Broncos' Hamilton slow to recover from concussion
ENGLEWOOD, Colo. -- Ben Hamilton's streak of 5,407 consecutive snaps since becoming the Denver Broncos' starting left guard in 2002 is about to end.
Chris Myers will get the start Sunday at Buffalo because doctors have ordered Hamilton not to do any type of physical activity for two weeks in hopes his post-concussion symptoms will finally fade.
Hamilton, who banged helmets with a teammate in camp a month ago and sat out the entire preseason, remains optimistic he'll be back in the lineup soon.
"I'm feeling good. It's kind of a day-by-day deal, and once I start feeling better, I'll definitely be practicing and ready to go," Hamilton said Wednesday. "I'm not too scared. The doctors say I will definitely feel better."
Hamilton has had a tough time dealing with being sidelined, however.
"I've never had to miss any time with any injury or anything that's happened to me in the past, or any adversity," he said. "This is just something I've learned that you can't just push through it, like when you sprain your ankle or something like that. You have to wait until you're 100 percent. If you try to fight against it, you're going to lose every time."
Hamilton got hurt on what he termed a "routine hit."
"Banged helmets. It wasn't a big play or anything," he said. "It must have been that I was hit in the right spot. I've had my bell rung many times before and I'd shake it off. This time I woke up the next morning and I felt pretty out of it. I haven't gotten back yet."
Hamilton gets dizzy whenever he does any cardiovascular work and he'll revisit specialists in Pittsburgh next week for more medical tests to determine whether he can return to practice.
"It's a dizziness or 'spaciness' I get," Hamilton said. "I feel much worse when I do cardio. I have no predictions for it."
The NFL has implemented tough new guidelines on players who get concussions.
"But I think even without those rules the Broncos would be pretty cautious with me," Hamilton said. "I felt no pressure that I must get back or we need you by this time. They're going to let it run its course, just like the doctor said. And I will get better."