ENGLEWOOD, Colo. — With the Broncos eliminated from playoff contention and staring down the final portion of the season, it would perhaps be understandable if Randy Gregory were to spend the last four games of the season on the sideline.
The Broncos pass rusher has been on injured reserve since the early portion of the season, when he suffered a knee injury against the Raiders in Week 4.
Gregory, though, dismissed a reporter’s notion that he could be better served to shut things down for the season and enter the offseason at full strength.
“I’ve shut it down enough,” Gregory said Wednesday. “I’ve missed a lot of time. I’m to the point now where I want to help where I can. I understand the landscape, the situation we’re in as a unit, but I think it’s important to go out there and end the season on a good note. I’ve been hurt most of the year, [so] to be able to go out there and play and end the year healthy and in the right mindset … is important for me and everyone.”
Gregory — who made a noticeable impact to start the year with two sacks, two forced fumbles and seven quarterback hits — said he hoped to be back earlier in the season to help his team avoid their current fate. The status of his injured knee, though, prevented him from returning.
“I wish [a return] would’ve happened earlier,” Gregory said. “I’ve been through this injury before, and every single one has been a little different than the last. What I’ll say without saying too much is it was a little bit different than the last one I had a couple years ago. With that, coupled with me being a little bit older, it takes a little bit more time to get back. It’s important for me to get back and get back the right way and be healthy and be the player I know I can. Getting back earlier or early enough to help — four, three, five games … ago — that [would have been] big, but it just wasn’t possible at the time.”
Gregory and Head Coach Nathaniel Hackett both said the hope is for Gregory to make his…
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