The Broncos suffered their most significant injury of Training Camp when rookie RB Ryan Torain broke a bone in his elbow this morning during 9-on-7 work, Head Coach Mike Shanhan announced after practice.
Torain was running with the football when he was knocked off-balance. Using his left arm in an attempt to steady himself, he was hit by LB's Nate Webster and Jamie Winborn. Torain immediately grabbed his left arm before crumbling to the turf. He was attended to by the Broncos' Training staff before being carted off the field.
The 6-8 weeks is an optimistic assessment, with a real time line to be determined by the amount, if any, of ligament damge has been done to the elbow. Shanahan expressed his disappointment in the loss, saying that Torain was in the competition for the starting HB job and his loss was a big one despite the fact that Torain was a rookie.
With Torain out, the weight of the running game falls square on the shoulder of Selvin Young, Andre Hall and undrafted free-agent Anthony Alridge. Alrdige has been impressive this summer in his own right and will surely get a close look during the pre-season.
I was completely impressed by Torain during the practice sessions I watched and felt he had a huge opportunity to get some major playing time. Now, Selvin Young has to, and I mean HAS TO, be the real deal atrunning back.