ENGLEWOOD, Colo. (AP) - The Denver Broncos' tailback turnstile keeps on spinning.
LenDale White is out for the season after rupturing his Achilles' tendon, a person familiar with the injury told The Associated Press.
The person spoke on condition of anonymity Friday because the Broncos hadn't publicly discussed the results of medical tests on White's right leg. ESPN and Pro Football Talk first reported the seriousness of White's injury Friday on Twitter.
White, trying to revive his career with his hometown team after a fallout in Tennessee and a short stay in Seattle, was injured in the second quarter of Denver's 31-24 exhibition loss at Minnesota on Thursday night.
White was signed after Knowshon Moreno (hamstring) and Correll Buckhalter (back) got hurt in camp last month. He had been released this spring by Seattle, where Pete Carroll, who coached him at USC, is now coach.
Although he sprained an ankle two days after his arrival in Denver, White had come back strong. He scored twice in the preseason, including a 2-yard run Thursday night against the Vikings before he got hurt on a 9-yard run in the second quarter.
The Broncos were hoping it was just another ankle injury that could heal in September - White was already scheduled to sit out the first four games of the regular season, his punishment for violating the league's substance-abuse policy.
Now he faces an arduous recovery, and there's no guarantee he'll ever get back on the football field. Many a running back has seen his career ended by a ruptured Achilles' tendon.
The Broncos could bring back Justin Fargas, whom they released last week, or scour the waiver wire Saturday when teams must trim rosters to 53 players. With Denver's top three tailbacks sidelined for much of last month, Lance Ball capitalized on his carries to seemingly nail down a roster spot.
Although Buckhalter returned to action this week, Moreno's first competitive carry this year won't come until the Broncos' opener at Jacksonville on Sept. 12.
White said last week he was thankful for the chance to play for his hometown team because he felt his support network of family and friends could help him get his NFL career back on track.
And having to rehab a sprained ankle only made him all the more eager to return to the field and play for the Broncos.
``I am excited to get back to football,'' White said on Aug. 24, one day before he returned to practice. ``Once you are playing football, there's nothing that can be said. You can't say I wasn't working out in the offseason, I didn't do this, I wasn't doing that. Now, I'm here. I'm playing football and I'm trying to get better every day.
``So that's what I just can't wait to do just get on the field (and) show my teammates I'm here for the long haul. I'm going to work hard for them and you know I'm going to continue to get better every day. You know, rehabbing is not easy. You are in there for 13 hours a day. You can't wait to get in and play football, believe me.''
