Walker is not interested in cooling his heels

The walk-through after practice Thursday was winding down when Javon Walker waltzed to his receiver's spot and, one by one, sent his cleats flying to the sideline.

If anybody deserves to kick off his shoes and relax, it's Walker. He has been a full participant through 11 days of workouts while his position has been decimated by injuries.

But after lightly jogging his next route while in socks, he pressed on like he has all month. Just for laughs, Walker helped move the chains while the second team took its end-of-practice snaps.

He then caught live passes before giving the JUGS machine a whirl to cap his workout, shoes on.

"It's training camp, and when everything is pretty much done with, it's going to make the games a lot easier," Walker said with sweat beading on both sides of his Mohawk. "Obviously, we don't want any injuries because we need those guys for games and the upcoming season, but you just take it for what it's worth and just stay out there working."

Walker on Wednesday had been given the option to take off the second of back-to-back practices, but he declined. He also had been asked before but passed.

"The only thing it's doing is making me stronger. And why would I practice in the morning and let those guys practice in the afternoon? We're a unit," he said.

Walker hasn't just been available. He has looked smooth in his route running, has demonstrated a quick burst and mostly has been reliable with his hands. With no rehabilitation to consume him, as was the case when he was rebounding from right knee surgery before the 2006 season, he appears locked in on improving on his 69-catch, 1,084-yard, eight-touchdown Broncos debut.

"I feel like I'm back to my old self as far as not coming off any injuries, and I'm doing everything I can to show what I can do," he said. "Last year was a glimpse, but in my head, the people of Denver haven't seen nothing yet."

And what was missing?

"Everything. Everything," he said. "They saw a fraction of what I can do out there when I'm going, healthy and feeling great."

Neck and neck

Cecil Sapp has appeared to receive more carries during team periods as the No. 2 running back. But part of the reason might be the Broncos know what they have in Mike Bell off his rookie season and need to see if Sapp can handle the switch from fullback back to consistently toting the ball.

"No one's etched in stone at the 2, 3, whatever," position coach Bobby Turner said. "I'm trying to keep the guys fresh and I've been rotating them . . . and keeping the reps even. I keep track of what plays they run - run and pass. It depends on the period, but I kind of rotate them every day."

It was Bell's shot to work the second unit most frequently during 11-on-11 activity Thursday. He played some fullback for the second straight day, not necessarily because that's where he's headed but to gauge his versatility.

Bell stressed he and Sapp are "definitely getting an equal shot" to be Travis Henry's backup.

Interested observer

Broncos general manager Ted Sundquist and the team's salary-cap manager, Mike Bluem, huddled after practice with agent Jack Reale. Two of the team's highest-profile free agents, kicker Jason Elam and safety Nick Ferguson, are represented by Reale.

Talks regarding both players mainly are in the preliminary stages. And despite a favorable salary-cap situation, it's more likely talks won't intensify until after the season.

Daily highlights

Linebacker Cameron Vaughn, trying to make the team in a reserve/special-teams role, slapped away a pass to tight end Stephen Alexander along the right sideline. He later intercepted a Jay Cutler throw on a similar route by Alexander on the opposite side.

With John Lynch in Stanford, Calif., attending funeral services for former San Francisco 49ers coach Bill Walsh, cornerback Domonique Foxworth slid over to safety and took most of the first-team repetitions, with Curome Cox occasionally filling in. Foxworth's move pushed Jeff Shoate into the first-team nickel, covering the slot. Cox ended practice by intercepting backup quarterback Patrick Ramsey in the no-huddle period in a matchup of second-team offense and defense.

Defensive tackle Amon Gordon helped his cause to make the roster with an interception. Gordon consistently has run with the second unit in camp with Sam Adams getting extensive time off, and he might push free agent Alvin McKinley for a job.

Defensive end Jarvis Moss (left knee) again participated in position drills but was kept out of the team period. Several players left drills prematurely after being shaken up, including rookie offensive tackle Ryan Harris (back), receiver David Kircus and defensive end Elvis Dumervil (leg).

The offense had some sloppy moments, with David Terrell dropping consecutive passes and tight end Teyo Johnson and offensive tackle Cliff Washburn getting consecutive false starts.

Chris Kuper saw some action at right tackle for the second straight day. Kuper, running as the backup right guard to Montrae Holland, practiced at the position last season but moved outside for the first time this year. The move, in part, was necessary, with Matt Lepsis and Jacob Rogers sitting out and Harris banged up midway through practice.

Injury report

The out-of-pads list included safety Hamza Abdullah (right hamstring), linebacker Louis Green (left knee), guard Ben Hamilton (concussion), safety Quentin Harris (right knee), linebacker Warrick Holdman (spinal cord), offensive tackles Matt Lepsis (groin) and Jacob Rogers (left knee) and receivers Brandon Marshall (left thigh), Glenn Martinez (right thigh), Brandon Stokley (left thigh), Marquay McDaniel (left hamstring) and Rod Smith (left hip). Lepsis and Hamilton have been ruled out for the preseason opener Monday.

He said it

"You can say it doesn't have an effect. But me being in my ninth year, I know how it works. Every day you're not practicing, you fall a step behind. And it feels like I'm starting over and it's like the first day of (organized team activities), where I have to prove myself all over again."

Warrick Holdman, on how the spinal cord concussion he suffered Aug. 2 when he was rotating in with the first unit might alter his chances to start at strong-side linebacker.

If you go

The Broncos are down to their final two days of public workouts at their Dove Valley headquarters. The team will have two full practices today at 8:30 a.m. and 3:50 p.m.

Camp will conclude Saturday with a workout at 8:30 a.m. Gates will open one hour before on-field work begins.

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