Broncos already rule out 5 players for next week

By The AP
Monday, October 11, 2010

ENGLEWOOD — The Denver Broncos will be without three key members of their secondary when they face the New York Jets next weekend.

Coach Josh McDaniels said today that safeties Brian Dawkins (knee) and Darcel McBath (ankle) and cornerback Andre’ Goodman (thigh) have already been ruled out along with linebackers Robert Ayers (leg) and Wesley Woodyard (hamstring).

McDaniels declined to discuss the severity of any of the injuries or the timetable for any player’s return, although the unusual nature of ruling them out so early could forecast long recoveries for some of them.

Wide receiver Demaryius Thomas (head/neck) was undergoing further evaluation today. He was hurt on a high-low tackle while returning a kickoff in the first half of the Broncos’ 31-17 loss at Baltimore.