak Bronco]

Can't they put him on the PUP unitl week 6, or does that count against a roster spot aswell?

[theAPAOps5]

Nope he practiced in camp. In order to be on PUP you couldn't have practiced at all. I looked the rule up when it first happened.

Torain was getting better and better in camp. It was a setback he really had good vision.

[SoDak Bronco]

Ahh that sucks...I kinda wondered why they hadn't already placed him on PUP..that makes sense...

[Broncosmang]

As much as I like him, I don't see us tying up a roster spot for an unproven rookie especially when Aldridge is showing so well. If we need the power we'll still have Cecil and Hillis. Not nearly as glamorous, but both can give you yards if needed.

[theAPAOps5]

He is that much better or I should say has the potential to be that much better that its making the coaches think.

[Kaylore]

See I think they keep Torain because Alridge (not Aldridge) is another speed guy and we have no power runner. Three months is a long time, but he isn't running on his elbow. I say keep him and play him.

[Man-Goblin]

I may be pessimistic, but I just don't see how a supposed power back can not work out his upper body for 3 months and then expect to keep his power. I'm sure the people out there who lift weights, no matter how much or how little, can attest how much strength and definition you would lose if you simply took 3 months off.

Also, that roster spot is a pretty big deal. The Broncos would essentially be operating at a disadvantage with only a 52 man roster and would have to cut somebody they may not have wanted to.

[2KBack]

yeah, The time out is more likely due to not being able to take the damage of full contact. He'll be up and running long before he can play in a game, and should be in good shape to contribute as soon as allowed.

[GoHAM]

Although it would suck for this season, IR might be a good thing for Torain give him a chance to heal his elbow and give him extra healing time on his lisfranc foot.

I'm still for holding on to him and seeing if he can come back towards the end of the season. Give an added dimension in the final weeks of the season and the push to the playoffs.

[Ray Finkle]

As much as I like him, I don't see us tying up a roster spot for an unproven rookie especially when Aldridge is showing so well. If we need the power we'll still have Cecil and Hillis. Not nearly as glamorous, but both can give you yards if needed.

if they are our power backs, it's going to be a long season....

[telluride]

The NFL really needs to change that PUP rule.

[Crushaholic]

Although it would suck for this season, IR might be a good thing for Torain give him a chance to heal his elbow and give him extra healing time on his lisfranc foot.

I'm still for holding on to him and seeing if he can come back towards the end of the season. Give an added dimension in the final weeks of the season and the push to the playoffs.

You're talking like he's a veteran. Put the rookie on IR and see what he can do next year. If we're having to count on an unproven player to get us into the playoffs, we're in deep trouble...

[Kaylore]

The NFL really needs to change that PUP rule.

What they need to do is allow for more roster exemptions. If they aren't going to allow waivers like they did for NFLE, they either need to start a new minor league system or allow for more players to be placed on reserve. I'd like to see some sort of minor league system implemented.

[2KBack]

You're talking like he's a veteran. Put the rookie on IR and see what he can do next year. If we're having to count on an unproven player to get us into the playoffs, we're in deep trouble...

hmmm, which side did you take in the Cutler Vs Plummer debate?

[TallyBronco]

Depends on who else we can pick up before game 1.

[broncofan2438]

Come on back dude. Lets see that impact you can make!

[dbfan21]

You're talking like he's a veteran. Put the rookie on IR and see what he can do next year. If we're having to count on an unproven player to get us into the playoffs, we're in deep trouble...

Considering Torain is my Adopt-a-Bronco, it pains me to say this but you are 100% right IMO. We need the roster spot and who's to say he comes back at full strngth in late October-early November? And, like Crush said, if our fate rests in his hands, we're in deep kimchee!

[GoHAM]

Considering Torain is my Adopt-a-Bronco, it pains me to say this but you are 100% right IMO. We need the roster spot and who's to say he comes back at full strngth in late October-early November? And, like Crush said, if our fate rests in his hands, we're in deep kimchee!

Yeah, that's true he is unproven, and he is a rookie, but who else do we have on our roster right now that fills the power back role? Sapp? Hasn't done much yet. Pittman? We'll see. Now if either one of them show us something in camp, then sure put him on IR and save him for next year.

At the very least as an investment towards the future I would like for him to be able to practice with the team when he gets healthy, which he can't do if he is on IR. Of course the other (non)option is to try and stash him on the practice squad so we get the same benefit without using up the more valuable 53 man roster spot. But I'd be willing to bet that even with his broken elbow he wouldn't clear waivers to end up on the practice squad.

[GoHAM]

Plus I did not say that he should be given the starter's job and 25-30 carries a game when he gets back, but 10-12 carries mainly on short yardage/goalline and the 4th quarter? An added dimension to our offense from a guy with fresh legs.

[2KBack]

Don't forget, this is a team that wasted a roster spot on kick off specialists in the past. Holdng one for the best young talent we have at RB in an effort to get him on the field to contribute/gain experience, isn't farfetched.

[Beantown Bronco]

Stash him on the practice squad and bump him up to varsity once he's healthy....

[Kaylore]

Stash him on the practice squad and bump him up to varsity once he's healthy....

You really think a fourth round pick would clear waivers?:confuzzle

[watermock]

His and my heart say yes, logic says no. His elbow is shredded, he would be fumble prone probably anyway if he got hit in it.

[2KBack]

His and my heart say yes, logic says no. His elbow is shredded, he would be fumble prone probably anyway if he got hit in it.

his elbow won't be shredded when he's healthy again Mock

[bpc]

I'd sit him the rest of the year. He'll be like an added draft pick next season. Let that elbow heal completely.

