Broncos DC Wade Phillips returns to work with ‘big smile’

Call it the hit of the week. Denver Broncos defensive coordinator Wade Phillips certainly did.

The team’s defensive leader left Sunday’s matchup with the San Diego on a stretcher after what many called a collision with Chargers running back Melvin Gordon on the sidelines.

“They say it was a collision on the sideline, but actually I got run over,” Phillips tweeted just before noon Monday.

Phillips was taken to a Denver-area hospital after the hit, which occurred on a Bradley Roby pick six midway through the second quarter. He was released later Monday evening.

Head coach Gary Kubiak said hits like the one on Phillips took usually happen on punts, where gunners run out of bounds, or turnovers, “when the field position gets flipped.”

“He just got the heck knocked out of him. I saw the play finally late last night. On the turnover, the running back was chasing the ball, and he ran through the sidelines and kind of caught Wade up high. It looked like the back of his head hit the ground pretty hard,” Kubiak said.

“It’s just a scary situation right there. He was talking to us and responding to us on the field. We just feel very fortunate that he’s OK.”

Kubiak said he tried to get Phillips to go home and rest Monday, but he didn’t want to do that.

Instead, Phillips was in his usual spot in the back of the meeting room Monday, getting his defense ready to face the Oakland Raiders Sunday night.

“He’s sitting in the back of the meeting just now and has a big smile on his face,” Kubiak said. “He’s sore, but he’s feeling good. He’s back at it.”

Phillips tweeted out his appreciation for the concern over his health, saying he was back at the Broncos training facility Monday to “work at what I love.”

Thanks and I appreciate everyone’s concern -I am ok today and back to work at what I love –I get the big hit award for the week!

— Wade Phillips (@sonofbum) October 31, 2016

Follow digital content producer Johnny Hart on Twitter: @JohnnyHart7.