ENGLEWOOD, Colo. (AP) -A Denver Broncos defense that was already in disarray is now dinged up, too, losing both the Bailey brothers.
Linebacker Boss Bailey is out for the season with a left knee injury that will require microfracture surgery once the swelling subsides. The news wasn’t so grim for his older brother, Champ, who will miss at least a month with a groin injury.
The brothers Bailey were both hobbled in a 41-7 loss at New England on Monday night, along with backup quarterback Patrick Ramsey, who’s out for the season after hurting his throwing elbow when he was sacked late in the second quarter.
“It’s very frustrating,” Bailey said Wednesday, as he limped through the locker room. “But I’m not going to hang my head in the dumps about it. Just got to stay positive.”
t index finger) and running back Michael Pittman (ribs, neck) were also nicked up in New England, joining receiver Brandon Stokley (concussion), running back Selvin Young (groin) and tight end Tony Scheffler (groin) as players devoting the off week to getting healthy.
The rest of the squad will try to forget the fact Denver (4-3) has dropped three of its last four – although, the team still remains in first place in the mediocre AFC West.
“Mentally, we need this week. Physically, too,” said Pittman, who pledges to play against Miami on Nov. 2, despite tender ribs and an aching neck. “It’s a time for guys to heal up and get their bodies away, get their minds away from football for the moment.”
Jamie Winborn plans to relax for a few days on a boat near Tampa, Fla., before returning to the field to take over for Boss Bailey as the strong side linebacker.
Winborn doesn’t see a defense in shambles, just one that’s missing tackles – lots of them.
“The mental errors hurt us,” Winborn said of a defense that’s allowing nearly 395 yards a game. “But I feel really good about (this team). I don’t feel really good about the last performance.”
It was a painful performance against the Patriots, the team losing Ramsey, Boss and Champ Bailey all in the first half.
his knee ailment, walking off as if nothing was wrong.
“It didn’t feel bad. It just felt weird,” said Bailey, who battled an ankle injury earlier this season.
Champ Bailey would soon join him on the sideline, pulling up as he covered Randy Moss. Broncos coach Mike Shanahan thinks the groin injury will keep him out at least a month.
“Champ is a quick healer, but he does have a severe injury,” Shanahan said. “It’s always tough to lose a great player.”
Ramsey was simply filling in for Jay Cutler late in the first half, and he injured his right elbow when he was sacked. He didn’t let anyone know he was hurting because of the condition of Cutler’s finger, which Cutler smacked on a helmet during the first play of the game.
“I knew Jay was down and I was it at quarterback,” Ramsey said.
But X-rays on Cutler’s finger at halftime revealed that it wasn’t broken, just swollen.
“All of a sudden Jay walked up and starts throwing and said, ‘I’m going,”’ Ramsey said.
That came as a relief to Ramsey, who only took a few snaps before the injury.
“I was trying to throw and it was just all over the place,” he said.
Although Cutler’s index finger remains sore, he practiced Wednesday.
ed to promote Darrell Hackney from the practice squad.
“I’m the only quarterback left,” Hackney said, grinning. “Hopefully, Jay is in there. But if he’s not, I’m here to step up.”
Karl Paymah or rookie Jack Williams will fill in at cornerback while Bailey’s away. Williams is ready should he get the call.
“You’re always one rolled ankle from stepping into the game,” Williams said. “In this case, it’s a groin. When opportunity comes, you want to be ready.”
Stokley is hoping to be ready in time for the Dolphins game. The fuzziness is fading since his concussion against Jacksonville.
He’s optimistic that his return, along with that of Scheffler, will help ignite a high-powered offense that has sputtered in recent weeks.
“We just all need to look at ourselves and see what we can do to be better,” Stokley said. “We have to get back to doing those things the right way.”
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