Saturday, July 28, 2007

4 to physically unable to perform list

By Frank Schwab

The Denver Broncos players started filing into camp on Saturday morning.

The biggest news from reporting day was that four players – receiver Brandon Marshall, receiver Rod Smith, tight end Tony Scheffler and linebacker Eddie Moore will start training camp on the physically unable to perform list.

Smith and Scheffler were not surprises, considering both were questionable to be ready for the start of camp. Moore’s knee started acting up, and he’ll probably have surgery that will knock him out for most of the preseason and probably ruin his chances of starting at strongside linebacker.

Marshall’s injury is a potential problem for the Broncos. Marshall has a quadriceps injury that he said should keep him out about a week, which will be a nervous stretch for the Broncos because of their expectations for him. After finishing last season strong, he was supposed to be a starter. But he missed a lot of practice time this offseason because of nagging injuries. And because of injuries to Smith and Brandon Stokley – who should be ready to practice once a day as he recovers from a torn Achilles’ tendon – the Broncos are a bit thin at receiver. Domenik Hixon, who didn’t play a game last year as a rookie because of a foot injury, might take Marshall’s spot in the starting lineup while he heals. Marshall’s biggest challenge might not be getting healthy, but proving he can stay healthy once he gets back in the lineup.

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