In the end, the Broncos ended up with Clady at the 12th overall pick, a prized left tackle prospect who has been the team's starter since they handed him the ceremonial jersey on draft weekend. The Panthers ended up with Stewart, a running back, at No. 13.

"We looked at a lot of guys, including (Stewart)," Broncos coach Mike Shanahan said. "We liked what we saw from him, but the closer we got to our pick, the more I had in my mind we were taking an offensive tackle.

"And we got to the point where we didn't want to move down any because we didn't want to miss on a chance for Ryan Clady."

It's likely a good thing the Broncos didn't move, because the Panthers, sitting just behind Denver in the first round, also were on the prowl for a tackle and coach John Fox said this week, "We looked at y'all's guy . . . and I'm talking about

Clady."

The Panthers wanted a tackle badly enough that after Clady was gone, they then traded their second- and fourth-round picks in the April draft, as well as their first-round pick in the 2009 draft, to the Eagles to move up into the 19th slot and select Jeff Otah with their second pick of the round.

Otah has started nine games at right tackle for the Panthers this season.

"I knew if we didn't take Ryan at 12 that day, somebody else would have grabbed him before too long," Shanahan said. "People wanted to get to our pick, but I didn't want to go too far down. You could see when the day was done (Clady) probably would have even been gone with the next pick."

With that 13th pick, right after the Broncos took Clady, the Panthers quickly grabbed Stewart. As a 235-pounder who had run 40-yard dashes in the 4.4s, Stewart could have gone higher, but a toe surgery just after the scouting combine in February pushed him down the board some.

But it was one of the Panthers' orthopedic surgeons, Dr. Robert Anderson, who performed the surgery.

"You know what pick you have, you know the guys you like, but there's no guarantee the guys you like are going to be there," Fox said. "Our feeling was because of the toe injury, Jonathan Stewart would get to 13. Had that not happened, I'm not sure he would have been there.

"One of our team docs did the surgery and we were pretty well schooled on what that was about. When he got to 13, we were elated, we took him. We knew the doctor well, because I meet with him weekly."

Shanahan was at least interested enough in Stewart to have called Anderson the night before the draft to discuss the back's injury.

But Shanahan would have also known his call could be public knowledge before the draft started.

In the end, though, all involved seem happy things turned out the way they did.

"You can say that," Shanahan said.

Take a look

Broncos linebacker Wesley Woodyard continues his climb from undrafted rookie to impact player, and he has started getting noticed beyond his own locker room as well.

Asked this week a general question about the Broncos' run defense, Panthers quarterback Jake Delhomme said, "I tell you what, the more film you watch, especially the last couple weeks, every time you watch film, Woodyard keeps on making plays, making tackles. Very sure tackler."

"I wanted to always gain the respect of my coaches and my teammates, but eventually, I want to be a guy you have to coach for in the NFL," Woodyard said. "I'm just happy the coaches trust me, and when I got out there, I just had to shine. The basic techniques go through your head, but the big thing is, if you miss a tackle, you're letting people down. I don't want to do that, so I always expect to make a play."

Delhomme also said the Panthers were approaching things as if D.J. Williams, who has missed five games because of a knee injury, would be back in the lineup Sunday. Woodyard has been playing in Williams' weak-side linebacker spot and already is sixth on the team in tackles with the 50 he has had in those five games.

With Williams back, the Broncos could keep Woodyard on the weak side and put Williams in the middle, or simply play Williams in his regular spot, then bring Woodyard in on passing downs to play alongside Williams in some of the Broncos' nickel packages.

Only a maybe

Cornerback Champ Bailey, who has missed six games because of a groin injury, will need to improve significantly to play Sunday. Bailey was limited in practice all week but likely will have a short workout at the stadium Sunday morning before a final decision is made on his status.

Cornerback Karl Paymah also was limited some this past week because of a groin injury, which means the Broncos do have some potential depth issues at the position if Paymah can't play.

Wide receiver Brandon Stokley (heel), who did practice some Thursday and Friday, also is expected to test his stride Sunday.

"(He has to be) loose enough to be able to play, got to be able to go full speed . . . ," Shanahan said. "A full gait, just to be sure."

At running back, with Peyton Hillis on injured reserve, Selvin Young is expected to be available for some duty Sunday and Tatum Bell likely will get the start. Young has missed eight of the past nine games because of a groin injury and had only one carry in the other game during that span.

Etc.

* Linebacker/fullback Spencer Larsen (groin) was also held out of practice Wednesday, and was limited Thursday and Friday. He is not expected to play.

* The Panthers reported only two injuries all week. Backup linebacker Adam Seward (ankle) and defensive end Hilee Taylor (calf) are listed as doubtful for the game.

* Broncos quarterback Jay Cutler and Clady won the league's sponsored player of the week and rookie of the week honors, respectively, for their efforts against the Chiefs. Fan voting was counted on NFL.com.

* Broncos players did their Pro Bowl voting Friday morning - they cannot vote for their teammates. The teams will be announced Tuesday. Broncos coaches voted earlier in the week.

Numbers game

16forced fumbles by the Carolina defense this season. The Broncos are one of 11 teams in the league to have lost at least 10 fumbles so far.

He said it

"We've always kind of believed in a 1-2 punch there. They get banged around pretty good and there's a lot of guys taking their shots at them. One of them gets nicked, the other one's there for him."

Fox, on why the team used two first-round picks during the past three drafts on running backs DeAngelo Williams (2006) and Stewart (2008).

Ring it up

The Broncos and Panthers are two of only four teams that have had at least 40 drives inside their opponents' 20-yard line and have scored touchdowns on at least 60 percent of those drives. The league leaders, including number of possessions inside the 20 and touchdown percentage:

Team (W-L) No. TD %

Tennessee (12-1) 41 65.9

Carolina (10-3) 40 62.5

Arizona (8-5) 58 60.3

Denver (8-5) 45 60.0