Broncos’ DeMarcus Ware Wary Of Returning Too Soon Again
ENGLEWOOD, Colorado (AP) The young understudy has performed admirably in place of the wounded senior superstar in Denver, and it’s almost time to return to the bench.
This is about pass-rushers Shaq Barrett and DeMarcus Ware, not Brock Osweiler and Peyton Manning.
Ware has been out of action for a month due to a back injury, but he could return to Denver’s top-ranked defense this weekend against San Diego, though the safer bet is that he will wait until the Broncos play Oakland on December 13.
“I just want to make sure when I return, I come back blazing,” Ware said Thursday.
He hurried back the first time he hurt his back, and it did not end well.
Ware missed a game in Cleveland on October 18 but returned to the field on November 1, when he had a monster game against Aaron Rodgers and the Green Bay Packers after the Broncos’ bye week. But he worsened the injury a week later in Indianapolis and has not played since.
Barrett had a fantastic game at Cleveland in his first NFL start, recording nine tackles and 1 1-2 sacks, and the Browns were so impressed that they enquired about his availability at the trade deadline shortly after.
Not a chance, said general manager John Elway, who was unwilling to deal with the gem he discovered in the undrafted free agent from Colorado State last year.
Ware worsened his poor lower back shortly after breaking into the NFL’s top ten all-time sacks record with 133 1-2, and Barrett, first-round draft pick Shane Ray, and Lerentee McCray have taken up the load – if not the sacks – in his absence.
Barrett recovered Chris Harper’s fumbled punt in the fourth quarter, sparking Denver’s comeback from a 14-point fourth quarter deficit Sunday night in their dramatic win over New England, after Ray made a crushing hit on Tom Brady in overtime.
“They’re the dirty duo,” Ware explained. “You have Shane and Shaq, and you also have Lerentee. You must include him in the mix. Those players have done an excellent job of rushing the passer and carrying out their duties. They’ve learned a lot from the games they’ve played and received a lot of attention.”
Ware returned to practice this week for the first time since November 6, and coach Gary Kubiak said “from yesterday to today there was a big step,” but emphasized that there is no rush to get Ware back on the field this weekend.
The idea is to keep him healthy during the stretch run.
Ware said he needs to be able to go into the game worry-free so he can let loose without worrying about his back breaking down again and sidelining him for the playoffs, when his health might be critical to Denver’s Super Bowl prospects.
Ware never missed a game over his first nine seasons. A thigh injury in 2013 ended his streak of 134 consecutive games played, and following a three-week hiatus, he went 29 straight until missing four of his last six this season.
When asked if his ironman streak had taken its toll, Ware replied, “Mother Nature takes its toll.” Injuries occur, and around age 33, they take longer to heal.
“He’s a legend out there on the field,” said Von Miller, his pass rush partner. “He’s going to be back at some point in the season and whenever he’s back, the other team’s going to catch hell.”
Despite missing a month, Ware’s 6 1-2 sacks are only a half sack behind Miller for the team lead. Ware, the AFC’s Defensive Player of the Month in September, said getting hurt was especially disappointing after such a strong start to his 11th NFL season.
“I was getting one sack each game and feeling a lot of pressure. “Oh my gosh, injury strikes,” Ware exclaimed. “Now, I just sit back and reflect on what I was doing to be productive at the time. And when you return, how effective can I be? What type of influence can I make?
“It’s kind of like, you put the cape up for a little while and then come back out of that booth.
Note: WR. Cody Latimer (boy) and ILB Corey Nelson (girl) have returned to practice after missing Wednesday’s training. Each was attending his child’s birth. CB Lorenzo Doss was unwell on Thursday. RG Evan Mathis (groin) has returned to practice.
