Linebacker Shane Ray entered training camp expecting a career year. He felt it, physically and mentally, and with DeMarcus Ware retired, the Broncos needed it.
But the good feelings ended two days into training camp when Ray injured his left wrist and had to undergo surgery to repair the bone and ligaments. All of preseason was shot, along with the first six games of the regular season as he was placed on injured reserve.
Now Ray and the Broncos are mulling whether he should play the final two games.
“I want to be out there. If I can, I’ll be out there to help the team,” he said Monday. “But I just got to get healthy and take care of myself and get back to being the Shane that I can be. It’s hard to do that after three wrist surgeries. … I got to get healthy, man. This (expletive) hurts.”
Bouncing back from the wrist injury proved difficult as Ray essentially played with a cast on his left hand and was unable to lift weights and regain his upper-body strength. His weight plummeted to 225 pounds, down from the 242 he played at last season, and the pain persisted. Prior to his return in October, he had pins removed from his surgically repaired wrist, but screws were left in place to secure the bone.
Last Friday, however, those screws had to come out, too.
“Originally the plan was after the season, but my screws — the problem is you’re playing in pain with the screws in your wrist and the possibility of the screws breaking,” Ray explained. “And my screws started wearing away a little bit at the bone and loosening up, so it was time to take them out.”
If he plays the final two games, Ray would have to wear a permanent hard cast. Once the stitches are removed, Ray can finally resume weight-lifting.
“I haven’t lifted weights since the surgery happened,” he said. “So you can imagine how tough it’s been to play injured, not being able to work out and all that stuff.
“For me, the toughest part is I’ve never quit. There’s never been a point in my football career to where I was like, ‘I’m not playing.’ It’s either, ‘You pull me out because I can’t play, or I’m going to play.’ But right now, this whole season that I put in and the injury itself — man, I need to get healthy. I’m already playing unsafe because I’m playing with one hand and I’m underweight. I’m literally playing off of will. I got to get healthy, man.”
Footnotes. Broncos coach Vance Joseph worked with Bengals head coach Marvin Lewis for two seasons in Cincinnati. Upon seeing a report that said Lewis is expected to leave the Bengals after 15 years as coach, Joseph weighed in. “I know personally that Marvin still wants to coach football,” Joseph said. “I’m not sure if it’s just rumors or how true it is, but I know Marvin’s done a great job for that organization, being there 15 years and that team going from not being relevant to relevant over Marvin’s time there. But I know Marvin wants to coach football, so I’m not sure how true those rumors are.” … The Broncos re-signed receiver River Cracraft to the practice squad. Cracraft first signed with the team Oct. 17, but was released three days later with a hamstring injury.
