Broncos inching closer to making history in upcoming Texans game, but one last-second injury could spell disaster
Not the update fans were hoping to hear.
The Denver Broncos were already going to be undermanned heading into the game against the Houston Texans. However, a last-second addition puts the team in a difficult position.
Left guard Alex Palczewski, a fan favorite, came down with an illness and was added to the report with a questionable status. The offensive line has been battling through a host of injuries, especially to left guard.
Both Matt Peart and Ben Powers, fellow left guards, are on injured reserve. Both injuries occurred in back-to-back weeks, leaving Denver already shorthanded at the position. The team now has Calvin Throckmorton as the only remaining official left guard on the depth chart. Backup center Alex Forsyth is another option, as well as some maneuvering to make center Luke Wattenberg move to left guard and Forsyth at center. Either way, it’ll be interesting to see how the team navigates it.
Palczewski had been performing well, a brutal blow to the offensive line and quarterback Bo Nix’s protection.
With only a few healthy tight ends on the roster, the team activated 41-year-old Marcedes Lewis. Lewis was brought in for a workout and ultimately signed after the team failed to pick up two blocking tight ends through the waiver system.
If Lewis takes the field on Sunday, he will be the oldest tight end ever to do so and the oldest Bronco. Lewis would surpass team legend quarterback Peyton Manning, who has the honor after appearing in the Super Bowl.
Injuries on both sides of the ball for Denver
In the last injury report, a handful of key playmakers on both sides of the football will be missing time.
Superstar cornerback Pat Surtain and All-Pro return man Marvin Mims Jr. were among the biggest names to be ruled out of the matchup. Surtain avoided an injured reserve designation, which would have sidelined him for the team’s next four games.
The remaining few are tight end Nate Adkins and safety P.J. Locke.
The team elevated punt returner and wide receiver Michael Bandy in the absence of Mims. It’ll be hard to replicate what Mims can do on the field, both as a returner and as a receiver, but Bandy will presumably be given a chance to show what he can do.
Despite the mounting injuries, the Broncos will look to rally around their depth and keep their postseason hopes alive, no matter who’s suiting up come kickoff.
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