Broncos' LB Todd Davis 'progressing but not at the rate we hoped'

When it comes to experience, the Denver Broncos are thin at the inside linebacker position. The Broncos have no shortage of bodies at ILB, but when it comes to players who've seen real NFL snaps, there's Todd Davis and then there's Josey Jewell.

You could throw in Joe Jones, as far as having some experience, but like Davis, he's injured, too. Davis suffered a calf injury on the first day of training camp on July 18 and the original prognosis was a three-to-four-week recovery.

We've already passed the point the Broncos originally had hoped to get Davis back. And with the regular-season opener quickly barreling down on the Broncos, his timetable remains highly questionable.

“No, he won’t practice this week," head coach Vic Fangio said on Monday.
"He’s progressing, but not at the rate we had hoped.”

The Broncos are preparing to play their last preseason game of the summer — a Thursday night home bout vs. the Arizona Cardinals — while also beginning the uncomfortable process of pairing the roster down to the final 53 players.

Sure, the team would like to have Todd Davis, the starting ILB next to Josey Jewell, available for these practices, but no starters are going to play on Thursday night. At this point, the Broncos just want to get Davis out on the field and acclimated to playing football again and in Fangio's new defense, no less.

Todd Davis has an enormous opportunity in front of him. Starting inside linebackers have traditionally seen their stock skyrocket by playing in a Fangio scheme. Just look at Fangio's two most recent NFL stops before Denver. Names like Patrick Willis, NaVorro Bowman, Danny Trevathan and Roquan Smith.

Davis hopes to benefit from that same 'Fangio bump', but he can't do so if he's not healthy. The Broncos might be a little worried at this stage, considering that Davis' recovery has been slower than the team doctors originally expected, but the coaches have to be careful not to jump the gun.

If Todd Davis is rushed back only to reaggravate the calf injury, and thus miss more time, it'll do the Broncos no good. So for now, all the Broncos can do is hurry up and wait.

And while they're waiting, the Broncos have to start projecting as a contingency which depth 'backer will get the nod next to Jewell if Davis is unable to go come September 9 in the Black Hole.

At this point, Davis has missed all but one day of training camp and the entire preseason. But if the Broncos can get him back in time for the Oakland Raiders, all will be well. If not, it's 'next man up'.

Follow Chad on Twitter @ChadNJensen.