TERRE HAUTE, Ind. — Colts safety Antoine Bethea has cracked a bone in his right hand, leaving him on the sideline for both of Indianapolis’ practices Wednesday.
Coach Jim Caldwell did not give a timetable for Bethea’s return. Caldwell said Bethea would be fitted for a cast and would return when he can play while wearing the cast.
Losing Bethea is a blow to a Colts defense that is still missing safety Bob Sanders. Caldwell said Wednesday morning he wasn’t sure Sanders would be back for the regular-season opener. Sanders had offseason knee surgery to clean up the same knee that kept him out of 10 games last season.
Bethea went to the Pro Bowl in 2007, the same year Sanders was the NFL’s defensive player of the year.
BRONCOS
ENGLEWOOD, Colo. — The Denver Broncos have waived oft-injured running back Ryan Torain, who was diagnosed with a strained knee ligament.
A fifth-round pick last season after an injury-plagued career at Arizona State, Torain missed almost all of last season.
He broke his elbow during training camp and played just parts of two games before a season-ending knee injury sidelined him once again.
BUCCANEERS
TAMPA, Fla. — Tampa Bay punter Josh Bidwell will miss the Buccaneers’ preseason opener because of a hip injury.
The ninth-year pro had an MRI on Wednesday. The results were being evaluated.
Meanwhile, the Bucs plan to work out two potential replacements before signing one of them to punt Saturday night at Tennessee.
Bidwell was the only punter in training camp. He felt fine after kicking in practice Tuesday, but arrived for Wednesday’s workout in pain.
The injury comes one day after kicker Matt Bryant left practice with a sore hamstring.
GIANTS
ALBANY, N.Y. — After leading the NFL in team rushing last season, Giants running back Brandon Jacobs sees no reason why New York can’t repeat the feat, despite losing fellow 1,000-yard rusher Derrick Ward to free agency.
“I think as a unit we may be the best in the league,” Jacobs said after Wednesday morning’s practice at the University at Albany. “I’m just calling it like it is.”
A big reason for Jacobs’ optimism is third-year player Amhad Bradshaw, a 5-foot-9, 198-pound running back from Marshall. He and Danny Ware are competing for the job of backing up Jacobs, who rushed for 1,089 yards.
With an experienced offensive line returning, Jacobs said he expects 2009 to be much like 2008 when it comes to piling up yardage on the ground.
“I expect myself to come out and be able to hold the grind and get it done,” he said.
Bradshaw, making his first comments to the media since camp opened, said a leg injury hampered his performance in 2008, when he rushed for 355 yards and a TD while adding another 867 yards returning 39 kickoffs. He said his explosive speed will nicely complement Jacobs’ battering-ram running style.
“I just want to come in and change the game up when Brandon’s not in,” he said. “The defense plays us a lot different.”
“It’s one of the biggest years I’ve had in my life, and to have this opportunity, I just have to take advantage of it.”
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