AFC injury rehabs loaded with superstars, big unknowns

It is hard to overstate the importance of Peyton Manning’s health to the Denver Broncos.

Right now, Manning’s backups are Caleb Hanie, Brock Osweiler and Adam Weber. Enough said.
The Broncos are gambling they can keep Manning on the field, even though he missed all of the 2011 season following multiple neck surgeries, the most significant being a cervical neck fusion procedure last September. The less Manning gets hit, the more likely he plays 16 games. Take a closer look at the Broncos, and Manning, and you will find several reasons why the Broncos feel comfortable gambling on Manning’s health.

Historically, no NFL quarterback has been harder to sack than Manning. In seven of his last eight seasons with the Indianapolis Colts, Manning was sacked fewer than 20 times. For his career, Manning throws 31.2 passes for every sack taken. He is masterful at reading defenses. He gets rid of the football quickly.

While Manning’s lack of mobility is sometimes a liability, his offensive linemen know where he will be, making it easier for them to build a protective cocoon around him.

All five Broncos starting offensive linemen from last season return — left tackle Ryan Clady, left guard Zane Beadles, center J.D. Walton, right guard Chris Kuper and right tackle Orlando Franklin. The Broncos were the only NFL team last season that started the same offensive line every game. Their cohesion as a unit, coupled with Manning’s ability, makes the Broncos confident they can limit the number of hits Manning takes.

Manning completed an array of throws when the Broncos worked him out at Duke University on March 16 while still in the middle of his rehabilitation. He took part in all of the Broncos' organized team activities and minicamp sessions in May and June and was able to complete all the passes on his route tree.

The most encouraging sign for the Broncos was that Manning was able to effectively throw deep, given the concern over his arm strength following the surgeries. Manning acknowledged in June that he had work to do in his rehabilitation before training camp opens. But his full work this spring meant he would have a full workload from the first camp practice July 26.

"We don't think about the injury anymore and I'm not sure if he does, either," said Broncos wide receiver Brandon Stokley, reunited with Manning after playing with him with the Colts from 2003-06.

However, until Manning absorbs — and rises from — the first hit he takes during the preseason, Broncos fans will have reason to be nervous. That will be a familiar feeling whenever Manning hits the deck this season.

Manning has plenty of company when it comes to recovering from injuries heading into training camp. Here are 12 other AFC players that have been rehabbing this summer as training camps approach:

Eric Berry, S, Kansas City Chiefs
The injury: Berry tore knee ligaments in the first quarter of the 2011 season opener. He did not participate in offseason practices, working instead with a trainer off to the side. Although the Chiefs might bring him along slowly, Berry should be able to participate in most, if not all, drills from the start of training camp. Berry should be 100 percent when the regular season begins.

What to expect in 2012: Berry will again be the starting strong safety and the Chiefs will count on him being the same player he was before the injury. The Chiefs quietly had one of the best defensive teams over the last half of 2011. They should be better if Berry can be the solid defender he was when he made the Pro Bowl as a rookie in 2010.

Kenny Britt, WR, Tennessee Titans
The injury: Britt tore his left ACL and MCL in Week 4 that required surgery. They had arthroscopic surgery in May for additional cleanup. He began running and cutting again in mid-June and didn't have swelling. Britt might be slowed early in training camp, and he is not expected to play in the team's early preseason games.


What to expect in 2012: It remains uncertain if Britt will be ready by Week 1. Even if he plays early in the season, chances are he won't be close to top form until near midseason. "I'll be back (for Week 1), God willing," Britt said. "It's doing great — feeling good, with no swelling. I'm going to do everything within my power to be there for my teammates."

Jamaal Charles, RB, Kansas City Chiefs
The injury: Charles tore left knee ligaments in the second game of the 2011 season. He should be able to participate in most if not all drills when training camp begins.

