ENGLEWOOD, Colo. -- Denver Broncos coach John Fox said running back Montee Ball has a "groin strain,'' and would not go beyond that in describing the running back's availability in the near future, including against the New York Jets on Sunday at MetLife Stadium.
"We'll kind of update you Wednesday,'' Fox said Monday.
Apt to say a player is "day to day'' if he will practice at least some in the coming week, Fox would not expound on what a Monday morning MRI showed on his starting running back.
Asked if Ball would practice this week, Fox said: "Won't know that until Wednesday.''
Then asked if he really would have no inclination until Wednesday if Ball would practice this week, Fox said: "I don't know what that means, but I'll give you an injury report on Wednesday.''
Ball, who missed most of training camp after an appendectomy and played in just one preseason game, said he was not worried about coming back, noting there would still be a lot of season left.
"I don't know what's going on, somebody put a hex on me or something,'' Ball said. "I'm not sitting here playing the woe is me card, I'm going to stick with the program ... I'll come back bigger, faster, stronger for sure.''
Privately, many of Ball's teammates and others with the team say they believe Ball will miss some time, at least two to three weeks. Ball also is not expected to practice this week and quarterback Peyton Manning went as far following Sunday's game to say "my prayers are with Montee.''
"It's an unfortunate situation for myself for sure ... I'm not panicking, I want to use a different word, but the word I can think of is it sucks, because it does,'' Ball said. " ... But we have some backs for sure who can step up.''
Ball went down behind the play on a third-quarter completion from Manning to Emmanuel Sanders. Ball, lined up next to Manning in the backfield, stepped awkwardly with his right leg as he tried to move around right tackle Chris Clark on a pass route and immediately went to the ground.
"I'm a little frustrated,'' Ball said. " ... I kind of was going to throw a little chip and kind of missed, I was going to step on (the left) cleat and then my other cleat slipped and I did the splits a little bit. A freak accident.''
Because of their schedule the Broncos will play three games in a 12-day span that begins with Sunday's game against the Jets. The Broncos then play the following Sunday, Oct. 19, against the San Francisco 49ers and then a Thursday night game against the San Diego Chargers on Oct. 23.
In Ball's absence Ronnie Hillman will get the first extended look as the primary back, a position he's been in before, only to be moved down the depth chart in favor of others. That's something Hillman, who had 64 yards on 15 carries Sunday, 14 of which came after Ball's injury, seems to understand this time around.
"I feel like I'm just a little bit more experienced with everything,'' Hillman said following Sunday's game. " ... I know I have to make the most of opportunities that come my way.''
"I was pleased with his performance [Sunday],'' Fox said. " ... Ronnie is a talented young player. This game's about getting opportunities and stepping up when you get them. I thought he did that."