As the Denver Broncos prepare for their final week of the 2022 NFL season, they will be without a starter on the offensive line and without one of their top rotational running backs in Sunday’s home finale against the Los Angeles Chargers.

Denver Broncos place Dalton Risner and Marlon Mack on injured reserve

Injuries have battered the Denver Broncos all throughout the 2022 NFL season. After placing offensive guard Dalton Risner and running back Marlon Mack on injured reserve on Tuesday, the Broncos now have 22 players on the list, a staggering number in comparison to past seasons.

In Sunday’s loss to the Kansas City Chiefs, Risner suffered an elbow injury in the third quarter that held him out of action for the remainder of the game. Offensive lineman Quinn Bailey stepped in for him after exiting the game. Mack suffered a hamstring injury on the Broncos’ opening kickoff on Sunday against the Chiefs and did not return.

Risner headlines the 11th starter placed on injured reserve this season for Denver. For Sunday’s home finale against the Los Angeles Chargers, the Broncos promoted practice squad offensive lineman Will Sherman, a CU grad, to the active roster.

Practice this week will determine who steps in and starts at left guard on Sunday in their home finale as the Broncos’ offense prepares to face the NFL’s best defense for the last six weeks. Sherman and Bailey will both receive consideration to start at left guard, but how they compete in practice this week will determine who starts in the eyes of the coaching staff.

With Mack heading to injured reserve, the Broncos are expected to finish their season with Latavius Murray and Chase Edmonds receiving the bulk of the workload in the backfield. A name to keep an eye on this week will be Tyler Badie, a rookie running back from Missouri who the Broncos signed off of the Baltimore Ravens practice squad last week. He was listed as inactive for Sunday’s game against the Chiefs but could see time this week with Mack’s injury.

After rookie cornerback Damarri Mathis suffered a concussion in Sunday’s loss to Kansas City, the Broncos promoted Ja’Quan McMillian to the active roster from the practice squad. With Mathis’ status in question for Sunday’s game against the Chargers, Denver will need all the help they can receive in the secondary with Justin Herbert, Keenan Allen, and Mike Williams coming to town.

Aside from McMillian’s activation, Lamar Jackson filled in for Mathis last week and was impressive in a small sample size. The former practice squad elevation stepped up with three tackles and two passes defensed against Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs. It would come as no surprise if the Broncos held Mathis out this week even if he were to clear concussion protocol and start Jackson opposite of Patrick Surtain.

It’s worth noting that Jackson, who has appeared in two games for the Broncos this season, has allowed four catches in comparison to 10 targets forcing quarterbacks to have a 72.1 passer rating when targeted according to Pro Football Reference. Granted the sample size is small, but Jackson’s play against the Chiefs was impressive after reviewing the tape.

The Broncos will be back on the practice field on Wednesday as they prepare for their Sunday finale against the Chargers.