Broncos’ Davis Questionable for Finale

After carrying the Denver offense for much of the season, Terrell Davis may have to watch as the Broncos stagger toward the finish line.

Davis partially separated his right shoulder after making a catch in the second quarter of Monday night’s 34-17 loss to the San Francisco 49ers. He is questionable for Sunday’s season finale against San Diego.

“I can be back fairly quickly if you ask me,” Davis said Tuesday. “I’m shooting for this game. That’s a likely possibility, to come back this game and play and not have any problems with it.”

Davis burned the Chargers for 178 yards three weeks ago but likely lost a chance to catch Barry Sanders for the NFL rushing title when he gained only 28 yards before his injury against San Francisco.

Davis leads the AFC with 1,750 yards rushing and has matched his team record of 15 rushing touchdowns. And there’s little shame in finishing second to Sanders, who needs 131 yards to reach 2,000 for the year.

“I hope he breaks 2,000,” Davis said. “I’m really going to root for him now, definitely.”

Meanwhile, one year removed from his sixth Pro Bowl, veteran defensive tackle Michael Dean Perry was released by the Broncos.

Perry, 32, had been inactive for six of the past seven games as Coach Mike Shanahan encouraged him to build up his leg strength. Neither Shanahan nor Perry was available to comment on his release.

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Denver linebacker Bill Romanowski had a national audience Monday night when he spit in the face of San Francisco wide receiver J.J. Stokes. Tuesday, he set out to make a private apology.

“He’s trying to get a hold of J.J. Stokes and apologize to him,” Shanahan said. “It’s something we don’t condone. That’s something that Bill Romanowski is very sorry that he did.”

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The Buffalo Bills’ quarterback situation took yet another turn when Coach Marv Levy said Alex Van Pelt would start the season finale Saturday against the Green Bay Packers instead of Todd Collins.

Buffalo receiver Andre Reed will sit out Sunday’s game because of a separated shoulder he suffered in the second quarter of Buffalo’s 20-14 loss Sunday to the Jacksonville Jaguars.

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Whether Boomer Esiason returns as the Cincinnati Bengals’ quarterback could be a factor in whether Darnay Scott returns as well, the receiver’s agent said.

Scott, making $785,000 on a one-year contract, turned down the Bengals’ extension offer during the first week of the season. Agent Rocky Arceneaux said he will listen to offers from the Bengals and other teams when the season ends. Scott has had his best games since Esiason replaced Jeff Blake at quarterback.