The Denver Broncos win against the Green Bay Packers on Sunday was monumental for them, but they lost one of their best defensive players to an injury that will keep him out for the remainder of the regular season.
Denver Broncos safety Brandon Jones lands on IR after pectoral injury vs. Packers
Brandon Jones has been one of the most underrated, unsung heroes of the Denver Broncos’ defense for the past two seasons and now they’ll have to navigate the remainder of the regular season without him at safety as they prepare to face a red-hot Jacksonville Jaguars team, the Kansas City Chiefs on Christmas, and a season-finale against the Los Angeles Chargers.
Jones was placed on injured reserve on Monday, which guarantees he’ll miss at least four games, but it’s unclear as of today whether or not he can return at some point in the playoffs, depending on how far the Broncos go.
He suffered the injury in the second quarter of the Broncos’ win against the Green Bay Packers and was quickly ruled out to start the second half.
Through 15 weeks, Jones had 78 tackles, one fumble recovery, and seven passes defended. According to Pro Football Reference, Jones has allowed only 24 catches on 45 targets for 300 yards and a passer rating of 65.0 when targeted, which marks a career high for him.
His loss is big for Denver’s secondary, but now they’ll have to rely on P.J. Locke, who stepped in on Sunday and played well in Jones’ absence. Devon Key and JL Skinner could also see an uptick in defensive opportunities as well.
In terms of other depth, the Broncos had safety Keidron Smith on their practice squad, but he was signed away today by the New York Jets, per the league’s transaction wire.
Broncos claim former Houston Texans RB off waivers
With J.K. Dobbins already out for the season, the Broncos will be monitoring the status of rookie running back RJ Harvey, who suffered an apparent rib injury during Sunday’s game. He was seen after the game in the locker room and appeared to be fine, but we’ll wait for Wednesday’s practice to see whether or not it’s an issue this week.
In the meantime, the Broncos claimed former Houston Texans running back Cody Schrader off waivers. Schrader had spent last season and this season with the Los Angeles Rams, where he’s appeared in two regular-season games.
At 5-foot-9, 215 pounds, he adds some bulk to the room that also features Sincere McCormick.
Jaleel McLaughlin, Tyler Badie, and fullback Adam Prentice have also contributed at the running back position over the course of the last few weeks, so it’s likely that Schrader is a developmental addition.
