After the Denver Broncos place left tackle Garett Bolles (broken leg), cornerback Ronald Darby (torn ACL) and long snapper Jacob Bobenmoyer (wrist/hand) on injured reserve this week, the team will have eight starters on IR.
In addition to those three, the Broncos also have Tim Patrick (ACL), outside linebacker Randy Gregory (knee), safety Justin Simmons (thigh), running back Javonte Williams (ACL) and expected starting tight end Greg Dulcich (hamstring) on IR.
“Injuries are a thing that, as a coach, I can’t control,” coach Nathaniel Hackett said last week. “I mean, especially the ones that we’re having. It’s not things that guys are going to be able to come back from. They’re long-term things and that’s a part of this game. As a coach, I can’t control it, I can only move forward. I can only go to the drawing board, grind and try to find ways to put people in good positions.
“The new guys that are going to have to go in there, we have to find a way to make those guys successful. That’s our job and it crushes me because they’re such good guys and they’ve worked so hard. We’re 2-3 right now and it’s not where we wanted to be, but that’s where we are. I feel bad for those guys because they can’t be a part of us bringing us out of this, but they are going to be there for us.”
In addition to the players on IR, inside linebacker Josey Jewell (knee) is week-to-week and outside linebacker Baron Browning (wrist) is day-to-day. Denver quarterback Russell Wilson is also dealing with a shoulder injury, and outside linebacker Jonathon Cooper (hamstring), safety P.J. Locke (concussion), offensive lineman Quinn Meinerz (hamstring), outside linebacker Aaron Patrick (concussion) and cornerback Darius Phillips (hamstring) all miss last week’s game against the Indianapolis Colts.
There’s still time for the Broncos to save their season, but the team’s growing list of injuries won’t make the task any easier.
