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#Broncos rookie running back C.J. Anderson expected to miss six weeks with knee injury suffered in practice Thursday. — Jeff Legwold (@Jeff_Legwold) August 15, 2013
To make matters worse this afternoon, Peyton Manning was quoted as saying he could hear CJ scream in pain when it happened:
Peyton Manning said CJ Anderson's injury sounded horrible. Could hear the rookie RB screaming in pain before he was carted off.
— Lindsay Jones (@bylindsayhjones) August 15, 2013
Mike Klis tweeted that the injury was indeed just an MCL and while he originally cited the time table as 2-4 weeks, has since revised his information:
Make that 4-6 week recovery on CJ Anderson's MCL sprain, not 2-4 weeks. So it's bad. Still not as bad as feared.
— Mike Klis (@MikeKlis) August 15, 2013
At the high end of the recovery time of 6 weeks, that would put his return around week 3 or 4 of the regular season. Since CJ has already practiced this preseason, he cannot be placed on the PUP list. I would say he's a prime candidate for the practice squad and given his limited action in preseason thus far coupled with his injury, would probably clear waivers.
Broncos could still activate him at any time during the regular season.
It looks like both Jeremiah Johnson and Knowshon Moreno will be out of this weekend's preseason game against Seattle. Expect to see a healthy serving of Montee Ball and Ronnie Hillman along with an more touches from Jacob Hester and Lance Ball.