Broncos OT Lepsis done for season after ACL tear

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DENVER -- Broncos left tackle Matt Lepsis is out for the season after tearing a ligament in his right knee in the first half of Denver's 17-7 win over the Cleveland Browns.

	Lepsis

"Anytime you lose one of your top players for the season, it's always a pretty good punch," coach Mike Shanahan said Monday after an MRI revealed the tear in Lepsis' anterior cruciate ligament. "It's a knockout punch almost."

Lepsis stayed in for one play after the injury and then came out.

The Broncos inserted Erik Pears in Lepsis' place, but Shanahan said that might not be a permanent move. He said the team could switch right guard Cooper Carlisle to left tackle and put rookie Chris Kuper into Carlisle's position.

"He's played out there, we feel comfortable with him," Shanahan said of Carlisle at left tackle. "We're going to do the best thing for the team. We'll sit down and talk about it."

Adam Meadows, who was signed during training camp, may factor into the mix once his shoulder heals. Meadows played tackle for the Colts from 1997-2003 before missing the last two years because of the shoulder. He came out of retirement to join the Broncos this season.

The news wasn't all bad for Denver on Monday. Defensive lineman Gerard Warren has a sprained right big toe and might play Sunday against Indianapolis. Warren, who dislocated his left big toe in training camp, was injured on the first play of the game against Cleveland.

Lepsis was placed on injured reserve and Denver filled his roster spot by elevating wide receiver Brian Clark from the practice squad.

Copyright 2006 by The Associated Press

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