ENGLEWOOD – Noting that he's "feeling way better," Broncos starting left guard Ben Hamilton likely will return to the practice field this week after missing more than two weeks with a concussion.

"I'm just going to do what they tell me to do day-to-day," Hamilton said after sitting out Monday's practice.

But he added, it's his understanding he'll be back in the next few days.

"I'm ready to go," he said.

Coach Mike Shanahan seconded that notion and stated that Hamilton's timetable should allow the lineman to play in the preseason finale Aug. 30 vs. the Arizona Cardinals.

"He did a lot better over the weekend, according to the doctors," Shanahan explained.

Hamilton was hurt during an Aug. 3 practice when he bumped helmets with a teammate. He attempted to return five days later but only lasted a few snaps and since hasn't practiced.

The guard, who continues to label his concussion as "minor," stayed behind in Denver while the rest of the team went on its two-city trek through San Francisco and Dallas and worked on his strength and cardiovascular shape.

Hamilton indicated he could have returned sooner.

"I've done great on all the tests. The whole time I've done great," he said. "It's just them being cautious."

The NFL recently adopted new concussion guidelines that stress a conservative approach to managing such injuries, stemming from a conference in June between the league, doctors and team trainers.

Chris Myers likely will start Saturday in Hamilton's place vs. the Cleveland Browns.

Mr. Fix-It

Jim Bates has his concerns about his defense's execution currently but believes there's "ample time" to get everything fixed before Week 1.

"That's what preseason's all about – players getting used to one another and gap responsibility and eliminating big plays," the Broncos assistant head coach/defense said.

Denver's first team so far has allowed 34 points in three quarters.

But right now, the biggest issue is getting the fundamentals down and being more accountable, particularly against the run.

"It's not tackling," he said, alluding to rushing totals of 144 and 190 yards vs. Denver the first two preseason games. "Outside of a couple misses it's been fairly clean. It hasn't been as swarming as we'd like. We'd like to get more people to the football. It's just breakdowns as far as where we're fitting, playing with power, staying square and getting off blocks."

There have been some "excellent" practices during training camp where it appears the players have adapted, according to Bates.

In a workout last Thursday with the Cowboys, for example, Denver's defense got Dallas off the field seven straight times. On game day, when the speed and intensity increased with players needing to think quicker on the move, that percentage rose to a 10-of-16 conversion rate.

Bates put that issue on the coaches as much as on the players for failing to communicate better how to clean things up.

But he also stressed Denver's defense hasn't played a complete game, nor game-planned an opponent, like it will this week, when the group will play about three full quarters. So there's no time to panic.

"We can game plan to take things away," he said, listing an eight-man front to slow down the rush among them. "But we want to do it within the basic scheme."

Running ragged

The beads of sweat dripping off the forehead of fullback Paul Smith said it all following Monday's practice.

"I haven't run this much in a while," he said while gasping for breath.

Injuries have decimated the running back position to the point where only four players joined running backs coach Bobby Turner during position drills. The situation prompted Smith and fellow fullback Troy Fleming to pull double duty as halfbacks for the scout team.

Travis Henry (sprained left knee) will be held out of Saturday's third preseason game, meaning he won't suit up again until the regular-season opener in Buffalo on Sept. 9. Mike Bell (sprained shoulder) is out two weeks, giving Cecil Sapp an edge in their battle for the primary backup role. And Andre Hall (hamstring, groin) also remains out.

Fullback Kyle Johnson received stitches over his eye suffered against Dallas and also may have sustained a minor ankle sprain but should return to practice Tuesday.

Sapp will almost certainly start Saturday night against the Browns at tailback, with undrafted Selvin Young in reserve.

"Are you in shape?" Shanahan kiddingly asked a reporter when asked about the thin backfield.

Numbers game

8 Picks the Broncos currently own in the 2008 draft. Denver lost its third-round selection to move up and obtain defensive tackle Marcus Thomas in April's draft and dealt its sixth-rounder to obtain Jimmy Kennedy from the Rams. Denver has an extra pick in the fourth round from the Ashley Lelie trade and likely a No. 7 from Tampa Bay in the Jake Plummer deal. Should Gerard Warren make Oakland's roster this season, it will have an extra pick in the fifth. The Broncos still have their own selections in the first, second, fourth, fifth and seventh rounds.

Quote

"I remember when I was playing in Tampa, they used to call him 'Baby Sapp.' It's a pretty good tandem. But they've got a lot of good players on that D-line."

Broncos safety John Lynch on the new pairing of two Warrens in Oakland, with Gerard Warren being sent to the Raiders, where the DT will join another ex-Lynch teammate, Warren Sapp.

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