Horse Tracks: Hillman ready for his first career start

This Sunday running back Ronnie Hillman is expected to make his first career start against the New York Jets. Hillman is getting this opportunity after Montee Ball suffered a strained groin during last Sunday's victory against the Arizona Cardinals. This is a big opportunity for Hillman who has an up and down career thus far, and he's prepared for it.

You just play your role and do what you do and eventually, the time will come. So when the time comes, you’ve got to take advantage of the opportunity and right now’s the time."

Hillman has had an up and down 2014 thus far. He had a very good Training Camp and Preseason but was inactive week one because of some off the field issues. He hasn't seen the field much before last weeks game in which he carried the ball 15 times for 64 yards.

This will be Hillman's first career start and with that comes some added responsibility.

"You have a little more responsibility to go out there and actually perform right away, not watching somebody else go out there. So that’s about the only thing that’s a little different."

While Hillman is expected to get the start the Broncos do plan to use running backs Juwan Thompson and C.J Anderson as well. It's unclear how that plan will play out, but Head Coach John Fox is prepared to lean on all three of their running backs.

"We’ve got a list. We signed a new practice squad running back today. I think right now, obviously our active guys, we have three of them, so we’ll lean on all three of them."

The Broncos running game has struggled thus far in 2014, so hopefully they can get things rolling this weekend against a Jets defense that is usually pretty good against the run game.

Go Broncos!

Horse Tracks:

• Minnesota Vikings running back Adrian Peterson's trial date is tentatively set for December 1st in Texas according to reports.
• NFL Commissioner Rodger Goodell says that the NFL continues to work on its domestic violence issues.
• Detroit Lions wide receiver Calvin Johnson is dealing with a high ankle sprain, and could miss this weekends game.
• Bengals wide receiver A.J Green was carted off the practice field Wednesday with a toe injury.
• Titans offensive tackle Michael Roos is undergoing season ending surgery.
• Oakland Raiders Quarterback Derek Carr practices and is expected to play this Sunday.
• The Oakland Raiders have placed linebacker Nick Roach on the season ending injured reserve list because of a concussion.
• Brett Favre is pleased that Broncos Quarterback Peyton Manning is nearing his all-time passing touchdown record.