Mobley

"John and I had a relationship ever since he's been here," said Cadrez, who will move from middle linebacker into Mobley's weakside position. "We had this comfort level out there where we would joke and sing songs out on the field. It keeps you loose. That's the thing I'm going to miss."

After tearing his ACL in the first quarter of Sunday's 26-10 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs, Mobley was replaced by rookie Al Wilson, Denver's first-round pick in April.

Though inexperienced, Wilson has the same youthful energy that Mobley brought to the Broncos' defense. Wilson also proved himself as a leader last year as defensive captain for national champion Tennessee.

"I'm going to play for John," Wilson said. "I'm going to play the way I know he would play. "I'm put in the fire, so I've got to jump in there head first and be ready to go to work."

Wilson would do well to follow in Mobley's footsteps.

An unheralded first-round draft pick out of Division II Kutztown (Pa.) in 1996, the 6-foot-1, 236-pound Mobley has started 49 of 50 games in his career. He led the Broncos in tackles each of the last two years, recording a career-high 162 in 1997 and 132 in 1998. He had 11 tackles in Denver's season opener against Miami and added two before falling awkwardly in the first quarter Sunday.

Along with being solid against the run, Mobley is known for his ability to cover running backs and tight ends.

"Besides 10 tackles a game, he brought a lot of excitement to the players," Cadrez said. "He's kind of our rah-rah guy. He's kind of the guy that slaps you on the butt and hits you on the helmet and gets you fired up."

Mobley, who turns 26 next month, likely will have surgery next week after the swelling in his knee subsides. Cadrez said Mobley was in good spirits Monday morning as he prepared for a grueling road ahead.

"He's going to go through a long rehab," Cadrez said. "A lot of people have gone through it. I've gone through it myself. He's going to have that little bitterness of watching his teammates on the field."

With Mobley out, Broncos coach Mike Shanahan said he will consider signing another player. Until then, the backup linebackers will be rookie David Bowens and Artie Ulmer, who had not played an NFL game before this year.

Mobley's injury is one of several for the Broncos. Wide receiver Rod Smith may return to practice this week after sitting out Sunday with a strained groin and offensive lineman Mark Schlereth is questionable after suffering a knee injury against Kansas City.

Defensive end Alfred Williams did not play because of back spasms and was scheduled to have an MRI Monday. Safety George Coghill is out another two to three weeks with a sprained left knee.