What to expect in 2012: The Chiefs signed veteran Peyton Hillis and drafted Cyrus Gray so they would not need 25 carries per game from Charles. But having Charles healthy is imperative for an offense that lacks big-play ability. While the Chiefs might limit Charles’ touches, particularly early in the season, he will still be an integral part of their attack.

Leon Hall, CB, Cincinnati Bengals
The injury: Hall tore his left Achilles' tendon during the second quarter of Nov. 13's loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers. With an Achilles' injury, it usually takes a year to get back to the field, but Hall is ahead of schedule. The physically unable to perform list doesn't look like an option at this point. Hall hopes to be on the field for July 27's first practice of training camp. But it is more likely that Hall will be worked slowly, with limited preseason action.

"He has exceeded expectations by far," Bengals coach Marvin Lewis said. "He’s excited where he is. What he hasn’t had to do is the day-to-day stuff as far as how many plays and so forth."

What to expect in 2012: Hall is not the quickest corner, but he is one of the AFC's more cerebral secondary players. He will continue to be a leader on a Bengals defense that has been in the top 10 two of the past three years.

Casey Hampton, NT, Pittsburgh Steelers
The injury: Hampton tore his left ACL in Jan. 8's playoff game at Denver. He had surgery Jan. 27, his second ACL surgery on the left knee. Hampton said he might not be ready for the start of training camp but insisted he would be ready for the season opener in Denver. He has been doing resistance running in minicamp and his weight does not appear to be an issue.

"I’m where I need to be," Hampton said. "I feel my goal is to be ready for the regular season."

What to expect in 2012: Hampton, a five-time Pro Bowl player, took a pay cut in an exchange for a spot on the roster. He is 35 years old coming off knee surgery, making his timetable for return, and his effectiveness, difficult to predict.

Andre Johnson, WR, Houston Texans
The injury: Johnson had arthroscopic surgery on his left knee in early May. He missed the OTAs and minicamp and but vowed to be 100 percent by the start of training camp.

What to expect in 2012: After being limited to 33 catches for 492 yards last season, Johnson plans to resume his place among the league’s elite receivers. If he stays healthy, he is capable of having another 100-catch, 1,500-yard season at age 31.

"I’m ready to go," Johnson said. "I’ve had no other injury issues. My hamstrings are good. I’ve been staying on top of things so I don’t have to experience those things again."

LaRon Landry, S, New York Jets
The injury: Landry injured his left Achilles' tendon in 2010 while with the Washington Redskins, and the injury has never fully healed. He missed 15 games over the past two seasons. Instead of having surgery, Landry opted for alternative methods, hoping the non-invasive approach would alleviate the problem. He was unable to practice during the spring with the Jets, but believed he would be ready to go when training camp begins.

"Things are going real well and I'm looking forward to training camp," Landry said. "I can't wait to get out there and do everything. I'll be ready physically and mentally."


What to expect in 2012: If Landry is healthy, the Jets expect him to step in at one of the starting safety spots. Coach Rex Ryan believes Landry can help his team with recent problems in covering tight ends. However, Landry wasn't known as an above-average cover guy before his injury, so it's questionable how much of a difference he would make.

His strengths lie more in run support and blitzing as a bone-jarring hitter. The Jets' defensive system is complex for safeties, leaving Landry will have to do a lot of catching up to become familiar with it.

Rashard Mendenhall, RB, Pittsburgh Steelers
The injury: Mendenhall tore his right ACL in Jan. 1's game at Cleveland. He had surgery Jan. 27. He is not expected to be ready for training camp and likely won’t be ready for the season opener, either. Mendenhall appears headed for the PUP list. However, he was doing light distance sprints at minicamp and is at least on schedule, if not ahead, with his rehab.

What to expect in 2012: Mendenhall will be replaced early in the season by Isaac Redman, who played very well and rushed for more than 100 yards in a playoff loss at Denver. "Isaac Redman has proven that he is a legitimate NFL running back," Steelers coach Mike Tomlin said. "He is not an unknown commodity.’’