[cutthemdown]

IR him 3 months before he can play he's useless this yr

[Beantown Bronco]

You really think a fourth round pick would clear waivers?:confuzzle

An unproven one that can't play for 2-3 months? Perhaps. Plus, it's not like the Broncos wouldn't have the chance to match or beat any offer he received to play elsewhere, if some other team tried to steal him. There's obviously a risk to it, if Torain thinks some other team would be better for him, but there's a risk to all these scenarios.

[Dukes]

I hope they keep him on the roster. He'll make a difference when he returns. Plus I really don't want to wait another year to see him.

[Dedhed]

You're talking like he's a veteran. Put the rookie on IR and see what he can do next year. If we're having to count on an unproven player to get us into the playoffs, we're in deep trouble...

That's a little short-sighted given the impact rookie and unproven RBs have had in this system. Particularly given that he would bring a dimension to the running game that the Broncos have seemed to lack recently.

The roster spot doesn't seem like an issue to me either given that the Broncos were clearly planning on having Torrain on the roster. It simply means there will be one less inactive player on Sundays for the first few weeks of the season.

[*WARHORSE*]

Yeah, that's true he is unproven, and he is a rookie, but who else do we have on our roster right now that fills the power back role? Sapp? Hasn't done much yet. Pittman? We'll see. Now if either one of them show us something in camp, then sure put him on IR and save him for next year.

At the very least as an investment towards the future I would like for him to be able to practice with the team when he gets healthy, which he can't do if he is on IR. Of course the other (non)option is to try and stash him on the practice squad so we get the same benefit without using up the more valuable 53 man roster spot. But I'd be willing to bet that even with his broken elbow he wouldn't clear waivers to end up on the practice squad.


Im gonna say Hillis will end up playing that role.

[55CrushEm]

That's a little short-sighted given the impact rookie and unproven RBs have had in this system. Particularly given that he would bring a dimension to the running game that the Broncos have seemed to lack recently.

The roster spot doesn't seem like an issue to me either given that the Broncos were clearly planning on having Torrain on the roster. It simply means there will be one less inactive player on Sundays for the first few weeks of the season.

Exactly. Whether we have a 53-man roster, or a "52" man roster.....we can still only dress 45 on game day, right?

[cutthemdown]

That's a little short-sighted given the impact rookie and unproven RBs have had in this system. Particularly given that he would bring a dimension to the running game that the Broncos have seemed to lack recently.

The roster spot doesn't seem like an issue to me either given that the Broncos were clearly planning on having Torrain on the roster. It simply means there will be one less inactive player on Sundays for the first few weeks of the season.

name one rookie RB in NFL history that missed the first 3 months of the season from a bad injury, then came back that same yr to help his team win games?

Can you think of even one? I can't. I don't know if the other poster you called shortsighted is, but you are naive if you think some rookie with a bum knee, who is going to miss the first 10-12 weeks of the yr, needs to be on the roster because of the Broncos track record of rookie rb performing well.

Wouldn't it make more since to give healthy players a spot on the roster to see if they can help?

[cutthemdown]

Exactly. Whether we have a 53-man roster, or a "52" man roster.....we can still only dress 45 on game day, right?

He's going to end up on IR. It doesn't make sense to have an injured rookie sitting on the main roster when the team knows he won't play this yr.

He's out 3 months, it would take another month to get into playing shape at least. I bet he ends up on IR because not doing so doesn't seem like something a football team would do. It makes no sense the players injury is too severe for a rookie to overcome and contribute in same yr. IMO.

[red98]

name one rookie RB in NFL history that missed the first 3 months of the season from a bad injury, then came back that same yr to help his team win games?

Can you think of even one? I can't. I don't know if the other poster you called shortsighted is, but you are naive if you think some rookie with a bum knee, who is going to miss the first 10-12 weeks of the yr, needs to be on the roster because of the Broncos track record of rookie rb performing well.

Wouldn't it make more since to give healthy players a spot on the roster to see if they can help?

Not to take away from your point, just to keep the facts straight.

He's supposed to miss 3 months total.
So only 2 months of the regular season or 7 games (bye in week 8).

Also he can attend all practices and meetings while re-habbing since he's on the roster, so probably wouldn't take another month to get ready to play.


I think he may end up on IR anyway though.

[2KBack]

Torrain doesn't have a bum knee

[ozomulsion]

Torrain doesn't have a bum knee

Some people just throw s### against the wall, and hope it sticks.

[cutthemdown]

Not to take away from your point, just to keep the facts straight.

He's supposed to miss 3 months total.
So only 2 months of the regular season or 7 games (bye in week 8).

Also he can attend all practices and meetings while re-habbing since he's on the roster, so probably wouldn't take another month to get ready to play.


I think he may end up on IR anyway though.

rookies who miss camp usually don't do much that year. A rookie who misses camp with an injury and at a minimum half the season IMO is a huge huge stretch to not be on IR. I think it's a fore gone conclusion Torain goes to IR.

[cutthemdown]

whatever knee elbow, sorry I got it wrong. The fact is though when a rookie is going to miss half the yr I wouldn't expect him to be on the regular season roster. It has IR written all over it. Broncos will keep him of IR just long enough for him to rehab really hard. If they told him right now hey you are going IR he might not work as hard as he would thinking he can get back on team.

[Bronco_Beerslug]

Is Torain injury prone, how many times was he hurt in college?

[watermock]

Lisfranc with a new procedure, and shouder banged? He was ready to rock...it was unfortunate...I was really looking forward.