A season full of promise is now one full of injuries for the Denver Broncos
All offseason, the Denver Broncos were the recipients of a team that could be on the rise primarily due to the young talent and potential explosiveness. Fast forward Week 4 of the 2020 NFL season and the only explosion is the list of injuries that stretches a mile high and has derailed the course.
The recent injury to defensive end Jurrell Casey following a 28-10 loss to Tom Brady and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers only strengthens the level of disappointment for a team that was thought to pose a challenge to the defending champion Kansas City Chiefs within their own division.
Though the New York Jets are the next opponent on the schedule for the Broncos, there is a high possibility that Denver could suffer a loss that was projected as an easy game on their schedule before the season.
With Von Miller already out for the season and now Casey out for the year with a torn bicep, the defense will continue to take steps back which already puts enough pressure on an offense that is currently operating under their backup quarterback thanks to a shoulder injury suffered by Drew Lock.
The Denver Broncos have been hit with the injury bug at a highly significant rate
The list continues to be a dread as cornerback A.J. Bouye is out for another few weeks, as is Phillip Lindsay, both of whom play significant roles on their respective side of the ball.
In total, according to Broncos reporter Mike Klis, the Denver Broncos have now 11 players on IR, five of which are starters.
Broncos IR list:
— Mike Klis (@mikeklis) September 29, 2020
Von Miller, $18M
AJ Bouye, $13.4M
Jurrell Casey, $11.8M
Eli Wilkinson, $3.3M
Mark Barron, $2.5M
Courtland Sutton, $1.1M
D Walker, $1.1 million
D Jones, $685,400
Justin Strnad, $637,772
Austin Calitro, $502,942
Austin Fort, $400,000
Total ……. $53.42M#9sports
Though they signed Blake Bortles, they played Jeff Driskel in the loss to Tampa Bay before he was ultimately replaced. Brett Rypien is the other quarterback besides Bortles on the roster, and the former Boise State Bronco has only 53 yards passing and an interception to his name, all of which came in the last game.
Though the Broncos are still favored to win against Adam Gase’s team, the number of injuries will only hinder them in the coming weeks and potentially affect their chances for qualifying for the newly-expanded postseason.