After going into the bye with hardly any injuries, the Broncos limp into week eight against the Kansas City Chiefs — just three weeks later — with several key players on both sides of the ball ruled questionable or out.
Some good news has come for the Broncos as they prepare for their Monday night game; right tackle Menelik Watson practiced fully throughout the week and will be returning as the starter. Watson will be returning from a calf injury sustained in week six against the New York Giants. Backup guard Allen Barbre filled in against the Chargers rather unsuccessfully.
With Watson back, some stability returns to an offensive line that has struggled since the bye week to protect quarterback Trevor Siemian. Since the bye, the offensive line has given up nine total sacks, and the running backs have only been able to muster 115 total yards across the two games — a far cry from their average of 114.5 per game.
The offensive line still remains relatively unstable, however, as Watson’s backup, Donald Stephenson, has been ruled out. This leaves Barbre and rookie tackle Elijah Wilkinson as the only options available to fill in should Watson aggravate his injury during the game.
Siemian will be getting some offensive firepower back tonight as well. Wide receivers (and special teams specialists) Cody Latimer and Isaiah McKenzie practiced in full this week and are both listed as good-to-go against the Chiefs. Receiver Emmanuel Sanders, despite not practicing all week, is listed as questionable and is a game-time decision.
With the return of Latimer and McKenzie, and with the possibility of Sanders, some offensive pressure will be relieved from the running back corps and receiver Demaryius Thomas. In the matchup against the Chargers, the running backs combined for only 69 yards, while Thomas was only able to haul in only two catches, due to defensive pressure, for nine yards. Thomas did have an 81-yard catch-and-run, but that was negated for offensive pass interference on the play.
Second-year quarterback Paxton Lynch was also able to practice in full this week for the first time since sustaining a preseason shoulder injury, though it is unlikely that he will be activated for the game against the Chiefs with Siemian starting and Brock Osweiler available as a backup.
Defensively, the Broncos have a whole new set of issues. Defensive end Derek Wolfe and lineback Todd Davis are both listed as questionable for Monday night. Wolfe sustained injuries to his hand and foot, while Davis suffered a high ankle sprain against the Chargers.
The questions at the suddenly thin linebacker corps has led to the Broncos signing practice squad player Kevin Snyder to the active roster on Oct. 24. He is in his second season, having spent time with the Broncos during training camp and on the practice squad in 2016.
One bright spot: the Broncos are expected to activate linebacker Shane Ray from injured reserve. Ray, who suffered a torn ligament in his wrist during training camp, could be used to fill in for the injured Davis, or may supplant Shaquil Barrett opposite Von Miller. Zaire Anderson may also be asked to see more time on the field. Overall, though, the state of the linebacker corps is murky at best until game time.
The Broncos will have to find some answers to their injury issues quick, especially with a matchup against the division-leading Kansas City Chiefs on Monday night. The Broncos go into the game as a seven-point underdog as they travel to Kansas City for their fourth divisional game of the season.
