Montee Ball, Patrick Willis Injury Updates

Denver Broncos running back Montee Ball was able to practice this week for the first time since injuring his groin back in Week 5, but he was not expected to play today against the rival Oakland Raiders. The Broncos generally like to give players extra time to practice before suiting up, and Ball is certainly no exception to the rule. They also don’t need him to play against the winless Raiders, so they will roll with Juwan Thompson behind Ronnie Hillman, who Wally Pipped Ball after seizing the opportunity.

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According to Rotoworld’s Evan Silva, FOX Sports’s always-accurate Jay Glazer reported that Ball will not play today, thus confirming our suspicions. Before the injury, Ball was a disappointment, averaging just 3.1 yards per carry, but there’s a strong chance he could bounce back upon his return. During his time off the field, Ball cut a significant amount of weight and reportedly looked much better at practice this past week. He improved his pass-catching skills in the offseason, and he has the talent to make a big impact later on in the season. Hillman is the clear No. 1 guy for now, but that isn’t set in stone, especially since it was Ball who was projected to have a monster year as the Broncos feature back.

San Francisco 49ers star inside linebacker Patrick Willis will not play today against the New Orleans Saints due to a toe injury, and he’s already been out for three straight games after suffering the injury in Week 6 against the St. Louis Rams. Glazer reports, via Silva, that Willis could miss “significant time” with his toe injury. He’s already missed three weeks, so it sounds like he’s dealing with a major injury that could cost him a few more weeks.

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