Davis Plays Waiting Game

Terrell Davis was wearing his practice jersey again Thursday, but only as an observer.

His role will be the same Sunday when the Denver Broncos play the Seattle Seahawks at Seattle.

Still bothered by pain in his lower left leg, Davis returned to Denver after meeting with an orthopedic surgeon in Oakland on Wednesday.

The consultation only confirmed what Davis already knew: he has no structural or ligament damage, and staying off the field appears to be the primary treatment.

“Obviously he’s in pain, so when he’s ready to go, he’ll start practicing and get ready to play,” Bronco Coach Mike Shanahan said. “The bottom line is he can’t push off yet and we do not know when he’ll be able to do that.”

After watching his teammates practice, Davis smiled at reporters but declined to talk about his injury, saying there was nothing new to discuss.

Davis, the NFL most valuable player in 1998, can be forgiven for any frustration.

He sat out the final 12 games last season because of a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee, and he has sat out six games this year because of a sprained left ankle and the lingering leg problem.

“It’s tough for me because I know how bad he wants to be out there,” Bronco fullback Howard Griffith said.

“I’m in his corner and I know at some point he’s going to be able to get back out there with us.”

The Broncos (7-4) have won five of six games without Davis, thanks in part to the strong play of rookie Mike Anderson, who has run for 776 yards in seven games as the featured back.

Davis will continue to work on conditioning, and Shanahan can only wait patiently for his star running back to give him good news.

“I think it’s always tough when it’s your livelihood to go out there and play,” Shanahan said. “I know it’s frustrating, but there’s nothing you can do about it except keep on staying in shape from a cardiovascular standpoint and do the rehab and hopefully it’ll get well.”

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The Miami Dolphins put tight end Ed Perry on injured reserve because of a dislocated right shoulder, the team said.

Perry, 26, was injured against the New England Patriots on Sept. 24 and sat out the next two games. He has appeared in nine games as a reserve, with no catches, and was also the Dolphins’ long snapper on special teams.

To fill Perry’s roster spot, the Dolphins signed tight end Brody Heffner-Liddiard, who can also handle long-snapping duties.

Heffner-Liddiard, 23, was waived in training camp by the Minnesota Vikings and signed with the New York Giants.

He was on the Giants’ roster for the first two games of the season, but didn’t play and was waived Sept. 13.