Broncos to place RBs Pope, Young IR

Dec 22, 2008 - 10:33 PM DENVER (Ticker) -- With their lead in the AFC West down to one game, the Denver Broncos have lost two more running backs.

Coach Mike Shanahan said Monday that Selvin Young and P.J. Pope will be placed on injured reserve after suffering injuries in Sunday's 30-23 loss to Buffalo.

Young ruptured a disk in his neck and Pope suffered a hamstring tear. They will be the sixth and seventh Denver running backs to go IR this season, joining Andre Hall, Ryan Torain, Michael Pittman, Peyton Hillis and Anthony Aldridge.

Young and Pope combined for 60 yards on 13 carries against the Bills.

"I think anything is possible, but I would say you were completely nuts if you said we were going to go through seven or eight running backs," Shanahan said.

Shanahan said that the Broncos (8-7) plan to re-sign Cory Boyd and Alex Haynes for next week's showdown at San Diego that will decide the AFC West title.

Denver, which has dropped two in a row, is looking to avoid becoming the first team in NFL history to miss the playoffs after holding a three-game lead in a division with three to play.

"I think everyone is disgusted," Shanahan said. "Anytime you have an opportunity to win the AFC West, it is very disappointing. If you don't feel that way then you are not made of the right stuff. The only thing you can do is look at the film and look at your mistakes. You have to look at the things you can do to get better and move onto San Diego."

On the practice roster for six weeks earlier in the season, Boyd was signed back to the practice squad last week after being cut following the Carolina game on December 14.

The Broncos signed Haynes in early November after Torain tore his ACL but released him on November 22. Neither Boyd nor Haynes has played in a game this season.

Due to the injuries, Denver lacks a true No. 1 running back. Quarterback Jay Cutler led the team with eight rushes against Buffalo.

Among the team's healthy backs, Tatum Bell is Denver's leading rusher with just 163 yards on 26 carries.