Storm- News » ENGLEWOOD

Karl Mecklenburg Jersey , Colo. (AP) — Phillip Lindsay provided the NFL with its best feel-good story of the season and the Denver Broncos with a rough-and-tumble identity before an injury epidemic spoiled their playoff plans.The undersized, overlooked running back from the University of Colorado made history and forced all 32 of the league’s teams to question why they didn’t draft him.What he won’t get to do is chase a rookie record this weekend or play in the Pro Bowl next month after a second opinion Wednesday revealed Lindsay needs surgery on his injured right wrist, which he injured Monday night in Oakland, and will require up to four months of rehab.“To go out that way is not good for him, but it doesn’t take from the year he’s had,” Broncos coach Vance Joseph said. “He’s had a great year. He’s a great find for this football team and moving forward, he’s going to be a great player for this franchise.“We all know what he did this year.”Nothing less than provide the Broncos an identity.“I think one thing Phillip does a really nice job of being himself,” tight end Matt LaCosse said. “He provides an energy to this offense that’s organic and natural for him. And I think that’s something that’s underrated in this league is just the energy a player can bring and the enthusiasm.”It wasn’t just the offense that benefited from Lindsay’s charisma.“His type of energy is contagious,” safety Justin Simmons said. “You see him get a big run and you see him energetic whether that was talking smack or whatnot. That’s the type of guy you want to bring into a dogfight.”Just 5-foot-8, Lindsay was overlooked in the 2018 draft after being snubbed from the NFL combine. He chose to sign with his hometown Broncos largely for the chance to stay in his parents’ basement and save some money.Lindsay outshined the much-praised 2018 draft class of Broncos general manager John Elway, who drafted two other running backs.Lindsay’s infectious energy helped him earn a roster spot and later helped him supplant third-round draft pick Royce Freeman as the Broncos’ featured back.Lindsay rushed for 1,037 yards and nine touchdowns with a 5.4-yard average and caught 35 passes for 241 yards and a TD, earning him the distinction of becoming the first undrafted offensive rookie ever to earn a Pro Bowl selection.He got hurt Monday night at Oakland and an MRI on Christmas morning revealed ligament damage and a possible scaphoid fracture. A second test Wednesday confirmed that an operation was necessary, which will deny Lindsay the chance to play in the Pro Bowl next month and the opportunity to break the NFL record for most rushing yards by an undrafted NFL rookie.Lindsay finished 67 yards shy of the mark set by Dominic Rhodes of the Indianapolis Colts in 2001.Fellow rookie Royce Freeman, a third-round pick from the University of Oregon, and veteran Devontae Booker will share snaps when the Broncos (6-9) host the Chargers (11-4) Sunday.Simmons said it’s a shame, but predicted Lindsay will have many more opportunities like those.“This is not going to set him back in any shape Gary Zimmerman Jersey , form or matter,” Simmons said. “He’s going to come back even stronger, hungrier.”Notes: CB Bradley Roby said tight end-turned-ESPN booth analyst Jason Witten wrongly accused him of quitting on his team late in the game Monday night when he didn’t chase down the ball carrier, instead staying engaged with his receiver away from the play. “It was really a mistake. I thought the play was over,” Roby said. “But for him to stay that it just made me mad. I have kids that I go to see at the Children’s Hospital that have cancer and are paralyzed and I tell him, ‘Don’t quit.'” Denver Broncos left tackle Garett Bolles was called for four holding penalties during Sunday’s loss to the Chicago Bears. Throw in an additional holding penalty from the team’s season opener in Oakland and Bolles has racked up five holding penalties in the first two weeks of the season.No other player in the NFL has been called for more than three holding penalties over that span.“It’s frustrating,” Bolles said after Sunday’s game. “I’ve built a reputation for myself in this league of holding. I disagree with it to be honest. There’s some calls I disagree with. There’s some things I understand I’ve got to go back and watch the film and see what I can do, but I have the best O-line coach in the National Football League with coach Munchak. I’m grateful for him. I know he’s going to get me on the right path, just believes in me.“I know my teammates believe in me. I know my coaches believe in me. I know the front office believes in me. I’m going to turn this around. I promise you all that. I promise Bronco country that. I promise my teammates that. It’s just unfortunate they keep coming after me but it is what it is. Like I said, I disagree with some of them and I’ve got to move forward and get back to work on Monday.”While those around him may very well still believe in him, it’s clear their patience to see that belief pay off is starting to wane. Several voices from the Broncos – at all different levels of the organization – said Bolles needs to figure it out.Wide receiver Emmanuel Sanders, via James Merilatt of 104.3 The Fan: “He needs to understand that he is doing something wrong They keep throwing flags on him and he keeps holding.”Head coach Vic Fangio: “I think he suffers from thinking he’s in good position sometimes and dumps the guy at the end where he thinks it’s a legal block. We have to do a better job of explaining that to him. He’s got to do a better job of listening to the explaining, but I think he can.”General Manager John Elway: “Well, he’s got to understand why. I think that’s the most important thing. That’s the thing that we discussed is for him to understand exactly why. You’ve got to get yourself in better position and play better technique so you don’t hold.”That Bolles thinks he is being singled out and that the calls against him aren’t valid makes it difficult to see an acceptance that what he’s been doing isn’t correct. Perhaps that’s why several different entities from the Broncos felt a need to speak about his need to improve his play in recent days. Now it’s time to see if the message is getting through and if Bolles is capable of adapting his game as necessary.“I’ve talked to him; everybody is trying to talk to him,” Sanders said “We’ll see.”