Linebacker Keith Brooking returned to action after straining his hamstring during practice 15 days ago, but the 15-year veteran's status for Thursday's preseason finale at Arizona is still uncertain.

"I think we're kind of putting the cart before the horse right now in talking about that," Brooking said after a session in which he worked mainly on the weak side. "I wanted to practice today and see how it felt. I was told to stay within myself -- which is hard to do out here."

Brooking admitted he was "cautious" in how he moved during Tuesday's practice.

"I've been working with the strength staff and getting my conditioning and getting my legs underneath me, so it's not like I've just been sitting there laying on the training table, icing and stemming," Brooking said. "I've been working pretty hard, so my leg felt great."

Broncos coach John Fox has generally erred toward caution in bringing players back from injuries. He didn't play running back Ronnie Hillman until eight days after he returned to practice following his hamstring injury, and held Quinton Carter and Jim Leonhard out of Sunday's loss to the 49ers, even though both practiced all week after coming back from knee injuries.

Like Brooking, Leonhard and Carter have substantial starting experience on their ledgers, reducing the need for preseason work.

"It's, obviously, a little easier when a guy has got a lot of snaps in the league, a lot of evidence on tape of his playing ability," Fox said when asked about Brooking's status on Aug. 24. "Each individual situation is different."

UNEXPECTED MOVE: A day after the release of 13-year veteran long snapper Lonie Paxton, rookie Aaron Brewer admitted he was "pretty surprised" when he learned that Paxton was one of the Broncos' 12 cuts, leaving the crucial special-teams job in his hands.

"He's been helping me and he was always a great guy to me. If I can have a career like him that will be awesome," said Brewer. "He taught me a lot about just different things that go with the position, especially when you go into the next level, blocking and doing different stuff like kicking and stuff."

Paxton not only left behind some tips for Brewer -- but a shaved head. As part of a rookie hazing prank, Paxton sheared Brewer's shoulder-length, blond mane down to stubble.

"The hair's fine. A lot of guys like this better than the other hair. I didn't take real good care of it," Brewer said.

INJURY REPORT: Cornerback Omar Bolden and running back Lance Ball practiced Tuesday after suffering slight injuries two days earlier. Bolden bruised his knee, while Ball bruised his ribs when he landed on the football after catching a 38-yard pass from Peyton Manning.

Right guard Chris Kuper (fractured forearm) and guard Tony Hills (neck) were the only Broncos to miss Tuesday's work.

For up-to-the-minute Broncos updates, follow Andrew Mason on Twitter at @CBSSportsNFLDEN and @MaxBroncos.