Aqib Talib meets with Broncos medical personnel

ByJeff Legwold ESPN logo
Wednesday, June 8, 2016

ENGLEWOOD, Colo. -- For the first time since he suffered a gunshot wound to his right leg in the early-morning hours Sunday, Denver Broncos cornerback Aqib Talib returned to the team's suburban Denver complex Wednesday morning and met with team medical personnel.

He was also scheduled to participate in some of the team's meetings.

Talib, who spent Sunday night in a Dallas hospital, is not expected to practice on the field with the team until training camp because of his injuries. He is also expected to spend most of the remainder of the team's offseason in Denver, working with the team's medical staff during his recovery.

Broncos coach Gary Kubiak had said following Tuesday's minicamp practice he looked forward to sitting down face-to-face with Talib and that the Broncos' medical staff needed a chance to examine Talib before a timetable for his recovery could be set.

"The only thing I'm concerned about right now is his health,'' Kubiak said Tuesday. "That's what I'm trying to get him for, so we can see him, get our hands on him, know exactly what's going and go from there. ... I've obviously had many conversations with Aqib since this has taken place, but right now that's between he and I and the club. Still trying to get more information on exactly what happened. ... the thing I'm concerned about is his health.''

Talib was shot in his lower right leg and was treated at a Dallas hospital Sunday. He was discharged Monday and did not make the trip to the White House for the Super Bowl celebration with the rest of the team because of his injury.

Sources told ESPN's Adam Schefter on Monday that a bullet entered and exited Talib's leg -- it hit no arteries and tore no ligaments. Broncos officials said Monday that Talib did not require surgery.A report from WFAA-TV in Dallas said the bullet entered Talib's right thigh and exited his right calf, a trajectory that might suggest a self-inflicted wound.

Talib could face potential charges in Dallas as well as potential league discipline because of the incident.

In Texas, carrying a weapon in public without a license into a place that sells alcohol is considered a Class 3 felony. It is a Class A misdemeanor to possess a weapon while intoxicated in Texas (there is no official indication Talib was intoxicated on the night of the incident), and punishment carries a year in jail. It is a Class B misdemeanor to discharge a weapon in public, and punishment carries up to six months in jail.

If Talib had a license, he could be charged with two of these crimes; if he didn't, it's possible he could be charged with all three. It is not known if Talib had a licensed weapon and was shot at, or whether he shot himself.

"I don't know until I gather all of the information and know, be confident that that I know everything that took place, what's going on, what's happening. I don't want to go there right now,'' Kubiak said. "I want to get him healthy. I want to check his frame of mind.''

Executive vice president of football operations/general manager John Elway was also expected to speak to Talib shortly after his return to the team's complex.

"You have to understand it's been about [Broncos head trainer Steve Antonopulos] talking to the attending physician there. Other than that we don't know anything,'' Kubiak said. "Everything we hear from that standpoint has been of a positive nature as far as what could have happened compared to where he's at. We need to get him here and see exactly where's he at.''

According to multiple reports, Talib, 30, was injured at a nightclub early Sunday morning in Dallas, where he has an offseason home. Kubiak, however, said more information was needed.

"We've got to sit down and we have to visit,'' Kubiak said. "We haven't been face-to-face since the incident. ... Let us get him back here, let us sort through everything that took place, let us make sure we understand what we have to do from a physical standpoint and then we'll go from there.''

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