AFC West: Chris Baker
Report: Elvis Dumervil headed to I.R.
This is not a surprise. The only surprise is that it took so long. Dumervil has been expected to miss the entire season since he tore his pectoral muscle early in training camp. The Broncos were holding out hope Dumervil could possibly return very late in the season. But because of several injuries, Denver cannot afford to keep Dumervil on the 53-man roster on the small chance he’d play in 2010.
This move is more paper work than anything. Denver, internally, came to grips weeks ago that the season likely would be played without Dumervil.
Denver cut seven players and put running back LenDale White on the injured reserve Friday. Among the cuts were second year defensive tackle Chris Baker and seventh-round pick Jammie Kirlew. He could be a candidate for the practice squad. The team had high hopes for Baker, an undrafted free agent last year, but he didn’t do much this summer.
Kansas City cut seven players. Among the cuts was backup guard Ikechuku Ndukwe.
Pittsburgh has allowed veteran center Justin Hartwig to pursue a trade. Oakland and Denver are two teams that could potentially look at centers.
With White out and Denver’s running back crew banged up, perhaps it will consider bringing back J.J. Arrington. He was cut by the Eagles on Friday. Denver traded him for linebacker Joe Mays early in camp. Mays has been terrific in Denver. Before signing White, Denver was also considering Ladell Betts, who was cut by New Orleans.
Denver Broncos
- Tom Brandstater (3rd QB)
- Kenny McKinley, WR
- LaMont Jordan, RB
- Seth Olsen, G
- Ryan Harris, T
- Chris Baker, DL
- Brandon Lloyd, WR
- Jarvis Moss, OLB/DE
- Ramses Barden, WR
- D.J. Johnson, DB
- Kevin Dockery, CB
- Ahmad Bradshaw, RB
- Antonio Pierce, LB
- Adam Koets, T
- Guy Whimper, T
- Sinorice Moss, WR
SAN DIEGO – Here are the inactive players for tonight’s game.
No real surprises. San Diego linebacker Stephen Cooper (knee) and Denver running back Correll Buckhalter (ankle) are active and will play:
San Diego Chargers Inactives
QB Charlie Whitehurst (3rd Quarterback)
RB Michael Bennett
FS C.J. Spillman
C Nick Hardwick
C Tyronne Green
WR Buster Davis
LB Antwan Applewhite
DE-DT Vaughn Martin
Denver Broncos Inactives
QB Tom Brandstater (third quarterback)
WR Kenny McKinley
LB-FB Spencer Larsen
G Seth Olsen
DL Chris Baker
T Brandon Gorin
WR Brandon Lloyd
OLB Jarvis Moss
Denver notes: Simms looks good; Moreno hurt
Posted by ESPN.com's Bill Williamson
There was more to the Denver Broncos' preseason opener at San Francisco than Kyle Orton's three interceptions on his first three series.
Really.
Backup quarterback Chris Simms looked good. Of course, he was playing with and against backups, but if Orton continues to flounder, Simms may get a chance to compete for the top job. Simms has looked better than Orton in practice and he has a much stronger arm.
Stay tuned. Orton's hat trick may have made it interesting in Denver.
Orton's performance wasn't the only discouraging part of Denver's night. First-round pick Knowshon Moreno left the game with a sprained knee, according to CBS4Denver, which broadcast the game locally. Moreno will have an MRI Saturday. The Broncos would be devastated if Moreno, who was effective when he played, had to miss significant playing time. If it is just a sprain, Moreno should be ready for the start of the regular season.
Second-year running back Peyton Hillis was electric. He was a favorite of the previous staff and Hillis is making the new staff fall in love with him. He will get plenty of playing time.
Receiver Eddie Royal was brilliant. This guy is a star.
Denver's pass rush looked much improved under new defensive coordinator Mike Nolan. There was constant pressure.
Free agent rookie nose tackle Chris Baker had a sack and continues to push for significant playing time.
Denver's first-team defense is still giving up third-and-long conversions. That has killed Denver in the past, regardless of the coordinator and personnel.
Posted by ESPN.com's Bill Williamson
Mid-week mail call:
Dennis from Boise, Idaho wants to know what I think about the demotions of Dwayne Bowe in Kansas City and Brandon Marshall in Denver.
Bill Williamson: Well, the moves, made Monday, were very interesting. These are two outstanding receivers we're talking about. Really, I don't think these demotions will last. Bowe was most likely working with backups on Monday because the coaching staff wanted to get his attention. Bowe has had trouble holding onto the ball. But he is a talent. He has 156 catches in two NFL seasons. He'll be a starter when it counts. Same goes with Marshall, who is coming off back-to-back 100- catch seasons. I think the fact that Denver put Marshall on the second team on its depth chart was due to him being out since Aug. 2 with a leg injury. The depth chart was for this weekend's game at San Francisco. There's little chance he can play if he doesn't practice. When Marshall is healthy, he'll be in the starting lineup. So, in the end, these two moves are a tad shocking, but they don't really mean too much.
JD from SJ, Ca. wants to know if I think Ricky Brown will beat out Kirk Morrison in Oakland for the starting middle linebacker job.
BW: Brown is making some noise in Oakland's camp. The team has had a lot of confidence in him, but apparently he is really coming into his own. Still, I'd be surprised if he beats out Morrison. Morrison has been a leader and a big part of Oakland's defense. This could be a message being sent similar to Bowe and Marshall's situation. Maybe the Oakland coaching staff didn't think Morrison was working hard enough and wanted to get his attention. Still, this will be an interesting battle to watch in the preseason.
