Any injury that causes a player to be carted into the locker room is an injury worth panicking about. So when 33-year-old DeMarcus Ware was carted off the field with a “back injury,” it’s safe to say Broncos fans were a little worried.

Luckily, Broncos Country can rest easily.

Really, this injury may end up being a blessing in disguise. If there was ever a week where the Broncos could afford losing Ware, it’s probably this week against the Cleveland Browns. Really, it’s probably better to think of it as an extended bye week for the Broncos’ Defensive Player of the Year candidate.

And for a guy who’s spent over a decade in the trenches, an extra week off is much needed

What’s important for Ware and the Broncos is that he’s healthy come the playoffs. We saw Ware’s production fall off towards the second half of last season, and Denver can’t afford to have the same thing happen this year.

As long as this really is a two-week injury, and not something that’ll linger throughout the season, this may end up being the best thing that could have happened to Ware.