Broncos RB Ball (appendectomy) targets Week 1

An appendectomy is going to keep Montee Ball out of action for the next few weeks. (USATSI)

More NFL: Photos | Videos & GIFs | Training Camp updates | Manziel watch

It's a good thing the Denver Broncos are loaded at running back because they might have to use that depth early. Starting running back Montee Ball will undergo and appendectomy on Monday and will miss the next few weeks of the preseason.

Broncos coach John Fox is hoping Ball's missed time doesn't leak over into the regular season. Fox said he's hopeful that Ball will be back in time for the team's Sept. 7 regular season opener against Indianapolis.

"Montee Ball has been diagnosed with an appendicitis and will have an appendectomy," Fox said. The Broncos coach also added that it's "kind of a blessing that Ball's appendicitis was diagnosed when it was. Target is for him to play Week 1."

Ball played in the team's scrimmage on Saturday, but then started feeling ill on Sunday. When things got worse on Monday, the team figured something was up and it turned out to be the appendicitis.

With Ball out, that means the first-team reps in Denver will go to Ronnie Hillman and C.J. Anderson, who have spent training camp battling for the No. 2 running back spot on the Broncos' depth chart.

Ball was bumped up to starting running back after the Broncos let Knowshon Moreno leave via free agency in March.

NFL Hot News

Texans RB Arian Foster pondered retirement after back injury



Texans running back Arian Foster gave a very honest and interesting interview to ESPN's Hannah Storm recently. In it, Foster admitted that his 2013 back injury scared him, and he wasn't sure if he would return to the NFL."Any time an athlete goes through an injury like that -- a back, a neck, even knees or hips, something that puts you out for the entire season -- you kind of re-evaluate your life," Foster said. "You see what's really important. Is getting paralyzed more important than playing with your grandkids when you're 50, 60 years old? People die on the football field. This is a really brutal sport. Going through an injury like that, being 27 years old, I'm young, still I'm at the prime of my career. Is it worth it to try to come back?Foster decided that it was and underwent a microscopic lumbar discectomy in November.



It's an insightful read about a player who, like David Wilson, seems to fully understand that a player must live most of his life after football. I'm sure some people will turn this around as evidence that Foster's heart isn't in the game. That's hogwash. If it really wasn't, you get the impression that Foster would walk away to other, greater interests. He's all about football right now, at least professionally.Now, the bigger immediate concern for Foster and his fantasy owners is a hamstring injury that has kept him out of most practices in camp. It's not something to be too worried about at the moment, but we must keep an eye on it. Foster hasn't practiced since Wednesday.