ENGLEWOOD – Broncos linebacker Warrick Holdman will remain in the hospital overnight after he was carted off the practice field with a neck injury this morning.

Holdman, who is competing for a starting job at outside linebacker, went down late in the morning practice.

He appeared to hit the crown of his helmet on another player's helmet and crumpled to the grass. He was rolled over onto his back after a minute, but stayed down for eight minutes.

There was silence on the field while trainers tended to Holdman, who signed with the Broncos in the spring as an unrestricted free agent from the Washington Redskins.

Holdman was taken to SkyRidge Medical Center, where his injury was formally described as a spinal cord concussion.

"He went numb for about 30-40 seconds out there, but he got his feeling back — which is a good sign," Broncos coach Mike Shanahan said. "But I don't know anything for sure. Normally when somebody gets the feeling back, it's positive."

Shanahan canceled the afternoon practice because several players are hurt.

Holdman's injury left teammates in a subdued but hopeful mood after the morning session.

"That's the one thing you don't want to see whether it's a teammate or whether it's an opponent," cornerback Dre' Bly said. "We don't play this game to get injured, we play this game to entertain and have fun. So, whenever you see a guy go down, especially injuries like that when you're not moving and stuff like that, everyone immediately goes down and prays."

Team captain Al Wilson, the Broncos' leading tackler a year ago, was waived for health and salary cap concerns aftter injuring his neck last season.

Wilson failed a physical this spring that nixed a trade to the New York Giants before his release.

Holdman's injury brought flashbacks of Wilson getting hurt and carted off the field at Invesco on Dec. 3 — especially with Holdman wearing Wilson's old No. 56.

"You never want to see one of your teammates down," safety John Lynch said. "It brings back memories of Al Wilson. It's the worst thing about football.

"I thought about Al when he was down. It was a somber mood after it happened and we managed to get through the practice."

Toward the end of practice, trainers also tended to defensive lineman Demetrin Veal, who stayed on the ground after being poked in the eye.

Defensive tackle Sam Adams missed the morning session with a sore knee. Also missing the practice due to injury were wide receivers Glenn Martinez and Marquay McDaniel, tight end Chad Muster and rookie defensive lineman Marcus Thomas.