What a long, strange trip it's been.

Several players hobbled. One already is out for the season. Two others stayed home.

And there was sweat, plenty of sweat, in hot, sticky Texas. That serves to drive the point home that plenty of sweating the details still is needed three weeks before the NFL regular-season opener for the Broncos.

Given the events of the past several days, the team meeting with Darrent Williams' family in Irving, Texas, provided a highlight of the Broncos' trek. The five-day visit included two days of joint workouts with the Dallas Cowboys, one walk-through alone and a clunker of a preseason performance by the visitors - particularly on defense.

"We didn't play how we can play. And that's a positive and I'll look at it that way," Denver defensive end Jarvis Moss said after the Broncos fell to 1-1 in the exhibition season with a 31-20 loss Saturday night. "We still haven't come together as a unit or a team. But once we do click, I think it'll be something real special."

The game didn't count, and it's important to make that distinction in the grand scheme of things. But the trouble spots are nonetheless noteworthy, with the Broncos starters expected to play only one more preseason game.

Foremost was the loss for the season of defensive end Ebenezer Ekuban, who suffered a torn right Achilles' tendon when he was bumped by teammate Amon Gordon while fending off a double-team block Saturday night. He will undergo surgery and is facing a six- to nine-month recovery period.

Ekuban not only was a starter at right defensive end, but he also moved to tackle on passing downs. And he was a leader for the young group on the front four, which now must take on a more prominent role.

Moss is leading candidate

The main candidates to fill in are led by Moss. He has been Ekuban's primary backup in training camp and finally is moving well after a knee injury, but he still needs to prove he can hold up against the run. Alvin McKinley didn't make the trip while his wife entered the late stages of pregnancy. Despite being used mainly at tackle, McKinley has experience as a 3-4 end and likely will get a look.

That shift could prompt the return of defensive tackle Gerard Warren from exile after a week of trade attempts went nowhere.

Kenard Lang once was buried on the depth chart with the third team, but he could get new life. He has experience in a similar role after Courtney Brown was lost last season.

Then there's Tim Crowder. The rookie was on crutches Thursday after spraining his left ankle but could be back by Saturday for the third preseason game, against the Cleveland Browns. Crowder was playing behind John Engelberger on the left side when he went down, but the Broncos' ends are taught both positions. Crowder also has the bulk to hold up on the strong side of the run formation, and his play had been on the upswing.

"It's a tough situation, but I've got to get my ankle right so I can pick up the slack," said Crowder, who's already walking without aid. "A lot of the guys are pushing for me to get back. I'm getting better each day. I didn't think it would be good this fast."

The Broncos wish they could say the same about their defense.

A couple of days after assistant head coach/defense Jim Bates commented that the unit was slower to pick up the nuances of the scheme than his previous team, the Green Bay Packers in 2005, the group went out and proved it.

The Broncos defense allowed 190 rushing yards. The first-team defense in its half yielded a 6-of-8 conversion rate on third downs while missing several tackles and assignments.

"We're not worried," said end Elvis Dumervil, who also has a shot to fill Ekuban's void. "It's a process. It's preseason. That's what it's for. There's no doubts. And as long as we're all going the same direction, we'll make significant strides."

But as safety John Lynch noted, the Broncos were playing only two basic defenses against the Cowboys. And given all those repetitions, they should become increasingly proficient in each - not take steps back.

"It's guys trying to get used to the scheme," safety Nick Ferguson said. "And it's what they always say in football - do your own job and not someone else's."

Denver's starters have allowed 34 points in three quarters.

"In both games there have been plays where guys have just been running free, and we have to clean that stuff up," Lynch said. "We have 21 days until the opener. I'm confident we will. But sometimes, just because we're the Broncos and have been a good football team and have great coaches and good players, it doesn't just happen. We've got to make it happen."

Offensive problems, too

The offense also had a harder time against the Cowboys than in the Aug. 13 preseason opener against San Francisco. The Broncos managed only four first downs and 78 yards while failing to convert all five third downs in the first half.

Getting the offensive line right would help. Left guard Ben Hamilton has missed both games because of a concussion and will be re-evaluated today. Adam Meadows, who moved into the starting lineup at right tackle in Dallas only to suffer a severe calf strain, is further away. Meadows, though, was off crutches and was walking without a limp Saturday night.

The Broncos averted disaster when running back Travis Henry suffered only a first-degree sprain of the medical collateral ligament in his left knee in the second quarter. Although it's not considered to be a serious injury, Henry is questionable against Cleveland.

And since the Broncos starters rarely play in the fourth preseason game, Henry likely won't see game action again until the regular-season opener against the Buffalo Bills.

The Broncos likely will get wide receiver Brandon Stokley (calf strain) back for practice today, adding another weapon.

It's Lynch's contention that while the Broncos didn't take a positive step in the game Saturday, the work they got against the Cowboys was worthwhile.

"If it was our last preseason game and we played like that, I'd definitely be concerned," cornerback Champ Bailey said. "But we've got a good little time before Week 1. We have time to make it up."

OTHER INJURIES: Safety Curome Cox (shoulder) will miss some time and running Mike Bell (hip) could miss one to two weeks.

rasizerl@RockyMountainNews.com.

Staff writer Jeff Legwold contributed to this report.

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