THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

ENGLEWOOD, Colo. -- Denver Broncos quarterback Kyle Orton remains optimistic he can play at Cincinnati in the season opener despite a dislocated right index finger.

Orton is wearing a glove on his throwing hand at practice this week but he'd rather do without it on game day. He said he's never worn a glove, even in the winter while he was playing for the Chicago Bears.

Orton's knuckle poked through the skin when he was hurt in the Broncos' third pre-season game against Chicago on Aug. 30.

Backup quarterback Chris Simms would get the start if Orton can't go. Simms recently returned to practice after spraining his left ankle in a pre-season game.