Story updates: Broncos RB Tyler Badie is “doing OK,” a source told the Denver Gazette‘s Chris Tomasson. Another source told the Denver Post‘s Paker Gabriel that Badie is “going to be alright.” Badie “has movement in all extremities” and is expected to be fine, according to ProFootballTalk’s Mike Florio. The running back flew back to Denver on a commercial flight with a member of the team’s medical staff on Sunday, according to KOA Radio’s Brandon Krisztal. After being evaluated at a hospital in New York, Badie was back in Colorado shortly after the team. Badie is a candidate to go on injured reserve, but “there is a chance” he could return later this season, according to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport. Broncos coach Sean Payton said Monday that Badie is doing better but is still being evaluated. See our original post below.
Denver Broncos running back Tyler Badie was ruled out in the second quarter of Sunday’s game against the New York Jets after suffering a back injury in the first quarter.
Badie was hit from behind by Jets linebacker Quincy Williams and the running back fumbled the ball on his way to the ground. Badie then went to the sideline and layed down and was later put on a backboard and then loaded onto a cart and taken into the locker room.
Following an eventual 10-9 win, Javonte Williams said Broncos running backs coach Lou Ayeni had told him Badie would be OK.
“Coach Lou told us that he would be all right, so I don’t think it’s really anything (serious),” Williams said, via the Denver Gazette‘s Chris Tomasson.
After the game, Broncos coach Sean Payton said “No update” when asked about Badie’s status. A follow-up question asked if Badie would travel with the team back to Denver and Payton once again said “No update.”
Just before the end of Payton’s press conference, a reporter (it sounded like it might have been ESPN’s Jeff Legwold) asked a third time about Badie. The coach then had this exchange:
Reporter: “I’m just making sure — ”
Payton: “Making sure of what?”
Reporter: “If Badie — [will travel back with the team]”
Payton: “I said, I’m not [giving injury updates]
Reporter: “I’m just giving you an opportunity.”
Payton: “No, I don’t need an opportunity at my press conference. I’m good. I don’t want, I don’t want to discuss injury [updates], is that OK?”
Reporter: “I just wanted to see if he’s going on the plane?”
Payton: “Yeah, we’ll see. Is that fair?”
Reporter: “More than fair.”
Payton: “All right, we’ll see.”
Payton has repeatedly made it clear in the past that he does not like to discuss injury updates, but when a player suffers what appears to be a scary injury and is carted into the locker room, it doesn’t seem like too much to ask of a coach to give fans some kind of update on the player’s status.
Williams said after the game that he believed Badie is “going to be all right.” Fans will hope that’s the case while we wait for further updates.
