Herring Gets Game Ball After Filling In For Phillips

DENVER (The Sports Xchange) - Broncos defensive coordinator Wade Phillips was reported to be doing well in a hospital after being injured in a second-quarter sideline collision during Denver's 27-19 win over the Chargers on Sunday.

Phillips was knocked off his feet and fell backward, striking the back of his head on the ground, when San Diego running back Melvin Gordon inadvertently barreled into him along the sideline.

Phillips was immobilized and placed on a stretcher before being lifted onto the cart and driven off the field before being transferred to an ambulance for transport to the hospital.

The Broncos said Phillips was conscious and could move all of his extremities, and Coach Gary Kubiak said after the game that Phillips was doing well and expected to rejoin the Broncos soon.

"Everything I've been told right now, he's doing great," Kubiak said. "He's fine. He's upbeat. He watched the end of the game. We've been in contact with Laurie, his wife. He talked to me before he left the field, so we were just being smart. All indications are that Wade is doing great and he will be back quickly."

Kubiak said he presented a game ball to linebackers coach Reggie Herring, who took over the defensive play-calling duties after Phillips went down.

"When I was at Houston (as head coach), I lost Wade for a couple of games and Reggie called the game," Kubiak said. "Reggie has done that. When it happened, I got on the headset a couple of times and he told me to shut the hell up and get off the headset. He did a good job. I'm really proud of him."