Correll Buckhalter and Ryan Clady saw their first action of the preseason on Thursday in Minnesota. The veterans helped the Broncos first-team offense to an early score in the 31-24 loss.
ENGLEWOOD, Colo. -- On the Broncos' first offensive play of Thursday's final preseason game, Correll Buckhalter settled in beside Kyle Orton in a shotgun formation for his first snap of the preseason. Within seconds, Buckhalter was streaking up the left side after catching a screen pass, picking up 11 yards on his first touch against an opponent since the 2009 season finale.
Buckhalter and Ryan Clady returned for the Broncos in the 31-24 loss, getting their first action after missing the first three preseason contests due to injury. In limited time, the pair helped the first-team offense score a touchdown on one of its two drives 10 days before the regular season opener in Jacksonville.
"It was good to get those guys back and just get a little bit of work together before we get going," Orton said.
Throughout the preseason, Head Coach Josh McDaniels said he would be cautious with his veterans returning from injury. Both Buckhalter and Clady returned to the Dove Valley practice field last week, and after the players continued to sit out Sunday's win against Pittsburgh, the team decided they were ready to go on Thursday.
Orton said he appreciated the chance for his teammates to work out any "rustiness" now, rather than next week in Jacksonville.
Buckhalter went down on the first day of training camp and rejoined the running back corps for practice last Tuesday. The running back coming off a career season in 2009 finished with three carries for 3 yards and two catches for 26 yards.
Clady came off the reserve/non-football injury list last week. The offensive lineman progressed quickly enough in practice that McDaniels felt comfortable putting him back in game action on Thursday, and the Pro Bowler jumped back in at his familiar position anchoring the left side of the offensive line.
"I'm glad we got him in there," McDaniels said. "When you haven't played in a little while, there's always those first few plays that seem like the speed of the game is a little quicker than you remembered it. But I thought he did fine. I'm really glad we got that part out of the way for him and I look forward to getting ready for Jacksonville."
On the other hand, Knowshon Moreno was not quite ready to get back into the offensive fray. The second-year running back dressed for the first time this preseason and warmed up but did not see action.
Moreno returned to the practice field this week for the first time since the opening day of training camp. McDaniels said Moreno continues to show progress and as he nears full recovery, the team saw no reason to chance a setback before the regular season begins.
"It was good to get him out there and get going -- the same thing with practice," McDaniels said. "We feel like he's close. Every day is a better day for us. At that point, if we're not ready to go, then I think the best thing for us to do is not to take the risk."
