The Denver Broncos have to navigate Sunday’s game against the Las Vegas Raiders and turn things around on short notice for a Thursday Night Football matchup against the Indianapolis Colts.
However, heading into Sunday’s game, the Broncos have already ruled several players out against the Raiders.
Denver Broncos Injury Report from Friday and game status
OUT:
Tyrie Cleveland – Hamstring
Jonathon Cooper – Hamstring
Quinn Meinerz – Hamstring
Darius Phillips – Hamstring
Billy Turner – Knee
The Broncos will be without wide receiver and key special teams ace Tyrie Cleveland for the second consecutive week as he continues to rehab a hamstring injury he suffered last week during practice. Broncos fans should look for Mike Boone and Essang Bassey to step up on special teams in his absence.
Earlier in the week, there was hope that offensive guard Quinn Meinerz would return to the starting lineup from the hamstring injury he suffered against the Seattle Seahawks in Week 1. It appears Meinerz ran into a setback in Thursday’s practice as a limited participant.
Broncos head coach Nathaniel Hackett touched on the difficulties that hamstring injuries provide to any player, especially linemen.
“I think that any time you’re dealing with a hamstring, every single one is different,” Hackett said. “Especially with a lineman, that’s a little bit unique compared to a skill guy. Well, linemen are skilled also, but just the amount of running that they do. He’s working through that, and we want to be sure that we get him back the right way.”
The debut of offensive tackle Billy Turner will have to wait as he was ruled out of Sunday’s game. Turner has yet to play a down in the regular season with the Broncos after signing with the team in free agency.
It was known that Turner had an arthroscopic procedure on his knee prior to his signing.
Earlier this week, Hackett shared that the team is taking the long road approach with him.
“We’re just trying to get him over the hump,” Hackett said. “I think that’s the best way to look at it. We want him to just come back and be strong and feel strong and confident.”
QUESTIONABLE:
D.J. Jones – Concussion protocol
Dalton Risner – Ankle
On Friday, Broncos defensive lineman D.J. Jones (concussion protocol) returned to practice for the first time this week on a limited basis.
Following the aftermath of Thursday Night Football and what happened with Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa, Hackett shared his perspective on how he and his staff work with players who are in concussion protocol.
“I don’t know if there is a perfect way for anything like that,” Hackett said on Friday. “It’s such a sensitive topic. In the end, it’s about player safety, player safety, player safety. We are always thinking about that. It doesn’t take something like that to happen to all of a sudden sit there and redigest it and say we should do something different. We’re always trying to take care of the players, and make sure the players are healthy. They are the reason why this game is so great. I think we’ll follow it, and from the standpoint of our medical team, I have full confidence in them doing all the right stuff.”
It remains to be seen whether or not Jones will play on Sunday, but it’s worth monitoring considering the short week turnaround for Thursday Night Football.
Offensive guard Dalton Risner is questionable for Sunday as he’s dealt with an ankle injury all week long, one that he sustained in Week 3 against the San Francisco 49ers.
Other players who were listed on the injury report this week including Caden Sterns, P.J. Locke, Melvin Gordon, Randy Gregory, Mike Purcell, Baron Browning, and Aaron Patrick are full go for Sunday.
Broncos (2-1) – Raiders (0-3) kicks off at 2:25 pm MT on Sunday in Las Vegas.
