Chris

Kuper

Recovering from multiple surgeries to repair his left fibula and ankle, Kuper sat out all 10 OTAs and three minicamp sessions. Manny Ramirez worked as the first-team left guard throughout spring practices.

There are still seven screws and a plate holding his leg and ankle together. Although he’s still walking with a crutch, Kuper believes he will be back on the field by June. The Broncos will be happy if he’s ready to rejoin the lineup by the time exhibition games start.

All this means is that Kuper has yet to suffer a setback after breaking his leg in Week 17 last season, as coach John Fox said in January he wasn’t “closing the door” on Kuper being ready for camp. The Broncos could be forced to start Manuel Ramirez or a draft pick if Kuper isn’t ready for Week 1.

Kuper dislocated his left ankle and also broke his tibia and fibula in Week 17. It’s a major blow as he’s started every game for the Broncos since Week 7 of the 2007 season. Backup Russ Hochstein will be a downgrade.

Coach John Fox “isn’t closing door” on Kuper being ready for training camp, but this is a severe injury. Denver’s long-time left guard has missed just two games since 2007 and made the Pro Bowl in 2011. Russ Hochstein will be a significant downgrade for the postseason. Under contract for $3.5 million in 2012, Kuper is very likely to be back in Denver.

It wasn’t pretty. Kuper got buried at the bottom of a pile, and had his teammates signaling for medical attention just seconds after the play was over. He was carted to the locker room after having an air cast applied. It’s extremely doubtful he’ll be available for the playoffs if the Broncos manage to advance. Russ Hochstein is now in at left guard.

The Broncos should be breathing a sigh of relief, as Kuper was coming off a major injury. He dislocated his left ankle and also broke his tibia and fibula in Week 17 last year, then underwent a second surgery in April. Kuper is arguably Denver’s best offensive lineman when healthy. He should be set for Week 1.

Kuper underwent a second surgery in April, but is “on par” with the 4-6 month timeline he was given after breaking his leg in Week 17. Even if Kuper isn’t ready for camp, it’s beginning to look like he’ll avoid the PUP list.

Tough luck. Kuper was working hard to return to form after suffering a dislocated left ankle as well as a broken tibia and fibula in last year’s season finale. Manny Ramirez is next up on the depth chart, though an alternative would be moving RT Orlando Franklin inside and starting Chris Clark or Ryan Harris against the Steelers, Falcons and Texans the first three weeks of the season.

Kuper suffered a broken left leg late last season and also broke his arm early in training camp. A warrior, we suspect he would have stayed in this game if the injury weren’t so serious. Kuper has been a strong run blocker in 2012.