Broncos have plan in place for Willis McGahee's return

Q: When Willis McGahee returns, what will be the roster move to activate him? Won't they need to release someone to make room? Kind of a bummer to be so close to a Super Bowl and miss out.

A: Paul, McGahee may be ready to practice on a limited basis next week when the Broncos begin their game-week preparation. However, the team's timetable is still that he would be ready to play in a limited role in the AFC championship game and beyond if the Broncos advance that far.

Broncos coach John Fox was asked recently about McGahee's progress. Fox said the AFC championship game was still the target.

He said:

"He's rehabbing and all indications are it's on schedule. He's getting better every day. He won't be ready any time real soon, but we'll evaluate that as we get going and finish up the regular season. All indications are he's making good progress."

McGahee tore the medial collateral ligament and suffered a compression fracture in his right knee during the second quarter of the Broncos' 30-23 victory over the Chargers on Nov. 18. The injury, as is sometimes the case with an MCL, didn't require surgery to repair.

So, McGahee was placed on injured reserve, but "designated for return," an option for the first time this season. Teams can now bring one player back off injured reserve during the season, but they have to declare which player it will be as soon as the player is moved to injured reserve in the first place.
It's what the Ravens did with linebacker Ray Lewis.

The dynamics of it for the Broncos are that McGahee can return to practice when the Broncos deem him ready for that, but they don't have to make a roster move at that point.

He can basically practice as the 54th player on the roster. It's that way so teams can evaluate the player's readiness to play in a game before they make any decisions.

But to play him in a game, the Broncos would have to make a roster move. So, yes, somebody is getting one of the unkindest cuts of all, to potentially be a week or two away from the Super Bowl and get released would be difficult to accept for any player.

Last February, the Patriots cut wide receiver Tiquan Underwood the day before the Super Bowl. So Underwood went to the Super Bowl city, practiced through the week and was cut less than 24 hours before the game.

He wasn't going to play a lot in the game, but that would stick with you for quite some time.

In terms of the Broncos' roster move when McGahee comes back, the expectation is that he would be a part of a rotation. He's still less than two months out from a serious injury.

He also does not play special teams. So to add him to the roster, that will influence the decision about who gets released. To add him and not release another running back, however, means the Broncos would have six players at the position, a rare number for a team that doesn't use a lot of two-back sets.

They signed Jacob Hester because of his abilities in pass protection. Hester showed in the regular-season finale he can contribute in the run game. And other than McGahee, he is the only running back the team has who checks in at more than 215 pounds.

Two of the backs — Lance Ball and fullback Chris Gronkowski — are two of the regulars on special teams. Ball has played 53 percent of the team's special teams plays this year while Gronkowski is at 56.7 percent (270 plays). Only Omar Bolden, Nate Irving and David Bruton played more on special teams this season than Gronkowski did.


(denverpost.com)