Broncos place McCarthy on IR

ENGLEWOOD, Colo.

The Denver Broncos have placed safety Kyle McCarthy on injured reserve after he hurt his right knee covering a kickoff at Arizona on Sunday.

McCarthy, an undrafted rookie from Notre Dame, played in Denver’s last eight games after his promotion from the practice squad in October.

He was replaced on the roster by wide receiver Britt Davis, a first-year pro from Northern Illinois who was promoted from the Broncos’ practice quad.

McCarthy said he underwent an MRI on Monday and that doctors suspected he had a torn ACL with an expected recovery time of six months or more.

McCarthy was injured on a third-quarter kickoff return when he was hit while planting his right leg.

“It’s a play I’ve made a million times and for some reason it just buckled on me this time,” he said.

McCarthy said his play over the last two months gives him confidence he can return to the NFL following his surgery and rehab. “I’ll work my way back,” he said.