Update on Tyler Badie's back injury:

Tyler Badie is back in Denver after suffering a horrific back injury Sunday afternoon against the New York Jets.

The Broncos running back was examined at a New York-area hospital after he was immobilized on a backboard and carted to the locker room following an injury in the first quarter.

He did not travel back with the team on charter after the game, but was on a commercial flight home later that evening with the Broncos staff who stayed with him.

“We’re still evaluating him now. He’s doing better,” Payton said on his Monday conference call with reporters. “Anyone who has come forward, we appreciate the concerns. Luckily he was able to get back before the end of the day.”

Badie was injured on a play in which Jets linebacker Quincy Williams took a direct shot with his helmet to Badie's lower back/side area. Badie fumbled and when he hit the ground, the front of his face mask briefly dragged on the ground. He stood up and slowly walked off the field under his own power, but a short time later he fell to the ground on the Broncos' sideline and landed flat on his back, where medical personnel attended to him.

Fellow running back Jaleel McLaughlin told reporters Monday he had spoken with Badie in the last 24 hours and said he was in good spirits.

“I reached out to him and it’s just a blessing that he’s in great spirits,” McLaughlin said. “It has nothing to do with football. He's in a great mood and that's what I'm most happy about. I can't wait to get him back. …

“I can’t wait to see him again and see him smile.”