Prater can go the distance

ENGLEWOOD • A 90 percent success rate and a trio of 50-yard field goals is great, but Matt Prater knows he hasn't made anyone forget about Jason Elam.

The Denver Broncos' new kicker said he knows he might have to fight skeptics all season.

"I'm sure there's still some doubters out there, so I have to keep proving them wrong," Prater said. "It's only a quarter of the way through the season so I have a lot of kicking to do."

Prater is the leading scorer in the NFL so far, with 41 points. He came into the season as an unknown taking over for Elam, the team's all-time leading scorer. The Broncos knew he had a big leg. His three 50-yard field goals this season are only two away from the Broncos' season record. He hit two 50-yarders last week against the Chiefs, including a 56-yarder. He was the first player in Arrowhead Stadium history to hit two 50-yarders in a game, and the first Broncos player to hit two 50-yard field goals on the road in a game.

But Denver knew he could do that. The question about Prater was his consistency from short range. He did miss a 28-yarder against Kansas City, but is 6 of 7 from within 50 yards for the season. He said on the short miss he hurried through his steps while lining up, something he promised not to do again.

Something Prater provides that Elam hadn't for a few years is long-range possibilities.

Shanahan said he didn't think twice about letting Prater try the 56-yarder after a false start penalty.

"I had a mind-set that I was going to go to 60 yards with him, but he has kicked 70-, 75-yarders here before," Shanahan said.

Prater said he has kicked a 73-yarder in practice and every week in practice the Broncos give him a chance from 65 yards or longer.

The NFL record is 63 yards, which is held by Elam and Tom Dempsey. He said he thinks he could hit a 70-yarder in a game with no wind and wants the chance for a long one.

"I'm looking forward to it," Prater said. "(Special-teams) coach Scott O'Brien told me to be ready."

Shanahan on Henry

Shanahan commented Friday after practice about former Denver running back Travis Henry, who was arrested on cocaine charges this week. Henry was released this offseason after he failed to show up for a few injury rehabilitation assignments.

"Obviously when a guy gets an opportunity you're hoping he's going to take advantage of it, from a football side, and when he didn't do the things he was supposed to do during the offseason program, obviously, we released him," Shanahan said. "But for him to experience what he's experienced right now, I wouldn't wish that on anybody. It's really a shame. He's going to spend a number of years in prison."

Odds and ends

After practicing Friday, defensive end John Engelberger (knee) was listed as probable on the injury report. The only Broncos player listed as questionable was receiver Darrell Jackson, who has missed three games with a calf injury. ... Fullback Peyton Hillis was excused from practice because of a death in the family. ... Kansas City defensive end Turk McBride was fined $5,000 for a roughing the passer penalty on Broncos quarterback Jay Cutler last week, an NFL spokesman said.

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Contact the writer: 476-4891 or frank.schwab@gazette.com