"Whether between the hash marks or around the first-round bargaining tables, the Broncos are counting on Knowshon Moreno to break free. The NFL has a holdout logjam among players taken in the first round of the draft. No. 8 pick Eugene Monroe, No. 9 B.J. Raji, No. 10 Michael Crabtree, No. 11 Aaron Maybin and No. 12 Moreno are still unsigned. If Moreno waited for those ahead of him to reach agreements to slot in his contract, the Broncos may not get their new running back for at least another week. Negotiations for the Nos. 8-11 picks seem to be making no progress. So the Broncos and Moreno's agents have left the group and independently engaged in intense negotiations. The next 24 hours are expected to be critical to an agreement. "We are working into the wee hours of the morning," Broncos coach Josh McDaniels said. Moreno was still in Georgia as of Wednesday night as his holdout reached Day 6. Even if an agreement on a five-year contract is reached today, Moreno would not be available for the team's "live" practice tonight at Invesco Field at Mile High. Dawkins update. Broncos safety Brian Dawkins is expected to be sidelined until at least Sunday afternoon's practice after suffering what appeared to be a right-hand injury Tuesday. "It's certainly not anything devastating, but I am not going to go into details about what it is," McDaniels said. There is also the memorial service for Dawkins' longtime defensive coordinator, Jim Johnson, in Philadelphia on Friday. The Broncos are off Saturday."