ENGLEWOOD, Colo. - Aside from Von Miller, Denvers once-deep linebacker corps has been reduced to four guys playing their first NFL season and an undrafted third-year pro whos started just five games.Steven Johnson, who at 26 qualifies as the greybeard among greenhorns, swears he isnt concerned.I dont think theres any drop-off, because I look at all these guys over here, and theyve got that hunger in their eye, just like I got, Johnson said. Because all of us at the beginning of the year werent starters, but now were out there starting and the team is counting on us. Were kind of relishing that opportunity.I guarantee you on Monday youre going to see some linebackers flying around, just like, What in the world? You know what I mean? Thats just the attitude were taking. Were ready to go.The Broncos (11-3) can clinch a first-round bye in the playoffs with a win at Cincinnati (9-4-1) Monday night. Theyll try to do that without three front-line linebackers: Danny Trevathan, Nate Irving and Brandon Marshall.Losing Marshall until the playoffs with a sprained right foot and the two others to season-ending knee injuries puts the onus on the front, especially in the run game to make sure were doing our job plus a little bit more, nose tackle Terrance Knighton said.Rookie Todd Davis, whom Denver claimed off waivers from New Orleans last month, is expected to lead the way, along with Johnson as the Broncos try to stuff Bengals running backs Jeremy Hill and Giovani Bernard.Also prepping for increased roles are rookies Corey Nelson and Lamin Barrow and second-year pro Lerentee McCray, who spent his rookie year on IR.Our coaches put together a good plan where Todds not going to be out there on his own, Knighton said. Hes not going to have to make every play. You have two veteran safeties (in Rahim Moore and T.J. Ward) back there behind him and you have two veteran guys in front of him with me and Derek Wolfe.So, our linebackers will be well-protected — but theyre not going to be in a position where they dictate the game. Our defence as a whole dictates the game.The Broncos sport the NFLs fourth-rated defence and theyre second only to Detroit at stopping the run. But theyll be without their top tackler in Marshall and last years leading tackler in Trevathan, both of whom were hurt last week.Marshall said hes confident the young linebackers will hold up until he gets back.I believe in all those guys, he said.Johnson went a step further, saying, A lot of people think were a little depleted at linebacker but I dont think so at all. So were going to go out there and its not going to be any drop-off. Were going to go out there and fight like we usually do.Asked just how realistic of an expectation that was with all the injuries, defensive co-ordinator Jack Del Rio had this to say Friday: I take whoever we have up and available and coach them up to be at their best and we expect them to play at a high standard. Thats the way we approached it last year, when we fought through (injuries to) a bunch of different guys. And we never make excuses.Marshall would be the biggest beneficiary of a first-round bye.Ive never had a foot sprain, a mid-foot sprain. So, I dont think it will just come back 100 per cent. But I think with the taping and the orthotic, itll definitely help, Marshall said.Notes: Knighton was named the recipient of the eighth annual Darrent Williams Good Guy Award as selected by Denver media for his accountability. Im just happy to win something for once. Obviously, theres been a lot of talk about me talking about me winning other things, said Knighton, who proclaimed last weekend that the Broncos would beat the Patriots in the playoffs even if they have to go on the road to do it. ... The Broncos said Peyton Manning (thigh) was limited at practice again Friday. He was moving around well during the 20-minute media access period. I havent seen any cause for concern, WR Emmanuel Sanders said. He had a really good day of practice today.___AP NFL website:
www.pro32.ap.org and
www.twitter.com/AP_NFL . - The Detroit Lions have placed tight end Brandon Pettigrew on injured reserve, ending his season. . Costa Rica followed up its wins over Uruguay and Italy by holding England to a dour 0-0 draw on Tuesday, enough to finish first in Group D.
http://www.cheapthunderjerseysauthentic.com/. The Bulls seem to be getting along fine without him. D.J. Augustin scored 27 points in a start for Kirk Hinrich and Taj Gibson matched a career high with 26 filling in for Carlos Boozer as the Bulls improved to 7-2 since trading the popular Deng with a 98-87 win over the Cleveland Cavaliers on Wednesday night. . He insists hes not counting. "If youre thinking hits, youre not paying attention to wins," Altuve said Sunday after leading the Houston Astros past the Texas Rangers 3-2. . - Rookie Kyle Larson will start from the pole position Saturday night in the NASCAR race at Richmond International Raceway after a thunderstorm arrived just in time to wash out qualifying. Running back Chris Johnson was a full participant at practice Thursday for the first time since joining the New York Jets after recovering from off-season knee surgery. "I felt good," he said. "I felt no pain or anything like that." Johnson, who signed with the Jets in April, had surgery on a torn meniscus in his right knee after last season. He played through the injury most of last season, when he ran for 1,077 yards -- the second-lowest total of his career. Johnson was limited throughout the off-season workouts and minicamp as the Jets tried to be cautious in getting him on the field. "Im ready to go do whatever they ask me to do," he said. Johnson, who rushed for 2,006 yards in 2009 with Tennessee, fumbled a handoff but showed off some of the speed that made him one of the leagues fastest players. He also lined up a handful of times at receiver, a spot where he could be frequently used with the Jets. Johnson had a career-high 57 receptions out of the backfield in 2011, and caught 42 passes last yearr despite dealing with the knee issue.dddddddddddd With his speed, he could create big-time mismatches as a pass-catching back. "When you see Chris Johnson in the flat, theyre going to have to be mindful of that," wide receiver David Nelson said of opposing defences. "Theyre going to have to jump to that. When they do that, it opens up a lot of spaces and a lot of spots in the middle of the field. If they dont, hes going to take it to the house. "It opens up a whole different dimension for us, especially in the passing game." Fellow running back Chris Ivory was limited with a tweaked hamstring that coach Rex Ryan didnt believe was serious. Guard Willie Colon and linebacker Antwan Barnes, both on the active/physically unable to perform list while recovering from knee surgeries, worked out with trainers on the sideline during practice. Ryan indicated that Colon could return a lot sooner than Barnes. Rookie wide receiver Quincy Enunwa didnt finish practice with a hip injury. ' ' '
