Denver Broncos’ depth at one key position is so injury-depleted that they have players out of position at training camp
The Denver Broncos are down to their fourth-string option at center after a new injury to Michael Deiter. Starter Luke Wattenberg remains limited due to injury.
The Denver Broncos injury situation at the center position continues to get worse by the day.
While starting center Luke Wattenberg is back to being a limited participant in training camp practices, Denver is now down to its fourth option at the position. Alex Forsyth has been banged up and is working on the side rehab field during practice. On Tuesday, Aug. 11, the Broncos suffered another blow when third-string center Michael Dieter was carted off the field with an apparent lower body injury, per multiple reports.
The injury to Dieter happened during a 9-on-7 run period, according to local beat reporters. 9 News reporter Mike Klis reports that Calvin Throckmorton and rookie Gavin Ortega, both guards by trade, were taking repetitions at center during the team’s training camp practice after Dieter’s injury exit.
Broncos may need to sign a free agent center
If Dieter’s injury is substantial, the Broncos will likely place him on injured reserve, ending his season, and sign a free-agent option at center. Wattenberg appears to be working his way back, and Forsyth’s injury is an unknown. But at least for now, with preseason games on the horizon, Denver is severely depleted at the position.
The Broncos face the Atlanta Falcons in preseason Week 1 on Friday night. They will likely be playing guys who won’t ever see pro snaps at center unless things have gone horribly wrong. Throckmorton and Ortega are guard-first players being asked to fill in out of necessity, not because Denver views them as viable long-term options. That’s not to say they can’t do it. However, there was a reason that Wattenberg, Forsyth, and Deiter were ahead of them on the depth chart.
Sean Payton remains cagey on injury details
The specific injuries for both Wattenberg and Forsyth have not been disclosed. Broncos coach Sean Payton remains his typical self, staying cagey with injury reporting. Fans might not know what certain players are dealing with until the NFL’s regular season reporting guidelines are in place. Those rules require teams to disclose participation levels and injury designations on a weekly basis.
Some good news on the injury front
There was at least some good news for Denver on Tuesday. Running back J.K. Dobbins returned to practice in a limited capacity after exiting Monday’s session early. Dobbins gave reporters a thumbs up, letting them know he is healthy and dealing with just a slight strain.