Craig Stele from Tally, FL. wants to know if Carlton Powell has a chance to be make an impact this season.
BW: Powell, a draft choice in 2008, has not gotten much action at nose tackle in Denver's 3-4 scheme this training camp. The player to watch at the position is rookie free agent Chris Baker. He is running with the second team. He started his college career at Penn State and then he finished at Hampton. He could be a comer. The current starter is Ronnie Fields. He played for new Denver defensive coordinator Mike Nolan in San Francisco when Nolan was the head coach.
Posted by ESPN.com's Bill Williamson
ENGLEWOOD, Co. -- Camp notes from the Broncos' early practice, where the day began with a Michael Jackson tribute over the loud speakers as players and fans assembled on the field.
- The Broncos were pleased to see right tackle Ryan Harris back on the field, one day after he left the field with an arm injury.
- Denver coach Josh McDaniels downplayed the release of the team's depth chart Monday. He said it was a league mandate and said "it is not our depth chart." Receiver Brandon Marshall was listed No. 2 on the chart. He has been out for nine days with an apparent hamstring injury.
- Marshall isn't expected to travel to San Francisco for the Broncos' preseason opener Friday night. Marshall has a trial for a misdemeanor battery charge on Thursday in Atlanta. If he is convicted, he could face league discipline.
- Second-round pick Darcel McBath was working ahead of fourth-round pick David Bruton at Brian Dawkins' safety position. Bruton had been working ahead of McBath. Dawkins will be out at least two weeks with a broken hand.
- The Broncos really like undrafted rookie defensive tackle Chris Baker, who is cruising up the depth chart. He began his college career at Penn State and finished at Hampton.
- Quarterback Kyle Orton definitely has a lot of weapons to use. The Broncos' receivers and running backs look strong.
- The morning practice went 25 minutes longer than scheduled. Most practices have gone 30 minutes late or longer.
- Defensive lineman Kenny Peterson definitely feels comfortable with McDaniels. Peterson stood behind McDaniels as he addressed the media Tuesday morning. Peterson, a projected starter, was a freshman while McDaniels was a senior quarterback at Canton, Ohio's McKinley Senior High School.
Posted by ESPN.com's Bill Williamson
Paulos: Hey Bill, What do you think of the Chargers drafting Vaughn Martin? Is this kid another AJ Smith diamond in the rough? I heard he had he been in the combine he would have performed better than almost all the other DT's. 6'3 331 lbs, 44 reps on the bench, a 4.96 40-yd dash and apparently he had a 4.31 20-yard shuttle time?? Is this guy some crazy phisical specimen who's as big as Jamal Williams and as quick as merriman? Did we draft him too high? Thanks, PaulosBW: Martin is an intriguing prospect. I know some other teams liked him in the fourth round as well. He will need time to develop and get used to the intense competition increase. He has all the measurables. He just has to show he can handle it. It may take a couple of years, but Martin is a prospect to watch.
Conrad from Parker: BW, refering to the Broncos rosters. I really think the signing of NT Chris Baker will solidify the NT position. Most draft analysts had Baker as a mid-round pick. I don't see a big difference between Ron Brace and Chris Baker in terms of talent. Hopefully, Baker has addresses his character concerns.
BW: Baker is a guy the Broncos liked earlier in the draft. He has a chance. But like Martin, he is a project. Don't expect much at all early from Baker. He could even be a practice squad candidate initially.
JT from St. Louis, Mo: It seems likely that either the Raiders or Chiefs will have the first pick in next year's draft. With Sam Bradford the likely #1 guy, I can't see either team wanting to take him. Your thoughts?
BW: If Oakland has the worst record in the NFL that likely would mean JaMarcus Russell would have a terrible 2009. If that's the case, Oakland could be in the mix for Bradford.
Raphael from Paris, France: Bill, Now that the Pittsburgh releasing or trading Larry Foote rumor is confirmed, do you think there is a chance he'll end up with one of the AFC West teams ? He knows the 3-4 and San Diego, Denver and Kansas City all need good ILBs that fit the scheme. As a Charger fan, I would love to pick up a former Steeler since he would add tremendous experience and leadership to a team that needs help and leadership on defense. He's only 28 and would be a huge upgrade over Wilhelm in San Diego. We would then have Cooper, Burnett, Foote and Dobbins rotating to form a very good inside linebacker group.
BW: I think Foote may be headed to Detroit if he is released. I think Denver and Kansas City could be interested more than San Diego because those two teams have bigger needs at linebacker.
Posted by ESPN.com's Bill Williamson
The San Diego Chargers' mock draft:
Round 1, pick 16
Rey Maualuga, USC, LB
Round 3, pick 78
Andre Brown, North Carolina State, RB
Round 4, pick 113
Duke Robinson, Oklahoma, G
Round 4, pick 133
Scott McKilop, Pittsburgh, LB
Round 4, pick 134
Stryker Sulak, Missouri, DE
Round 5, pick 148
Chris Baker, Hampton, DT
Round 6, pick 189
Jose Valdez, Arkansas, OT
Round 7, pick 224
John Matthews, San Diego, WR
ABOUT THIS BLOG
Bill Williamson
Williamson joined ESPN.com in 2008 after four seasons covering the Denver Broncos for the Denver Post. He previously covered the Minnesota Vikings, Green Bay Packers and Seattle Seahawks.