Redman’s performance early in the season will determine how quickly Mendenhall returns to the lineup. The team will also look hard at two young running backs — Baron Batch and rookie Chris Rainey. Without training camp to ease back into his role, Mendenhall might be used as a backup until he proves he can reclaim his starting job.

Matt Schaub, QB, Houston Texans
The injury: Schaub had surgery on the Lisfranc joint in his right foot, one he injured on Nov. 13. After the initial surgery, Schaub had a pre-planned second operation to have screws removed. Coach Gary Kubiak said Schaub could have participated in OTAs and minicamp but he kept him out as a precaution. Schaub has been 100 percent for a few weeks and will fully participate in camp from Day 1.

"Things are right on schedule," Schaub said. "I stayed true to the plan. The next milestone is training camp."

What to expect in 2012: With Schaub entering the last year of his contract, rather than negotiating an extension, the Texans want to see how he plays after the injury and if he can stay healthy. Schaub thrives in Kubiak’s zone scheme that uses a strong running game with play-action and the bootleg. A healthy Schaub could have his third 4,000-yard season.

Terrell Suggs, LB, Baltimore Ravens
The injury: Suggs partially tore his right Achilles' tendon the first week of May. Suggs said he was injured while running sprints as he prepared for the team's conditioning run during minicamp. There have been reports that Suggs was injured while playing basketball, which he adamantly denied.

Suggs is working with Ravens trainers on regaining lateral movement and team officials are happy with his rehabilitation and quick response from the injury. Suggs has not participated in minicamps, and will not work in training camp. He will work with younger players, and familiarize himself with new coordinator Dean Pees' schemes. Suggs projects he will be in uniform by late November. The Ravens have not given a timetable for his return.

What to expect in 2012: If he responds well, the most likely scenario is that Suggs will be back on the field by December. If he is not, the Ravens could put Suggs on injured reserve for the season. The Ravens have invested a lot of money in Suggs, and right now he is their defense's best player. They won't rush him.

If Suggs does return, the Ravens will start him out as a part-time player, mostly as a pass rusher on third down or passing situations. This won't be the same Suggs we saw in 2011 when he was the Defensive Player of the Year. But the Ravens would gladly welcome his fresh legs at the end of 2012.

"My goal is still to get back by November," Suggs said. "One way or another, I will be on the Ravens roster and on the field for the 2012 season."

Phil Taylor, DT, Cleveland Browns
The injury: Taylor tore a pectoral muscle doing bench presses March 10 at the team complex. Taylor will miss the preseason and perhaps half of the regular season. The best-case scenario is a full recovery by early November. He will not go on injured reserve unless there is a setback.

What to expect in 2012: Taylor would be eased back into his defensive tackle spot at first and given an increasingly heavy workload based on how he fares.

"He'll definitely be back this year, no doubt, no question about it," Browns general manager Tom Heckert said. "It's a normal recovery, six months at the most. That's being very, very cautious. He could be back earlier than that."

Mario Williams, DE, Buffalo Bills
The injury: Williams tore a pectoral muscle in Week 5 while with the Texans on a play in which he sacked Oakland Raiders quarterback Jason Campbell. Williams had surgery five days later and went on injured reserve. He signed with the Bills during the offseason. Williams is 100 percent healthy and participated fully in the Bills OTAs and mandatory minicamp. He showed no signs of discomfort and should not be limited when training camp arrives.

What to expect in 2012: Expectations are sky high for Williams in 2012, for good reason. Much is expected when a contract worth potentially $100 million is handed out. The Bills will play Williams at left defensive end, his preferred position, in the new 4-3 scheme of coordinator Dave Wannstedt. Twelve to 15 sacks sounds very possible for Williams, as part of a strong defensive line.

"His work ethic has been outstanding," Bills coach Chan Gailey said. "He’s done a good job not only fitting in, but taking a little bit of leadership role."

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