Broncos notes: Despite tender ankle, Cutler is confident he will play
ENGLEWOOD -- There doesn’t seem to be much doubt that Denver Broncos quarterback Jay Cutler will play at Indianapolis on Sunday.
A real concern might be how mobile Cutler will be on a sprained ankle. He said if the Broncos had a game Wednesday, he would be limited.
“If we had to play today, yeah,” Cutler said. “Luckily we don’t. There’s still a lot of time left, a lot of rehab. I’m confident I’ll be ready.”
Cutler, who said his ankle was tender, moved well during the early portion of Wednesday’s practice that was open to the media. The Broncos reported Cutler participated in the entire practice.
Coach Mike Shanahan wasn’t worried about Cutler’s availability this week.
“He’s a little sore right now, but unless there’s a setback he should be ready to play,” Shanahan said.
The Broncos could be without safety John Lynch, who didn’t practice Wednesday. Lynch has a strained groin and Shanahan said he was sore Wednesday. Lynch will likely sit out today and test the groin in Friday’s practice, according to Shanahan.
“We will find out during the week where he is at,” Shanahan said.
Receiver Javon Walker had some inflammation in his surgically repaired right knee and Shanahan said the Broncos gave him a day off to rest it. Walker has had some swelling in the knee, but Shanahan said he had a magnetic resonance imaging test and no damage was found.
Fullback Mike Bell has a concussion and didn’t practice.
Rockies fan
Todd Helton, the first baseman of the Colorado Rockies, was once Peyton Manning’s backup quarterback at the University of Tennessee.
Manning said he is cheering for the Rockies, who barreled back into the National League wild card race in the past week.
Manning said he called Helton to congratulate Helton after his dramatic walk-off home run against Los Angeles last week, and again before Colorado’s weekend series against San Diego.
Manning has been trying to get Helton to a Colts game, but hopes it isn’t soon.
“I told him I didn’t want him to come to a game until at least November or December,” Manning said. “I hope they are playing in the postseason.”
Odds and ends
Receiver Ashley Lelie will pay the Broncos $440,000 he owes them, Lelie’s agent, Peter Schaffer, confirmed, and the team’s lawsuit will be dropped. Lelie owed the Broncos a portion of his signing bonus and fines after he held out and was later traded in 2006. “We’re just moving forward,” Schaffer said. ... Rookie offensive tackle Ryan Harris, who had minor back surgery in August, returned to practice Wednesday. ... Domonique Foxworth, who could fill in for Lynch at safety if Lynch isn’t healthy, practiced in full Wednesday after missing two games with a sprained ankle. Fullback Paul Smith, who pinched a nerve in his neck Sunday, also practiced.
