The Denver Broncos are in a bad way. There’s no doubting that.

After starting 2-0, they’ve lost four straight games and multiple themes are building.

Denver’s run defense just set an NFL record by allowing back-to-back 200-yard rushers for the first time ever. Case Keenum continues to struggle at quarterback. And play-calling on both sides has been hit-or-miss.

But, what can’t go unnoticed is the lack of health on the Broncos offensive line and how that will affect the team going forward.

To kick off the season Denver’s starting line was as follows, from left to right; Garett Bolles, Ronald Leary, Matt Paradis, Connor McGovern and Jared Veldheer. To kick off the game on Sunday, it looked like this: Bolles, Leary, Paradis, Max Garcia and Billy Turner. And it continued to change as the game went on.

Veldheer hasn’t played the last two weeks due to an injured knee and it’s unknown if he’ll be able to give it a go this Thursday night against the Arizona Cardinals, either. So, in stepped Billy Turner, who’s played OK in his place.

Then, Vance Joseph decided to take out McGovern before the game against the Los Angeles Rams, putting Garcia in at right guard. At halftime, Garcia was replaced by McGovern — the better player — and shortly after, Leary sustained a torn Achilles tendon and will be placed on IR.

That forced Garcia — who played left guard a lot on 2017, but hasn’t practiced there this year — back to that position.

The result was a “MASH” unit on the offensive line, with two starters injured.

Even before Leary was injured, it was clear that Garcia wasn’t the best player at right guard. He gave up a sack of Case Keenum on 4th and 3, with 46 seconds left on the clock before halftime. That sack not only ended the Broncos drive, it also meant giving the Rams the ball at midfield.

In the third quarter, Keenum was sacked by Aaron Donald when he escaped the pocket looking for an open receiver and was run down for a loss of 14.

On the season, the offensive line’s allowed Keenum to be hit 39 times, which is eighth-most in the NFL.

And while the Broncos lack of balance in play-calling left a lot to be desired — 41 passes compared to 17 runs — so did the running game’s lack of effectiveness. All day, the offensive line helped the halfbacks run for only 60 yards, a mere 3.53 yards per carry average. That’s a huge drop-off considering they’re the No. 1 rushing team in the league, with 5.3 yards per carry.

The long and short of it is this; Denver’s offensive line was already a weakness when they had their five best players in at the same time. Now, with multiple backups in, it’s likely the group struggles even more going forward.

The Broncos have to hope Veldheer can return to the gridiron ASAP.