Montee Ball has hit the shelf for the Denver Broncos.
The second-year running back will undergo an appendectomy Monday that will sideline him for the rest of training camp and the preseason, NFL Media Insider Insider Ian Rapoport reported, per a Broncos source. ESPN first reported the news. Ball is expected to be ready for the regular-season opener against the Indianapolis Colts.
Ball showed considerable promise in the back half of his rookie season and is expected to replace Knowshon Moreno as Denver's primary ball-carrier in 2014. Ball came in at No. 7 on Around The League's "Making The Leap" countdown.
Ball's absence means more touches and first-team looks for the healthy members of the Broncos' backfield. Ronnie Hillman and C.J. Anderson will see most of the work until Ball can return to action.
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