The Denver Broncos had an eventful if not entirely positive day of practice on Monday.
The team lost defensive tackles Marcus Thomas and Ty Warren to injury Monday and their rookie safety got into a brief fight with Pro Bowl receiver Brandon Lloyd.
A source close to the team told KDVR-TV that Thomas' injury is "a little more serious than a strain." Thomas could miss the balance of the preseason and perhaps longer.
The station additionally reported Warren has a floating bone in the back of elbow region, an indication of a muscle tear.
Warren, who spent all of last season on injured reserve with a hip injury, signed an $8 million, two-year deal with Denver following his release from New England last month. He's one of three former first-rounders -- the others are Brodrick Bunkley and Derrick Harvey -- that the Broncos brought in to augment their defensive line.
Neither Rahim Moore nor Lloyd were hurt during their fisticuffs, one of three skirmishes Monday.
Fox said he wasn't surprised things got heated on a hot day with camp winding down.
"This game is a tough game, physical game and when you're banging on each other every day it can get chippy," Fox said. "So, it's pretty typical of camp this time of year."
But it's not every day you see a rookie stand up to a Pro Bowl player.
Lloyd politely declined to discuss the altercation after practice and Moore, a second-round draft pick from UCLA who already has grabbed the starting free safety job opposite Brian Dawkins, said Lloyd felt he cut him off in the end zone on a fade pass that fell incomplete.
"He decided I did something wrong and I didn't think I did," Moore said. "He shoved me. I shoved him back."
On the next play, Kyle Orton hit Lloyd for a short touchdown pass with Moore in coverage.
Moore said he and Lloyd talked things over a minute later and resolved their differences.
"So, it's all love," Moore said.
Denver's defensive coaching staff had to like Moore's moxie.
"I have nothing against Brandon, but I take flack from nobody," Moore said. "This is a physical game. So, if I let him push me, everybody would say, 'Oh, Rahim let him push him.' It's just the competitive nature that I have. It's like if he beat me on a touchdown, I'm going to try to pick the ball off the next time. If he pushed me, I'm going to push him back.
"But at the end of the day, we're family."
Moore said Lloyd has given him tips about covering NFL receivers and he expects those lines of communication to remain open even after their disagreement.
"He has been a mentor to me, so it's all good," Moore said. "Tomorrow we're going to get back at it and work hard and get each other better."
Notes: The Broncos waived DT Louis Leonard and LB Derek Domino. ... Rookie MLB Nate Irving returned from an ankle injury that sidelined him for the preseason opener and grabbed an interception. ... WR Eddie Royal (hip) also returned to action Monday. "I felt good out there," he said. "Running around, my routes felt good. The rhythm and timing were there, so it was a good day."
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
