2010 pre-season injury updates
Broncos still thin at the running-back position
The Denver Broncos got off on the wrong foot at training camp, losing their two running-backs in Knowshon Moreno and Correll Buckhalter during the team’s first day of training camp. At first glance, it was speculated that both injuries were considered minor, and that Moreno (right hamstring) and Buckhalter (back) would be back on the practice field shortly. But both running backs have not played a single snap after the third week of the pre-season.
However, Buckhalter did get his first taste of the 2010 pre-season finale during Thursday's game against the Minnesota Vikings. He played a handful of snaps and finished the contest with three carries for three yards and caught two passes for 26 yards.
Moreno, 23, did not play in the exhibition as he continues to rest his injured right hamstring. But the Broncos did get some good news as Moreno started practicing with Denver’s first string players earlier in the week. This week was the first time since the start of camp on August 1 that all three running-backs were out on the practice field at the same time.
Moreno, who remains number one on the team's depth chart, pronounced himself "80-some percent" healed from the injury. Broncos coach Josh McDaniels said he isn't worried or overly concerned about Moreno being ready for the regular season without a training camp or a pre-season game under his belt because the running-back went through something similar last season as a rookie, when he held out at the start of camp and then sprained a knee in his first pre-season game.
While Denver got Buckhalter back in the line-up, the Broncos lost another running-back to injury. LenDale White hobbled off the field after injuring his ankle in the team's final pre-season game. White has to sit out the first four games of the 2010 regular season, his punishment for violating the league's substance-abuse policy. White is expected to be healthy and recovered by that time.
Jason Campbell should be back soon
The good news is that Jason Campbell is practising again. The bad news, he did not play in Thursday's pre-season finale.
The 28-year-old quarterback sustained a stinger in last week’s exhibition game against the San Francisco 49ers after being levelled by linebacker Travis LaBoy. Later on that game, Campbell suffered a wrist injury and just like that, his night was done.
“Usually I recover pretty fast," Campbell said after the game. "Right now there's no timetable. The thing is just to improve and continue to keep getting better. We don't know the timetable or anything, but at the same time, I haven't really missed any time before."
Campbell completed 23-of-41 for 312 yards with zero touchdowns and one interception in his three pre-season games. The fact that Campbell has not scored an offensive touchdown with Oakland’s starters is alarming heading into the start of the regular season. Oakland opens the season in two weeks at Tennessee.
Byron Leftwich out with torn MCL
Just when it appeared that Byron Leftwich was going to finally get another chance to start for a team again, he injured his left knee on Thursday night and appears to be out indefinitely.
An MRI exam on Friday revealed that Leftwich tore the medial collateral ligament in his left knee, according to the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review.
Byron Leftwich had been receiving the bulk of the reps with first-team offence, and was supposed to start for the Steelers due to Ben Roethlisberger’s suspension, which was reduced from six to four games. But now Dennis Dixon will replace Leftwich and is expected to be the starter in Pittsburgh's season opener.
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