Safety Justin Simmons, who suffered a high ankle sprain while celebrating linebacker Brandon Marshall’s strip-sack of Josh McCown in Sunday’s 23-0 win over the New York Jets, was placed on injured reserve, ending his season.
Simmons, a second-year player and first-time starter, replaced T.J. Ward after Ward was released prior to the season and went on to start all 13 games of the Broncos’ season thus far.
The Boston College product notably returned an interception for a touchdown in the Broncos’ blowout loss to the Dolphins the week prior, and currently ranks second on the team with 68 combined tackles. His pair of interceptions ties him for the team lead with Chris Harris Jr. and Darian Stewart.
Simmons is expected to be replaced in the lineup by fellow 2016 draftee Will Parks, who filled in for Simmons after he left Sunday’s game. Simmons is the third defensive starter, along with defensive ends Jared Crick and Derek Wolfe, to be placed on the IR this season, and the 11th overall.
