Big-time fantasy sleeper could miss up to three months
Big loss for the Denver Broncos as rookie running back Ryan Torain could be out two to three months after suffering a fractured left elbow during Wednesday morning’s workout.
Torain was carrying the ball in a nine-on-seven drill when he was tackled. As he fell, Torain stuck out his left hand to brace his fall and his elbow popped. He will miss at least six weeks.
Normally losing a fifth-round pick isn’t a huge deal, but Denver coach Mike Shanahan loves to make stars out of unsung running backs such as Torain. And Shanahan said Torain had been developing to the point where he was competing with Selvin Young and Andre Hall for the No. 1 tailback spot.
“It’s a big loss,” Shanahan said. “I thought he had the chance to compete to be a starting running back. One of the most gifted running backs I’ve been around for a long time, very similar to Terrell Davis when he came in.
“Any time you break a bone in that elbow area, obviously it’s a setback. I’m just hoping there is not too much ligament damage.”
Torain is a prototypical Broncos running back. He hits the hole quickly and he’s a downhill runner. He fits in Denver’s zone-blocking scheme. He slipped to the fifth round after rushing for 553 yards and five touchdowns at Arizona State last year before suffering a season-ending foot injury in October.
The Broncos have made a living out of scoring with late-round running backs. Terrell Davis was a sixth-round pick, as was Mike Anderson. Olandis Gary, a fourth-round selection in 1999, rushed for 1,159 yards as a rookie. Mike Bell and Young became contributors in the past two years after both were picked up as undrafted free agents.
Five different players have led the Broncos in rushing since 2003.
With Torain out, undrafted rookie Anthony Alridge moved up the depth chart behind Young and Hall while veteran Michael Pittman was shifted from fullback back to his natural tailback position. This is a major boost to Young, who now should win the starting job over Hall and not have to look over his shoulder until Torain is healthy.
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