Associated Press
DENVER ó Elvis Dumervil, returning from a torn chest muscle last August and hoping to regain the form that produced an NFL-high 17 sacks in 2009, was a force against an offense led by Tim Tebow in the Denver Broncosí intrasquad scrimmage. Dumervil bulked up 15 pounds to 260 for his conversion back to end in a 4-3 defense.
Playing with the first-team defense against a second unit led by Tebow, Dumervil rushed around the edge with abandon, chasing Tebow out of the pocket and twice prompting the officials to blow their whistles to signify a dead ball before there was contact.
Rookie Von Miller added a third sack of Tebow, who could only muster three pass attempts, completing one. He ran for 5 yards in his time against the first-team defense, which didnít allow a point in the scrimmage at Invesco Field at Mile High.
ěIt felt good to come out and contribute to the team,î Dumervil said as he signed autographs following the scrimmage. ěThatís what you miss most of all: coming out here in front of the fans, back here at Invesco. Itís a magic place and itís exciting. It was a good feeling being back on the field.î
Forgive Tebow if he wasnít celebrating the same way.
ěElvis made things interesting, actually,î he said with a smile, adding, ěI told him if weíd been going to the ground it might have been a little different. We were having fun with it. But he was making things difficult, thatís for sure. Heís a great player.î
Starting quarterback Kyle Orton, facing the second-string defense, went 4 for 7 for 84 yards in leading the offense to two field goals.
Two dropped passes and Eric Decker just missing a touchdown because he didnít get two feet down in the end zone marred what might have been perfect completion percentage for Orton.
Running back Knowshon Morenoís 45-yard catch-and-run was the top highlight until tight end Dante Rosario went up and over safety Darcel McBath for a 31-yard catch on a left-sideline jump ball from Brady Quinn. Rookie tight end Virgil Green eventually capped the 70-yard drive with a 10-yard TD reception.
Quinn completed 7 of 8 passes for 77 yards against the No. 2 and No. 3 defenses.
ěThe young guys are kind of coming out, getting the system and coming along,î Quinn said. ěIím kind of happy about that.î