The Denver Broncos returned from their week in the Texas heat in a world of hurt.

They lost starting defensive end Ebenezer Ekuban for the season to a torn Achilles' tendon and workhorse running back Travis Henry sprained his left knee and might not play again until the season opener.

Henry underwent additional tests yesterday to confirm the original diagnosis of a first-degree (least serious) sprain of the medial collateral ligament.

Both were hurt in Denver's 31-20 loss Saturday to the Dallas Cowboys, who were much more aggressive on defense than the Broncos were expecting after practicing with them all week following a Monday night game in San Francisco.

"There were two different approaches," Broncos safety John Lynch said. "We didn't game plan. We played two coverages and two fronts. (Dallas) blitzed every play."

And the Broncos were ill-equipped to handle that because they had already lost right tackle Adam Meadows to a severely strained calf during the week of workouts in Dallas — along with rookie defensive end Tim Crowder — and left guard Ben Hamilton (concussion), left tackle Ryan Harris (back surgery) and right tackle Jacob Rogers (knee) are all ailing.

Ekuban's loss is a big blow. The ninth-year veteran had missed just one game in his two seasons in Denver after joining the Broncos in a trade with Cleveland. He had a career-high 78 tackles and seven sacks last year.

UH REUNION

ALAMA-FRANCIS, PURCELL ON SAME FIELD

Ikaika Alama-Francis and Melila Purcell, stars on the University of Hawai'i defensive line last season, were reunited on the same field Saturday when the Detroit Lions played at Cleveland in an NFL exhibition.

Alama-Francis, who was drafted by the Lions in the second round of the NFL draft, started the game at right end in place of Kalimba Edwards.

Purcell, who was picked by the Browns in the sixth round, played in the second half and recorded a third-quarter pass deflection.

The Lions won, 23-20.

BILLS

DENNEY WILL HAVE SURGERY ON LEFT FOOT

A veteran position on a young Buffalo team has taken a major hit with the loss of defensive end Ryan Denney, who broke his left foot in Buffalo's 13-10 preseason loss to the Atlanta Falcons on Friday night.

Denney, who was injured on the opening kickoff, is scheduled for surgery today and will be out indefinitely.

"That's a blow. He's a very good football player for us," coach Dick Jauron said following the team's 45-minute practice yesterday.

The injury leaves Buffalo with Anthony Hargrove as the only experienced defensive end backing up starters Chris Kelsay and Aaron Schobel.

ELSEWHERE

Redskins: Linebacker Marcus Washington and quarterback Jason Campbell were injured in Saturday's 12-10 preseason loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers, and they spent much of yesterday afternoon at Redskins Park getting treatment for soreness and swelling. Washington (out at least a week) has a dislocated right elbow, and Campbell (day to day) had an MRI exam that confirmed the initial diagnosis of a bruised left knee.